Alcohol is one of those socially accepted drugs. At least, that’s what the experts say, since consuming alcoholic beverages is extremely harmful to your health. Pharmacist Sento Segarra warns of the effects of these drinks. Segarra emphasizes that “The worst drink for your liver isn’t sugary soda, beer, or wine. It’s something much more dangerous.” The expert is referring to hard liquors. These are distilled beverages with a high alcohol content, generally 40% or more, such as vodka, gin, and whiskey, among others.
The distillation process and the concentration of alcohol make these drinks extremely harmful to the body
The fact is that every time you consume it, your liver goes into emergency mode. “Two doses a day are enough to overload the liver, day after day, without you even realizing it. And it doesn’t matter if it’s just on weekends; the liver doesn’t distinguish between holidays,” explains the pharmacist. The distillation process and the concentration of alcohol make these drinks extremely harmful to the body. “A highly toxic byproduct called acetaldehyde has to be broken down. The problem is that acetaldehyde destroys liver cells, causes inflammation, and blocks the liver’s ability to regenerate,” says Segarra.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) emphasizes the importance of liver health
It’s important to keep this information in mind because, although alcohol consumption is ‘normalized’ in many parts of the world, this doesn’t automatically mean it’s good for your health. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) emphasizes the importance of liver health, as it’s one of the body’s most vital organs and the largest internal organ. Therefore, alcohol consumption can lead to problems such as increased inflammation, fat accumulation, and cell loss. The liver’s functions include helping the body digest food, storing energy, and eliminating toxins.
People may experience fatigue and weakness, abdominal pain and bloating, or some digestive problems
The expert explains that just two days is enough to overload the liver, making it work harder and weakening it for no real reason. One of the characteristics of this organ is that in the early stages, the symptoms often go unnoticed; in fact, they are often mistaken for a hangover. People may experience fatigue and weakness, abdominal pain and bloating, or some digestive problems. If these symptoms persist, it is recommended to seek medical attention.
Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways
Sento Segarra is one of the influencers who consider themselves science communicators. That is, experts who aim to inform and educate the public on hundreds of topics. Through videos on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, they share information that the general public is unaware of. They do so in an accessible way, with the sole objective of being heard and understood. Specifically, Segarra presents himself as a pharmacist “passionate about science, health, and technology.” In this way, through his videos, he reaches thousands of internet users who seek to learn something new from these short clips. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: “Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and functions. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination.”
This shows how alcohol affects not only organs like the liver, but also the brain. And of course, the heart. Drinking heavily over a long period or excessively on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems including: cardiomyopathy (stretching and collapse of the heart muscle); arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats); stroke; and high blood pressure. Therefore, it’s advisable to avoid these types of drinks and try to take care of our bodies, which are like temples to our bodies.