alcohol question from last night

alcohol question from last night

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x5x3

Original Poster:

2,424 posts

260 months

Saturday 24th April 2010
quotequote all
so which is the better for you?

meal out with friends - drink a bottle of red wine between 8 and 10pm

dinner at home with friends - drink a bottle of red wine plus 2 beers between 6 and 12pm?

now although there is clearly more alcohol in the second option, I seem to remember reading somewhere that the liver is actually quite good at coping with toxins as long as the quantity doesn't get too high.

and in case anyone is feeling picky, the meal out is at an unlicensed place so the wine is bought from home and therefore exactly the same (and yes the conversation did go into this much detail!).

I think the reason we got into the conversation is all the confusion about "binge" drinking, what exactly it meant and whether there was indeed a middle ground between that and a sensible glass of red a day - which there seems to be general agreement is a good thing?

pacman1

7,323 posts

200 months

Saturday 24th April 2010
quotequote all
I'll try both tonight and let you know how I get on..

E21_Ross

35,697 posts

219 months

Saturday 24th April 2010
quotequote all
the whole "a glass of red wine is good" is true to a certain extent, though i feel it's blown a bit out of proportion as an excuse, as it were, for people to drink. it does contain anti-oxidants but so does fruit. a good diet will be more than enough, meaning the "glass of red wine every now and again" thing is not needed.

yes, the liver does cope with toxins rather well, and one of the amazing things about it is its ability to repair itself. however, too much damage will cause scar tissue formation (cirrhosis of the liver).

it's just a mix between how much you want to look after yourself and how much you want to have a good time. but for sure, a few glasses every now and again will not do you any harm.

enjoy smile

Edited by E21_Ross on Saturday 24th April 15:55

Synergy

4,443 posts

182 months

Saturday 24th April 2010
quotequote all
Is it possible to have your liver "checked" if you're worried that you may have done it damage through drinking too much? Or if there is a problem, would you just know about it? (Pain, cramps etc)

E21_Ross

35,697 posts

219 months

Saturday 24th April 2010
quotequote all
Synergy said:
Is it possible to have your liver "checked" if you're worried that you may have done it damage through drinking too much? Or if there is a problem, would you just know about it? (Pain, cramps etc)
if you're not getting any symptoms, don't worry about it. thing with the liver is it does so much, if one of it's functions packed up, chances are you would notice it elsewhere, as well as or rather than abdominal pain.

bull996

1,442 posts

216 months

Saturday 24th April 2010
quotequote all
Synergy said:
Or if there is a problem, would you just know about it? (Pain, cramps etc)
Not always. I had virtually no warnings until I got numb arms and legs over a week.
I was fooked by then.

Synergy

4,443 posts

182 months

Saturday 24th April 2010
quotequote all
bull996 said:
Not always. I had virtually no warnings until I got numb arms and legs over a week.
I was fooked by then.
Sorry to hear that. What happened to you then, if you don't mind me asking? And were you drinking a lot more than the weekly recommendation?

x5x3

Original Poster:

2,424 posts

260 months

Saturday 24th April 2010
quotequote all
interesting answers folks, but no actual answers? Maybe our lack of conclusion the other evening was correct?

E21_Ross

35,697 posts

219 months

Saturday 24th April 2010
quotequote all
x5x3 said:
interesting answers folks, but no actual answers? Maybe our lack of conclusion the other evening was correct?
to be honest, between the 2 scenarios there isn't much in it, however, i suspect the "bottle of wine" with no beers would be better.

i think perhaps you are worrying too much. the odd evening like this isn't going to harm your liver. it's just if you do this week in week out for years. i'm an odd one, i don't drink, haven't done for about 6-7 years....AND i'm a student eek

the most important thing IMO is just enjoying yourself.
would you die at 60 having led a life you enjoy, or live to 80 and not have as much fun?

Ross.

x5x3

Original Poster:

2,424 posts

260 months

Saturday 24th April 2010
quotequote all
E21_Ross said:
x5x3 said:
interesting answers folks, but no actual answers? Maybe our lack of conclusion the other evening was correct?
to be honest, between the 2 scenarios there isn't much in it, however, i suspect the "bottle of wine" with no beers would be better.

i think perhaps you are worrying too much. the odd evening like this isn't going to harm your liver. it's just if you do this week in week out for years. i'm an odd one, i don't drink, haven't done for about 6-7 years....AND i'm a student eek

the most important thing IMO is just enjoying yourself.
would you die at 60 having led a life you enjoy, or live to 80 and not have as much fun?

Ross.
I think you are wrong personally, but then I have no medical training, it was just a hypothetical question, more brought about by the media hype over binge drinking than anything else, all involved originally are occasional drinkers, I do agree with you about enjoying yourself and I do adhere to the phrase "everything in moderation - especially moderation" smile

E21_Ross

35,697 posts

219 months

Sunday 25th April 2010
quotequote all
x5x3 said:
I think you are wrong personally.....
how come? just out of curiosity? the liver has a great ability to regenerate itself, better than any other organ in the body. and the occasional drink like that won't do you any harm.

besides....even if you lost say 20% of your liver....do you think you'd notice it? wink

x5x3

Original Poster:

2,424 posts

260 months

Sunday 25th April 2010
quotequote all
E21_Ross said:
x5x3 said:
I think you are wrong personally.....
how come? just out of curiosity? the liver has a great ability to regenerate itself, better than any other organ in the body. and the occasional drink like that won't do you any harm.

besides....even if you lost say 20% of your liver....do you think you'd notice it? wink
sorry - just re-read my post last night (note to self - don't post when tired!), "I think you are wrong" is very harsh, apologies for that.

I take your point about the liver being very good at recovery, and would you notice if you lost 20% of the liver?

E21_Ross

35,697 posts

219 months

Sunday 25th April 2010
quotequote all
x5x3 said:
E21_Ross said:
x5x3 said:
I think you are wrong personally.....
how come? just out of curiosity? the liver has a great ability to regenerate itself, better than any other organ in the body. and the occasional drink like that won't do you any harm.

besides....even if you lost say 20% of your liver....do you think you'd notice it? wink
sorry - just re-read my post last night (note to self - don't post when tired!), "I think you are wrong" is very harsh, apologies for that.

I take your point about the liver being very good at recovery, and would you notice if you lost 20% of the liver?
chances are you could lose a fair bit more of the liver until you start to really notice; that is unless you really do abuse it on the alcohol front, drugs such as paracetamol etc. it's quite an amazing organ.

x5x3

Original Poster:

2,424 posts

260 months

Sunday 25th April 2010
quotequote all
ok, I think I am ok, had a liver function test recently - I have high chloestrol and nothing was working so started on Statins and apparently they can also affect the liver, mind you in 6 weeks they bought my chloestrol down from around 7 to 5.9

uuf361

3,155 posts

229 months

Sunday 25th April 2010
quotequote all
Synergy said:
Is it possible to have your liver "checked" if you're worried that you may have done it damage through drinking too much? Or if there is a problem, would you just know about it? (Pain, cramps etc)
Yes................recently went for a blood test (for cholesterol) and they screwed it up but now I know I have a perfectly functioning liver smile
```
Back again this week to have my arms butchered (getting blood out is challenge and results in 2 weeks of bruising!) to get the cholesterol checked..

dave_s13

13,863 posts

276 months

Monday 26th April 2010
quotequote all
Who has a drink most night of the week? I'm talking one or 2 beers or a couple of glasses of wine.

I do. Only usually have one alcohol free day a week.

Am I bad?

Luke.

11,198 posts

257 months

Monday 26th April 2010
quotequote all
Same here.