The jury is out on whether drinking small amounts of alcohol is beneficial or detrimental. Some studies suggest a drink a day may be good for the heart. On the other hand, alcohol is a known carcinogen linked to cancers of the mouth, esophagus and breast. But when it comes to consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, the verdict is in. Liver damage, hypertension, neuropathies, seizures, gout, pancreatitis and dementia are all possible consequences of too much alcohol. And then of course there is the problem of impaired driving and life destruction due to addiction.
Liver damage is a major concern and one that is addressed by the makers of the 鈥淪mart Drinking Pill.鈥� They claim that the mixture of plant extracts, vitamins and minerals in the pill can prevent liver damage and present an 鈥渙ption other than to quit drinking.鈥� Milk thistle, artichoke extract and dandelion root are backed by some evidence in terms of offering liver protection, and the vitamins may be of some help given that people who drink a lot tend to have depleted levels. Liver function is generally determined by measuring blood levels of two enzymes, namely aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) that are produced by the liver as it detoxifies foreign substances. High levels indicate the liver has to work excessively and is prone to damage.
The single piece of evidence provided by makers of 鈥淭he Smart Drinking Pill鈥� is a blood test of a single individual whose AST and ALT went from high to normal after two months on the pill with no change in alcohol consumption. And what was this individual鈥檚 consumption? Thirty to forty drinks a week! Suggesting that reduction of the liver enzymes means that you can 鈥渞esponsibly enjoy alcohol without having to suffer the negative health consequences鈥� is absolutely foolish. At that level of consumption there are many other risks than liver damage. If someone is drinking that quantity of alcohol the only smart thing to do is to cut back. The Smart Drinking Pill just encourages unhealthy behaviour.
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