Alcohol 

Full disclosure : I really think it's odd and frightening that this chemical solvent is used as a beverage. 

Historical background : Ever try to store grain in a leaky barn or grapes in an old barrel ? Our ancestors did and discovered the alcoholic beverages that resulted. 

In the modern world we refined this process to get even higher concentrations of alcohol than the meads and stouts of days of yore. 

How much alcohol is in a serving ? 

See the chart at right from the 

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 

Maybe you have super sized and didn't realize it. 

Reality check : 

A woman's body can effectively metabolize no more than 2- 8 ounces glasses of beer or wine per day. 

Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as 1 drink per day for women and 2 for men. 

Binge drinking is that which makes blood alcohol concentration 0.08 g/dL or more. 

Heavy drinking is 5 or more drinks in one sitting on 5 or more days in the last month. 

Effects of alcohol: 

Alcohol is a neurotoxin, a carcinogen and a teratogen. It is addictive. 

It disrupts mood, thinking, judgement, and movement. 

It produces cardiovascular damage including cardiomyopathy, arrythmias, stroke, and high blood pressure. 

It damages the liver,  producing fatty liver,  hepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis.

It can produce pancreatitis. 

It produces cancer in the following organs: Mouth, Esophagus, Throat , Liver , Breast. 

It weakens the immune system. 

Learn more here.

Excessive alcohol consumption poses special risks for women: 

Increased risk of sexual assault 

Increased risk of unintended pregnancy 

Dr. Gina's list of legitimate uses of alcohol : 

It's use in the production of various flavors like vanilla extract, Grand Marnier, and chocolate.

Wine for culinary uses: such as to flavor spaghetti sauce or soup, or to make flambé desserts.

Single servings of wine or beer at a meal. 

Wine for ceremonial blessings like Communion, the Sabbath, and Passover.