Beer has been called "golden liquid bread" by countries abroad.
Whether you call it booze, brew, brewski, a draft, cerveza, or a cold one, it all means the same thing.
But this disparity does not stop everyone from having an opinion on the stuff. Humor columnist Dave Barry states: "Not all chemicals are bad.
"Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer."
Ironically enough, beer is the antithesis of water as alcohol is a diuretic and causes the body to lose fluids fairly rapidly.
This may be why after a few cups, it seems that you are spending more time in line for the bathroom than at the party. It also contributes to your use of the bathroom the next morning.
Not only will alcohol dehydrate your body, causing the unpleasantness associated with a hangover, like cottonmouth and headaches, but it also produces an overdose of toxins causing nausea, shakiness, etc.
Yes, a hangover is temporary and some may consider the aches and pains associated with over consumption, worth the past evening's carousing.
Unfortunately though, a headache isn't the only side effect from a wild night.
Alcohol throws the whole body's ability to function for a loop.
When alcohol is consumed, protein metabolism in the body slows down.
As a result, your immune system is weakened and your chance for catching a nasty ailment increases.
In addition, severe drinking can actually assist in creating a protein deficiency.
For instance, a drinker's liver will use some of the carbon atoms from a recently eaten hamburger to make fat instead of protein.
Unfortunately, this is not the last time the word "fat" will appear in this column.
During alcohol metabolism, NAD, a coenzyme in energy transfer, becomes unavailable for use.
As a result, energy metabolism processes become backed up and excess intermediates are made into fatty acids.
This clogs the liver and makes its job of detoxification more strenuous.
Scarily enough, this fat buildup in the liver can be seen after just one night of heavy drinking.
Not only is your liver at risk for fat accumulation, but your love handles may flourish as well.
In the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, some energy is needed to metabolize these nutrients for use in the body.
In contrast, for most people metabolizing alcohol is very easy on the body. In other words, it requires no extra energy to break down the alcohol, making alcohol a paradigm of sheer calorie surplus.
To top it off, the calories from alcohol are used before any of your stored fat is used for energy, which keeps your fat from going anywhere.
Does an excess of calories sound particularly healthy to you?
How about vitamin and mineral malnutrition?
Alcohol damages the sites in the small intestine at which many nutrients are absorbed.
This makes it much harder to take in the ingredients needed to keep your body running and in good health.
In addition, more problems exist for the nutrients already in body cells.
Liver cells have a hard time processing vitamin D. Cells in the eye process alcohol instead of retinol, a form of vitamin A.
These are all necessary for proper day-to-day bodily functions.
As for actual benefits of alcohol consumption, they may be few and far between.
Research has shown that a glass or two of alcohol may reduce the risk of heart disease. Read: A glass or two, not a keg or two.
Many college age students may partake in activities that have higher intakes of alcohol and this will actually raise the risks for heart disease, stroke, cancer, organ damage ... and the list goes on.
Now I am not expecting anyone to morph into a teetotaler after reading this column.
Nor have I intended to lecture about the negative effects of your favorite alcoholic beverage.
My hope is that I have enlightened you about the toll alcohol can take on the body.
I leave it up to you to reach alcohol nirvana if you feel so inclined.
