Defining the quantity of alcohol usage for your liver

We frequently hear that a small amount of wine or alcohol is beneficial for heart disease or skin problems, but the precise dosage is rarely specified. As a result, a healthy recommendation quickly develops into overindulgence. Little do we know that any amount of alcohol can produce damage to the liver.

Wine and beer aren't any "safer" than other drinks. One drink equals one shot (1 ounce or 30 ml) of whiskey or spirit, four ounces (120 ml) of wine, or one 12-ounce (360 ml) of beer.

The quantity and duration of alcohol consumption are the two biggest risk factors for developing liver disease. Although it usually takes 20 to 30 years, yet complications can start to manifest after 5 to 10 years.

Every person is unique. However, due to differences in body size, body fat, and certain enzymes, men can remove and metabolise alcohol more quickly than women. For men, heavy drinking is defined as having more than four drinks on any given day or more than 14 drinks per week; for women, it is defined as having more than three drinks on any given day or more than seven drinks per week. Research shows that only about 2 in 100 people who drink within these limits meet the criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder. Even within these limits, people can have problems if they drink too quickly or if they have other health issues.

If an individual has an underlying liver condition such as hepatitis B or C, or obesity or have prior damage from alcohol or other diseases, the liver is very sensitive to any amount of alcohol. Therefore, alcohol use is not advisable under these conditions.