Moderate Use Of Alcohol

A number of epidemiologic studies have suggested that the risk of heart disease is somewhat lower among people who regularly drink small amounts of alcohol, such as a glass of wine a day, than among teetotalers. Likewise, higher levels of high-density-Iipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol have been reported among light drinkers than among nondrinkers. The overwhelming evidence, however, indicates that excess alcohol is harmful to the cardiovascular system. In all of the studies showing a lower than average risk among light drinkers, the highest risk was shown to be among heavy drinkers. Excess alcohol has been proved to damage the heart-and other organs, including the liver, stomach, and brain.

The links between light drinking and cardiovascular protection should certainly not be used as an excuse for drinkers to consume additional alcohol; nor should nondrinkers start drinking in order to protect their hearts. On the other hand, for those who drink, a modest alcohol intake can be an acceptable means of stress modification. (See box, “Alcohol Content By the Drink.”) A single cocktail or a glass of wine or beer at the end of a long day may be quite relaxing and beneficial. It should not be harmful unless there is a family history of alcoholism or a demonstrated sensitivity to small amounts of alcohol.

Alcohol, in its pure, undiluted form, is too strong for the mouth and stomach. The type of alcohol in alcoholic drinks is ethyl alcohol.

Alcohol content is expressed in percentages by volume. Thus, the amount of liquid is not the determining factor. At a bar or party, the size of the glass in which a certain type of drink is usually served determines the amount of alcohol a person can expect to ingest. For instance, although there is a much smaller proportion of alcohol in beer than in a cocktail, beer is usually served in a mug many times the size of a cocktail glass. Below are approximations of the amounts of alcohol found in various kinds of drinks.

Beer

Most beers contain about 5 percent alcohol by volume. Malt liquors may contain up to 8 or 9 percent.

Wine

A typical table wine contains about 10 to 13 percent alcohol by volume. A wine’s taste and bouquet are not indicators of alcohol content. A light, fragrant wine may contain a higher percentage of alcohol than a full-bodied wine. (Wine such as sherry or vermouth is fortified; extra alcohol is added when it is produced. It sometimes contains up to 20 percent alcohol by volume.)

Cocktails

Hard liquors including brandy, gin, vodka, and whiskey and most liqueurs contain 40 to 50 percent alcohol by volume. The proof is a measure of alcohol concentration. In the United States, proof is equal to two times the alcohol content. Thus, liquor that is 80, proof contains 40 percent alcohol by volume.

Approximate equivalents determined by the size of the conventional drink glasses:

A 12-ounce mug of beer

=

a 4-to 5-ounce glass of wine

=

a 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor

Moderate Use Of Alcohol

Kids and cigarettes: stupidity of grown-ups or the reason for prison?

Several days ago in Great Britain Rebecca Daivy had uploaded in Facebook some photos of her baby son with a cigarette in his mouth. The police came to her house to check the family living conditions and treatment of a child.

To my mind it is the LEAST which our society MUST do to SUCH parents. I even can’t find word to describe all horror of this situation. As a mother of twins as well as the smoker in past I suppose there must be strict laws for such terrible incidents. The punishment must be evident – up to deprivation of parental rights.

Of course every person has a right to smoke, but he or she must understand that a child is not a toy, not an object for a “funny” joke or a “cool” photo. Parents must not share their bad habits (and smoking doubtlessly IS a bad habit) with children, they must not teach babies to smoke.

Serf the web and I am sure that you will find other such pictures. I hope the police would pay attention to all of them but it is only a drop of the ocean. The ocean of carelessness, stupidity and immorality with which we have to face daily.

Sorry for such aggressive post, but emotions really blow me up in this case.Kids and cigarettes: stupidity of grown-ups or the reason for prison?

Several reasons to give up smoking

I suppose I have told you a lot about smoking in my life. I tried to write funny things about smoking as well as negative aspects connected with it. I still have a lot to tell you and I hope I will success to do it in future. But now, when you’ve read a lot of my daily stuff, I want to underline the reasons to give up smoking.

When you smoke, you start having problems with your dearest and nearest – your family, relatives and friends. At first you do not notice it, do not pay attention to it or do not want to connect these changes with smoking. But then misunderstanding grows into huge rows, mistrust and disappointment. Cigarettes build a wall between you and people who surround you every day.

When you smoke, you start having problems at work. There are not only arguments with colleagues, but an impression that you are not a good employee, which is hard to break down.

When you smoke, you start having problems in socializing in general. We all have some stereotypes. So the smoking person is thought to be careless and harmful. Do you like such image?

P.S. I do not try to convince you in anything. I just want you to stop and think it over.Several reasons to give up smoking

Is there a place for a cigarette?

Actually smoking is not totally prohibited in the USA. But is there a proper place for smoking and where is it situated?

For a long time I was constantly having problems with this. Most cafes and restaurants have smoking rooms. But even there some people watch at you with irritation when you smoke a cigarette. Also ash-pot is replaced very seldom and because of bad airing usually a cloud of smoke (which has dreadful smell) stings eyes.

Driving and smoking are also opposites. Even if I wish it very much I can’t smoke in my car. Taxi drivers also get furious when I ask about smoking. I can’t even think about smoking nearby nursery school, playground, spa and beauty salon, where I go, and in many places I go for negotiations. It seems they would lynch me there before the police come.

Smoking rooms at work and in the airports look like prison rooms: a cloud of nasty smell, blackened walls, spits and a lot of ugly-looking men arguing loudly. It is not a nice place for a woman, is it?

Only now I realize that this discomfort has reasonable explanation. Maybe all this stresses are made to prevent people from smoking or to make them give up smoking? I strongly believe this would really help!Is there a place for a cigarette?

Smoking and Gym –two separate lives

All my life I am trying hard to keep fit not to become fat. When I was younger I could do it by just dieting, but now I have to go to gym to strengthen my body.

Of course healthy life has several musts: proper food, sports, sleeping enough, fresh air and … no smoking! It would be all right if I exclude the last one, I thought. Nobody would notice it and it would be ok with my health if I keep following other rules.

So the new life has begun. Every morning I used to get up at 7, made fresh juice, and walked with my dog. Every evening I went to sleep at 10. Everything was ok, despite the gym…

When I went to gym for the first time, I met a lot of new nice people. Soon we became friends, because we all had one thing in common – healthy life. And of course I did not tell them about my little smoking secret. When they were discussing how people who smoke ruin their lives I kept silence.

Once I wanted to smoke so much before the gym and I stopped to smoke a cigarette nearby it. I haven’t noticed that Melissa – one girl from our group, had seen me.

I was shocked that when I came in they surrounded me and started talking about passive smoking, smoking and health, cancer, smoking and sport. “I was wondering about that smell from you… Now I understand everything” said Dave, the sporty guy with a constant friendly broad smile whom I liked. “Don’t you feel sick when you do sports?” wondered Kate, my closest friend in gym. “Ummm, no” answered I, though it was not true – actually I felt a little bit sick but I did not pay attention to it.

Day by day their advices to give up smoking irritated me. Finally I gave up going to gym because of it. Only now I understand that they really wanted to help me.Smoking and Gym –two separate lives

Smoking and employment: what is the extra word?

Yes, employment is rather hard for every smoker. Job interview turns to be a torture because of questions like “do you smoke?” in application form. I still do not know the correct answer to this question from the interviewer. It is hard to admit that you smoke. In this case you are automatically considered to be a bad employee.

Smoking and drinking are doubtlessly bad habits. But for employers smoking is the worst. When you smoke a cigarette, you waste time, your working time. It turns out that you steal money from the company – the money you get for doing your job, not for smoking. That’s what HR-managers think about smokers.

So before the interview a difficult decision should be made. To admit that you ARE a smoker is equivalent to admitting that you are a bad employee. This honesty minimizes your chances to get a good job. To mislead the employer seems to be better. But this fraud will be clear in future and nobody would trust you any more. Even if they would be pitiful and leave you at work – forget about career in this place!

The attitude to women-smokers is worse than to men who smoke. Sometimes in male team an image of a good boss is “working 12 hours a day, constantly drinking coffee and smoking” Women who smoke are considered to be “odd”, and if she is a boss she is considered to be a bitch and manlike. It is very hard to destroy this image. And this is one of the main reasons I am fighting hard to give up smoking.Smoking and employment: what is the extra word?

Smoking and being a pig – is there a big difference?

Smoking makes harm to clothes. Maybe it is not very important and destructive for a cowboy, but for a young woman that is horrible. Terrible smell invisibly comes onto your clothes. At first you do not notice that, but then cigarette smell runs after you wherever you go. You beautiful dresses seem to be kept in a dustbin, not in a large wardrobe. Yes, you lose your feminity and charm because of your unseen enemy – cigarette smell. “Be careful, she is not only a smoker, but a pig” says smell behind your back.

I suppose every smoker faced the disaster when ash fell down on his or her clothes. In my case it was my favorite dress. Light blue and very thin. A big ash spot has completely destroyed it. And the real horror was that this collapse happened on a very important date! Two spoiled blouses before negotiations seemed to be total rubbish comparable with that situation!

Once I put a pack of cigarettes in my Chloe bag and had to work very fast to come in time to negotiations. When I finally was there I’ve noticed a strange smell from my bag. I’ve opened it and immediately regret about this. Cigarettes had fell out the pack and spilled over the bag. Some of them broke down and the whole bag was dirty with tobacco. I was very ashamed because my colleagues noticed it and the bag was totally spoiled.

So sometimes there is not much difference between a smoker and a pig, don’t you think so?Smoking and being a pig – is there a big difference?