By HELEN W. SMITH

By HELEN W. SMITH

Extension Agent. Home Economics

One of the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans is If you Drink Alcoholic Beverages, Do So In Moderation. The Extension Homemaker Clubs chose this topic as their nutrition program for the month of January, so I would like to share information from their program in my nutrition column this week. The lesson objectives wee to understand the health risks associated with overconsumption of alcohol, leam the duties of a responsible party host/hostess, and demonstrate mock-cocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks.

Risks Associated With Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine and whiskey supply calories, but few nitrients.

Heavy drinkers may be malnourished because they often do not eat enough food to get the vitamins and minerals they need.

Drinking alcoholic beverages is linked to many health problems. Too much alcohol may cause:

• cirrhosis of the liver

• inflammation of the pancreas

• damage to brain and heart

• increased risks for some cancers especially throat, esophogus, lamyx

• higher risk for high blood pressure and stroke

• accidents (driving while intoxicated)

• can lead to addiction

People Who Should Not Drink

There are certain groups of people who should not drink alcoholic beverages. These include:

• Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive because it can cause birth defects ’

• individuals who plant to drive or other activities that require attention or skill

• individuals who use medicines..alcohol may change the way medicine works in the body or even make it toxic

• individuals who cannot keep their drinking moderate

• children and adolescents-Illegal!

Moderate Drinking

The U.S.D.A. Dietary Guidelines state that women should have no more than one drink per day and men should have no more than two drinks ner dav.