CHECK Magazin - Gesundheitsmagazin für Männer No.9

Society
A CHEAP DATE
How much alcohol a person tolerates is
genetically determined. In contrast to
Americans and Europeans, 80 % of Chinese,
Japanese and Koreans react to small amounts
of alcohol as if they were allergic: increased
heart rate, heat development, reddened to
swollen face, muscle and stomach pain.
OH
This alcohol intolerance is caused by a lack
of production of certain enzymes involved in
the breakdown of alcohol in the liver. A 2010
research paper suggests why the genome
curbs its release: when East Asian people
began planting rice as a staple food, they
fermented it with yeast to preserve it. These
form ethanol during the fermentation process.
So if you ate rice, you were consuming alcohol
at the same time. In order to prevent alcoholrelated
organ damage, the body reacts with
the above- mentioned unpleasant symptoms
so that you “ voluntarily” consume less of
it. This information may have been passed
on from nature to offspring through gene
mutation (source: Ratiopharm).
ALCOHOL AND RELIGION
“Take and drink from it all: this is the cup of
the new and everlasting covenant. My blood,
shed for you and for all, for the forgiveness
of sins.”
Only (usually white) wine is used to celebrate
Holy Communion as a symbol of the
community of Christians.
In the Islamic world religion, wine was
considered in the Koran “among the good
gifts of creation” (Sura 16:67), but it was
also clear that believers should not come to
prayer drunk (4:43). However, since the wine
was often consumed while gambling, after
initially being tolerated over the centuries,
it was then “haram” – forbidden. In a few
Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait and Sudan, alcoholic beverages
can only be purchased illegally. In Iran,
alcohol consumption can be punished with
40–80 lashes and even death for repeat
offences. Alcohol as an ingredient in medicine
is actually also prohibited. However, if the
intake of alcohol-containing substances is
indispensable, there is no substitute for it
and no other non-alcoholic remedies are
available, one may only take as much of
it as is necessary to avert the damage. It is
also permitted to relieve pain in oncological
patients and patients who have just
undergone surgery.
After all these sobering facts about the
intoxicating substance, finally something
positive: moderate consumption of red
wine can prevent circulatory disorders in
the vessels and reduce harmful blood fats
in the body.
Our author Michaela Medrow is
a pharmaceutical representative
and beautician. She works in the
Witzleben pharmacies.
So: a toast to freedom. Provided it it just ONE
glass.
Witzleben Apotheken Berlin
Kaiserdamm 24+26
14057 Berlin
www.witzleben-apotheke.de
50 CHECK BERLIN #9