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How we poison ourselves
(Alcohol; household, work and environmental poisons; liver disease)
Many of us consume poison several times a week. You may not realise it, but alcohol is a strong enough poison to kill cats and dogs even in relatively small amounts (so keep your pets away from your booze).
The human body is able to handle a modest amount of alcohol, breaking it down eventually into harmless chemicals. But many people find drinking alcohol so pleasurable that they overwhelm their system with it.
Over time this can
damage and then destroy their liver – which can result in death
have a direct effect on their brain cells
increase their risk of cancer.
And drinking during pregnancy can harm the unborn child.
There is no need for most people to give up alcohol completely. In fact, small amounts give a little protection against heart disease. But it’s worth taking the following Government guidelines on alcohol seriously.
Some of the things you can do
Keep your alcohol consumption well within the guidelines.
for women, this is at most 2 to 3 units per day;
for men, at most 3 to 4 units per day.
(Remember these are maximum amounts. Binge drinking is potentially damaging.)
A unit is 10 millilitres of alcohol, which is roughly equivalent to half a pint of 4 per cent lager, a medium (125 ml) glass of wine, or a measure of spirits.
Everyone should have at least one or two days a week free from alcohol.
What the book covers
The book explains
how the liver and kidneys work
how they are affected not only by alcohol, but also by other poisons we come across in the environment and at home and work.
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Selected references for the book