Drinking For A High - Don’t bet your life on it!

By. NutritionVista.com
So, what is all this drama over binge drinking?
"I had just a few shots of tequila." Truth be told, when in the company of friends we lose count of how many we've had, and as the evening wears on, we've lost control over our mind and body.

Binge drinking is the consumption of five or more drinks in a row by men - or four or more drinks in a row by women - at least once in two weeks.

So, as you read this, you ask - Who cares? How bad can it get? Worst case scenario, I'll just throw up and pass out, Right?

Wrong!
For starters, instead of feeling high that you just won a bet of downing five beers in under 30 minutes, you might instead get alcohol poisoning, which is a dead end. To add insult to injury, the very friends who goad you on will mock you the next day and will not be there to carry you home, or to the hospital to save your life.

What makes us want to binge on alcohol?
"Booze" gives a high, a feeling of being happier, more relaxed, uninhibited, and liberated. This feeling motivates young adults to go on consuming another and yet another drink till they are "drunk". Ample pocket money, peer pressure and a sense of adventure are often the motivating factors for these young revelers.

Common causes:

• Peer pressure, taking on a bet or a challenge.
• Stress
• Boredom
• Liquor stores, bars, and alcoholic beverage companies make drinking seem cool and fun
• You want to feel on top of the world  and believe you have it in you to prove you can do it.
• You want to feel older.
• Family Influences The example set by parents with their own drinking has been shown to affect their childrens drinking throughout their lifetime.

So, what is a standard drink serving. A standard drink is equal to 13.7 g (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. In simple terms- (For size comparison keep an 8 oz glass of water in mind)

• 1 small bottle of beer (12 oz)
• 8 oz. of Malt.
• 5 oz of wine
• 1.5-ounces or a "shot" of 80-proof distilled gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey. (yes, those tiny glasses that you glug down while having a bet with a friend.)

Let's look at it a different way. Have you ever tried to DRINK water that has a lot of salt in it? You're right, you cannot, for you will throw up as your body rejects it. Similarly, your blood cannot tolerate large quantities of alcohol in a short span of time, and when you binge drink, you are overloading the system and it starts shutting down. It can not only leave you brain damaged, it is very often fatal.

Effects of binge drinking on my body. Can it lead to alcohol poisoning?
Even after a person stops drinking, alcohol in their stomach and guts is being absorbed into the bloodstream to circulate throughout the body. You are kidding yourself if you assume you will be just fine sleeping it off.

Signs of alcohol poisoning:

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma
• Inability to be awakened
• Vomiting.
• Alcohol depletes potassium and magnesium in the body
• Blood glucose levels can fall rapidly
• Seizures
• Slow or irregular breathing
• Hypothermia (low body temperature)
• Bluish skin color, paleness

Can repeated binge drinking cause a change in our personality?
Yes, the first thing we feel is one of invincibility, and the need to seek out new and thrilling experiences. Drunken stupor can also make you more violent, drive more recklessly and indulge in unsafe sex. In the days following your binge drinking it can also lead to feelings of depression and isolation.

Drinking also disrupts sleep patterns, and can affect your ability to concentrate the next day resulting in poor academic or job performance.

Many young females simply do not see themselves as vulnerable to any negative consequences that might occur because of drinking, such as having an accident, or being a victim of sexual abuse and date rape.

Binge drinkings biggest impact is on your weight.
Five rum and cokes could add on an unbelievable 1600-1800 calories in a single binging session and ultimately get converted to loads of ugly flab.

In conclusion - Don't be afraid to seek medical help for a friend or even a stranger at a night club who has had too much to drink. Don't worry that they may become angry or embarrassed-remember, you cared enough to help.

What's that old grandma's cliche, better to be safe than....

Use our Alcohol Calorie Calculator to calculate the number of calories you consume from alcohol daily.

By. NutritionVista.com

R.F. Images Courtesy Getty Images.