Women and Alcohol: The fine line between healthful and harmful
BOSTON, MA –The fine line between alcohol's benefits and risks is even finer for women than it is for men. The December issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch points out specific concerns for women and offers suggestions about defining individual moderation.
Research has indicated two reasons why women are more sensitive to alcohol than men. First, women's bodies have a higher proportion of fat and a lower proportion of water, so alcohol is diluted less when they drink. Secondly, men's stomachs secrete additional amounts of an enzyme that breaks down alcohol before it reaches the bloodstream.
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