What is the Value of Alcohol to Your Body? Part 4 of 4

This final part we will look at the theory that some medical advocates believe; that alcohol impedes metamorphosis of the tissue. Making the tissue last longer, not deteriorating as it would do through the normal life cycle of a cell. Not finding that alcohol possesses any direct alimentary value, the medical advocates of its use have been driven to the assumption that it is a kind of secondary food, in that it has the power to delay the metamorphosis of tissue.

Again we turn to Dr. Hunt, "By the metamorphosis of tissue is meant," says Dr. Hunt, "that change which is constantly going on in the system which involves a constant disintegration of material; a breaking up and avoiding of that which is no longer aliment, making room for that new supply which is to sustain life. "Another medical writer, in referring to this metamorphosis, says: "The importance of this process to the maintenance of life is readily shown by the injurious effects which follow upon its disturbance.

If the discharge of the excrementitiously substances be in any way impeded or suspended, these substances accumulate either in the blood or tissues, or both. In consequence of this retention and accumulation they become poisonous, and rapidly produce a derangement of the vital functions. Their influence is principally exerted upon the nervous system, through which they produce most frequent irritability, disturbance of the special senses, delirium, insensibility, coma, and finally, death." "This description," remarks Dr. Hunt, "seems almost intended for alcohol." He then says: "To claim alcohol as a food because it delays the metamorphosis of tissue, is to claim that it in some way suspends the normal conduct of the laws of assimilation and nutrition, of waste and repair.

A leading advocate of alcohol (Hammond) thus illustrates it: 'Alcohol retards the destruction of the tissues. By this destruction, force is generated, muscles contract, thoughts are developed, organs secrete and excrete.' In other words, alcohol interferes with all these. No wonder the author hazy how it does this, and we are not clear how such delayed metamorphosis will restore to good health or strength of the body. Alcohol is not known to have any of the usual power of foods, and use it on the double assumption that it delays metamorphosis of tissue, and that such delay is conservative of health, is to pass outside of the bounds of science into the land of remote possibilities, and confer the title of adjuster upon an agent whose agency is itself doubtful.

Having failed to identify alcohol as a nitrogenous or non-nitrogenous food, not having found it amenable to any of the evidences by which the food-force of aliments is generally measured, it will not do for us to talk of benefit by delay of regressive metamorphosis unless such process is accompanied with something evidential of the fact something scientifically descriptive of its mode of accomplishment in the case at hand, and unless it is shown to be practically desirable for the process of providing nourishment or sustenance.

There can be no doubt that alcohol does cause defects in the processes of elimination that are natural to the healthy body, and this is not a good thing. The research to get ammunition in my argument as to whether alcohol is part of the food group or not has involved a deeper research that I intended, but resulted in a clear picture as what alcohol can do to your body. I hope this information has been informative, and if you have any question that these article has brought to mind, please do hesitate to email me. I'm not a doctor, so if you need medical advice see your physician.