Just what happens to alcohol when it enters our body? One thing is for sure, it isn't digested the way food is. It is quickly and directly absorbed by the stomach lining and then transferred to the bloodstream. [This is why it is so important to consume food around periods of consuming alcohol. This can slow its absorption.] A portion of it is absorbed in the small intestine as well.
2. Then, it is broken down into carbon dioxide and water.
3. The body recognizes alcohol as a toxin. As a result, it tags it as "high priority", putting many other functions on the backburner so it can clear the body of the toxin immediately. How can this affect you? It interferes with normal glucose production in the liver, thus impacting our ability to maintain stable blood sugar levels and leading to lower blood sugar levels and higher blood fat levels.
4. Once it arrives in the bloodstream, alcohol is carried to all body organs, entering all tissues (except fat or bone tissue). The effects of this process depend on sex, body composition, food intake, hormonal factors, and the quantity of alcohol consumed.
5. The liver works on producing alcohol dehydrogenase, a detoxifying enzyme that breaks down alcohol. Generally, the liver is able to process one ounce of liquor per hour. If a person consumes more than one ounce of alcohol per hour, any additional alcohol builds up in the blood, increasing BAC (blood alcohol concentrations).
A 'high-priority' toxin
As noted in step 3, alcohol is considered a high-priority toxin that needs to be detoxified. Since the liver is busy dealing with consumed alcohol, it ends up being behind schedule with processing other important nutrients.
Alcohol interferes with digestion in other ways (this is mostly the case with heavy drinking):
• lowers the secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas (without these enzymes, you can't breakdown nutrients into molecules your body can use)
• damages cells lining the stomach and intestine (this can start to affect how well your body absorbs nutrients into the blood)
• any nutritional deficiencies caused by the previous bullet point can lead to further absorption problems with other nutrients
While it is possible to have a healthy relationship with alcohol, it's important to understand how its consumption can impact our body and our overall health. Since most of its negative effects are related to heavy drinking, it is important to consume alcohol in moderation. It is also unnecessary to begin drinking alcohol if you aren't already doing so now.
References
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh294/245-255.pdf
Lieber CS. Relationships between nutrition, alcohol use, and liver disease. Alcohol Res Health. 2003;27(3):220-231.
Emerson M, Dubois C, Hatcher A, et al. Psychiatric nutrition therapy: a resource guide for dietetics professionals practicing in behavioral health care. Dietetics in Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association. http://www3.nd.edu/~jkaiser/PsychPapers/Psychiatric Nutrition Therapy 08.31.06.pdf. 2006.
Korsten, M.A. Alcoholism and pancreatitis: Does nutrition play a role? Alcohol Health & Research World 13(3):232-237, 1989.