What are
Spirits are beverages containing ethyl alcohol; specifically, the quantity of ethanol must be higher than 12% of the total volume obtainable by microbial fermentation of carbohydrates.
Types of spirits
Spirits are divided into:
- Distillates or spirits
- Liquors
- Creams
Distillates or spirits
Fermented musts are obtained by distillation, obtaining spirits with an alcohol content of between 30 and 60 °; they can be flavored or aged in wooden barrels, in order to give a particular aroma and taste, precious and characteristic.
The distillates are classified according to the type of fermented must:
- Wine distillate: brandy, cognac, armagnac
- Grape distillate: grappa
- Fruit distillate: kirsch, peach brandy, slivoviz and calvados
- Berry distillate: cassis (more) and fraises (strawberries)
- Cereal distillate: whiskey, gin and vodka
- Plant distillate: rum, tequila and Cachaça.
Liquors
The liqueurs are obtained by infusion, maceration or mixing of ethyl alcohol with other ingredients; these spirits are composed of alcohol, water and sugar, with the addition of aromatic or bitter ingredients in variable proportions.
Creams
Creams are liqueurs with a high sugar content and moderately alcoholic, between 15 ° and 28 °; the name " crema di " follows the name of the specific ingredient, reserved for liqueurs with a sugar rate of 250g / l (banana cream, cassis, mint, cocoa, etc.).
Spirits and health
Consumption of spirits (such as tobacco - smoking) is a subject as important as it is delicate.
Spirits consumption: how widespread is it?
In a recent statistical study, it was found that among the "consumers" of drinks containing alcohol,
Regulation of the spirits trade
The freedom or otherwise to produce, distribute, use or consume substances or products that do NOT provide any benefit, and increase exponentially the risk of pathologies and mortality, has always been the subject of numerous controversies; it is a question of distinguishing and / or preferring commercial law from the protection of public health.
Fortunately, in this regard scientific research and statistics clearly show that:
... as much as "the dose to make the poison ", it is possible to affirm (without any doubt!) that ... THE SUPERALCOLICI NEED TO HEAL GREATLY TO THE HEALTH! Therefore, the marketing of such drinks should be scrupulously regulated and controlled.
Spirits: "empty" and dangerous foods
While in other fermented beverages it is possible to identify a certain quantity of nutritional components (for example, the polyphenols in red wine and some B-complex vitamins in beer) associated with a modest amount of ethanol, in spirits (especially in liqueurs and creams) the anti-nutritional component of ethyl alcohol and / or the excessive intake of simple sugars prevail.
That said, it should be obvious that the consumption of spirits, in addition to not having benefits, tends to cause toxic damage to all body tissues (including the nervous system). Furthermore, it is necessary to specify that, in addition to the direct and immediate harmfulness of alcohol on the CNS, in the medium and long term the frequent consumption of alcohol-containing drinks (especially spirits) favors the development of a real psychophysical dependence (alcoholism or alcoholism ).
Alarming statistics
According to the ISTAT website: "risk behaviors in the consumption of alcohol concern 8 million 624 thousand people, 16.1% of the population aged 11 and over, stable share over time" ; a nice slice of the population! ... and if I am allowed ... a large portion of public health money, as ethics causes:
- Damage to the Central Nervous System (CNS)
- Esophagitis and / or esophageal ulcers
- Lesions of the gastric and duodenal mucosa
- Muscular weakening or atrophy and relative myocardial infarction
- Liver damage (alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic steatosis)
- Pancreatic damage
- Atrophy of the testicles and relative impotence and gynecomastia
- Increased episodes of vomiting and diarrhea (malabsorption and malnutrition)
- Changes in bowel function
- Increased cancer risk in different districts: mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and liver, but can also contribute to the development of breast and colon cancers
- Psychophysical dependence.
Spirits are beverages which, if consumed with extreme moderation, SHOULD NOT cause significant damage to the healthy organism; however, given the total nutritional uselessness of spirits and the risks related to the chronic abuse syndrome, it is advisable to limit, or rather eliminate, any habitual consumption trend (even if modest) of these products.
Bibliography:
- Complete treaty of abuses and addictions . Volume 1 - U. Nizzoli, M. Pissacroia - Piccin - pag 1239
- The reform of the highway code . The new regulation after the law 120/2010 - Legal instruments - page 391
- Istat.it - Reference period: Year 2010 - Diffused on: Tuesday 5 April 2011