Alcohol kills brain cells / Absinthe & Hemingway’s Aunt Roberta / Neuro-Biology

I prepared this summary for facilitating your understanding of this topic 🙂

Ethanol is present in alcoholic beverages as a consequence of the fermentation of carbohydrates with yeast. Alcohols are organic molecules assembled from carbon (C), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H) atoms. When 2 carbons are present, the alcohol is called ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol).

The alcohol in drinks is called ethanol (ethyl alcohol). It is made when yeast ferments the sugars in grains, fruits and vegetables. For example, wine is made from the sugar in grapes and vodka is made from the sugar in potatoes.

So, when we drink alcohol most of the ethanol we incorporate in our body is broken down in the liver by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which transforms ethanol into a toxic compound called acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), a known carcinogen.

Ethanol can lead to malnutrition, and can exert a direct toxicological effect due to its interference with hepatic metabolism and immunological functions. A causal effect has been observed between alcohol and various cancers.

In addition to the toxicity of ethanol, the main psychoactive component of alcoholic beverages, other physiological symptoms may arise from the activity of acetaldehyde, a metabolite of alcohol.

Acetaldehyde is a much more potent toxin than ethanol, and at least a part of ethanol toxicity is due to ethanol’s first metabolite acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is toxic and can lead to irreversible DNA damage, which can lead to cancer. The liver converts most of the ethanol in alcoholic beverages we consume into acetaldehyde. Small amounts of ethanol are also broken down in the mouth and stomach.

Acetaldehyde is the first product generated during the metabolism of alcohol (chemically known as ethanol). It is generated primarily in the liver by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). The acetaldehyde then is converted rapidly to acetate by the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH).

Some of the acetaldehyde enters your blood, damaging your membranes and possibly causing scar tissue. It also leads to a hangover, and can result in a faster heartbeat, a headache or an upset stomach. The brain is most affected by acetaldehyde poisoning. It causes problems with brain activity and can impair memory.

If too much alcohol is consumed the body cannot process the acetaldehyde fast enough. Acetaldehyde then builds up in the body.

Spirits have the highest concentration of alcohol and most contain around 40% ABV. Strength can vary considerably, however. Some vodkas contain 30% ethanol, while some bourbons may be around 60% ABV and certain ‘high proof’ spirits can have up to 95% alcohol content.

*TIP: Whiskey contains more alcohol than vodka which has an average alcohol content of about 35% (vodka has 37-40% of alcohol). Whiskey (40-60% of alcohol) is made of grains (barley, rye, and corn). Whereas vodka is made by potatoes or grains. Whiskey contains more sugar before it ferments.

*TIP: Black tea stimulates the enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde, while green tea promotes the breakdown of alcohol. Drink water. Drinking water may reduce the rate or how much alcohol is ingested, while carbonated water may encourage the breakdown of acetaldehyde.

*TIP: STOP your DRINKING, if you can’t, make it the most conscious you are able to and reduce your drinking as much as possible ! If you can’t, ask for help !

*TIP: If you think you are a social drinker…well, that thing does NOT exist!

*TIP: If you have not started drinking alcohol yet… never start !

* Spirits

Spirits are distilled alcoholic beverages. Some of the more popular examples of spirits include tequila, rum, gin, vodka, whiskey, and bourbon. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact origin of distilled liquors, but scholars’ best guess puts the first distillation around the thirteenth century. In most cases, spirits are liquor and liquors are alcohol. Wine, beer, and cider are all examples of alcohol, but they are not spirits.

While Hemingway suggests drinking “three to five of these slowly”, we would definitely have to disagree. And last on our list, but certainly not the least (amount of alcohol, that is), we have the Aunt Roberta. This cocktail contains 100% liquor and is widely regarded as THE strongest cocktail in the world.

How do you make an Aunt Roberta cocktail?

1 part of Blackberry liquor, 2 parts of Absinthe, 1.5 parts of Gin, 3 parts of Vodka, and 1 part of Brandy are fused and shaken in a cocktail shaker, filled with ice. The mixture is strained and poured into a glass for a smooth consistency. Voila!

What is absinthe in the Bible?

Absinthe’s popularity grew steadily through the 1840s, when it was given to French troops as a malaria preventive, and the troops brought home their taste for it. Absinthe became so popular in bars, bistros, cafés, and cabarets by the 1860s that the hour of 5 pm was called l’heure verte (“the green hour”).

In the New Testament: Apsinthos is believed to refer to a plant of the genus Artemisia, used metaphorically to mean something with a bitter taste. The English rendering “wormwood” refers to the dark green oil produced by the plant, which was used to kill intestinal worms.

It is spirit with a high alcohol content traditionally produced from wormwood, anise, and other herbs such as fennel. These herbs give absinthe its hallmark green colour. Wormwood contains thujone, which has been identified as the agent rumoured to cause hallucinations and convulsions when consumed in high doses.

NOTE: Beer and wine are NOT safer than spirits. Alcohol is alcohol, toxic and bad for you, regardless of the type.

24 Aug 2022

Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses the impact of alcohol on the brain.

Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab Podcast.

What is The Pomodoro Technique?

1. Identify a task or tasks that you need to complete.
2. Set a timer for 25 minutes.
3. Work on a task with no distractions.
4. When the alarm sounds, take a 5-minute break.
5. Repeat the process 3 more times.
6. Take a longer 30-minute break and start again.

Get 5 Free Travel Packs, Free Liquid Vitamin D and more from AG1 at https://drinkag1.com/wisdom (discount automatically applied)

Chris and Andrew Huberman discuss how bad alcohol really is for you. Just how bad is alcohol for your health according to Andrew Huberman?

What does Andrew Huberman prefer to consume rather than drink alcohol? What are the long-term effects of drinking alcohol according to Andrew Huberman?

Why do addictions happen? / Dopamine Ups & Downs, Cravings, Neurobiology & Neuroscience

I prepared a summary to introduce you to this topic:

The crucial brain reward neurotransmitter activated by addictive drugs is dopamine, specifically in the “second-stage” ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens link in the brain’s reward circuitry. This has been learned over many decades of research, and is based upon many congruent findings.

When we crave something, it signals our brain’s demand for a substance or action linked to pleasure or alleviation of discomfort. This demand triggers the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which stimulates the brain’s reward pathways, creating a compelling urge for the craved item or activity.

Animal studies have shown that when cortisol is released with chronic stress, changes in the brain’s response can lead to lower dopamine levels and increased cravings. Stress has also been associated with increased levels of the hormone ghrelin, again causing stronger cravings.

Today, Crystal meth releases more dopamine in the brain compared to any other drug. Dopamine is a brain neurotransmitter that serves a number of functions, including the feeling of pleasure. When crystal meth leads to a powerful surge of dopamine in the brain, people feel motivated to seek it out again and again.

Additionally, the intensified dopamine response in the brain that mood-altering drugs produce does not naturally stop once the behaviour is initiated or completed (as is the case with natural reward behaviours such as eating or having sex); as a result, cravings for the rewards associated with the drug continue to occur.

Dopamine affects movement, emotion, learning, reward, and executive functions. High levels may result in impulsiveness and aggression, while low levels may lead to tiredness and a lack of motivation.

High dopamine symptoms include anxiety, excessive energy, insomnia, and hallucinations. Low dopamine levels are associated with brain fog, mood swings, and muscle spasms.

When we constantly overstimulate ourselves with things like excessive screen time, gaming, and unhealthy eating, it can lead to issues like addiction and poor mental health. During a dopamine detox, you have to avoid activities like social media, gaming, junk food, and even work.

Engage in Natural Dopamine-Boosting Activities: Physical exercise, meditation, exposure to sunlight, engaging in hobbies, and listening to music can naturally increase dopamine levels. These activities not only help in elevating mood but also in reducing cravings.

*Seeking for more info & help? Visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction/psychology/reward-system/

1 Nov 2023

Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses the science of addiction, focusing on the role of dopamine to understand why quick rewards make addiction so hard to combat. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast.

2 Nov 2023

Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses the dopamine-driven cycle of craving and motivation.

*Seeking for more info & help? Visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction/psychology/reward-system/

What causes an addictive brain? / Addictions, The Reward System & Neuroscience

* dedicated to our dearest Li, who is an expert professional on the treatment of addictions 🙂

I prepared this summary to introduce you to the topic:

Addiction, or substance use disorder, is a primary and chronic disease of the brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. This is characterized by compulsive drug craving, seeking and use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences.

The term reward system describes a group of structures that are activated by rewarding or reinforcing stimuli, such as addictive drugs or alcohol. When the brain is exposed to a rewarding stimulus, it reacts by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Instead of a simple, pleasurable surge of dopamine, many drugs of abuse—such as opioids, cocaine, or nicotine—cause dopamine to flood the reward pathway, 10 times more than a natural reward. The brain remembers this surge and associates it with the addictive substance.

When rewarding stimuli are experienced, the dopaminergic mesolimbic system is activated which causes the release of dopamine to the targeted nuclei (Small et al. 2003; Cameron et al. 2014). The ventral striatum, including the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), is a major substrate involved in reward.

Dopamine (DA) is the neurotransmitter that has been classically associated with the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse and may have a key role in triggering the neurobiological changes associated with addiction.

Research has shown that the drugs most commonly abused by humans (including opiates, alcohol, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine) create a neurochemical reaction that significantly increases the amount of dopamine that is released by neurons in the brain’s reward centre.

Midbrain dopamine neurons are well known for their strong responses to rewards and their critical role in positive motivation. It has become increasingly clear, however, that dopamine neurons also transmit signals related to salient but non-rewarding experiences such as aversive and alerting events.

Seeking for more info & help? Visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction/psychology/reward-system/

23 May 2022

For more information on addiction services at #YaleMedicine, visit: https://www.yalemedicine.org/departme…. Written and produced by Yale Neuroscience PhD student Clara Liao.

Addiction is now understood to be a brain disease. Whether it’s alcohol, prescription pain pills, nicotine, gambling, or something else, overcoming an addiction isn’t as simple as just stopping or exercising greater control over impulses. That’s because addiction develops when the pleasure circuits in the brain get overwhelmed, in a way that can become chronic and sometimes even permanent. This is what’s at play when you hear about reward “systems” or “pathways” and the role of dopamine when it comes to addiction.

But what does any of that really mean?

One of the most primitive parts of the brain, the reward system, developed as a way to reinforce behaviours we need to survive—such as eating. When we eat foods, the reward pathways activate a chemical called dopamine, which, in turn, releases a jolt of satisfaction. This encourages you to eat again in the future. When a person develops an addiction to a substance, it’s because the brain has started to change. This happens because addictive substances trigger an outsized response when they reach the brain. Instead of a simple, pleasurable surge of dopamine, many drugs of abuse—such as opioids, cocaine, or nicotine—cause dopamine to flood the reward pathway, 10 times more than a natural reward.

The brain remembers this surge and associates it with the addictive substance. However, with chronic use of the substance, over time the brain’s circuits adapt and become less sensitive to dopamine. Achieving that pleasurable sensation becomes increasingly important, but at the same time, you build tolerance and need more and more of that substance to generate the level of high you crave.

Addiction can also cause problems with focus, memory, and learning, not to mention decision-making and judgement. Seeking drugs, therefore, is driven by habit—and not conscious, rational decisions. Unfortunately, the belief that people with addictions are simply making bad choices pervades. Furthermore, the use of stigmatizing language, such as “junkie” and “addict” and getting “clean,” often creates barriers when it comes to accessing treatment. There’s also stigma that surrounds treatment methods, creating additional challenges.

Though treatment modalities differ based on an individual’s history and the particular addiction he or she has developed, medications can make all the difference. “A lot of people think that the goal of treatment for opioid use disorder, for example, is not taking any medication at all,” says David A. Fiellin, MD, a Yale Medicine primary care and addiction medicine specialist.

“Research shows that medication-based treatments are the most effective treatment. Opioid use disorder is a medical condition just like depression, diabetes or hypertension, and as with those conditions, it is most effectively treated with a combination of medication and counselling.”

Seeking for more info & help? Visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction/psychology/reward-system/

Fentanyl, a potent and highly addictive synthetic opioid that kills more people under 50 than any other dead-cause / Addictions, Human Brain & Health

A painkiller 100 times more potent than morphine !

Sep 30, 2022

May 12, 2023

Fentanyl is a potent and highly addictive synthetic opioid, approved for use in the US in the 1960s. Today, Fentanyl is involved in more deaths in Americans under the age of 50 than any other cause of death, according to the country’s Drug Enforcement Agency. And now child opioid deaths are also on the rise.

May 4, 2023

Drug-related deaths surged by 41% in San Francisco in the first three months of this year – with an average of one person dying of an accidental overdose every 10 hours. The drug-ravaged Tenderloin district is worst affected.

Sky’s Martha Kelner has witnessed people strewn on the doorstep of San Francisco’s main government building, contorted by the effects of fentanyl, a painkiller 100 times more potent than morphine.

tranq-dope a flesh eating drug | news, mind health, addictions

15 Mar 2023

Tranq. The sound of it alone is frightening and when you see the reality of it your heart just breaks. It’s the new, flesh-eating drug – heaping further misery – on the drug addiction crisis in America. Our U.S Correspondent David Woiwod has just returned from Philadelphia.

Tranq-dope is the new zombie-drug | news, mind health & addictions

11 May 2023

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials have launched a new program to track the troubling prevalance of the flesh-eating “zombie drug” known as xylazine. Xylazine is a sedative drug used by veterinarians to anesthetize animals.

The drug, also known as “tranq,” “tranq dope,” on the streets, has become increasingly present in the illicit drug supply.

The drug can be cooked down into a powder form and mixed with illicit opioids such as heroin and fentanyl or pressed into counterfeit pills or sedatives. The “zombie drug” nickname stems from the drug’s known effect of rotting the skin.

25 Feb 2023

A new ‘Zombie Drug’, Xylazine or Tranq is causing havoc in US cities. This skin-rotting ‘zombie drug’ was approved for veterinary use by US Food & Drug Administration. Xylazine is a non-opioid veterinary tranquillizer not approved for human use. The flesh-eating drug is one of the major reasons behind overdose deaths in the US.

Live a life outside social media

You’re wasting your TIME !

fooled & slaved by our smartphones

free social media addiction is slavery

Drug dealers do not consume drugs, Iphone producers do not let their children use them | control ur addiction to ur mobile phone nor to social media … do something now !

Before You glance at ur smart phone and Scroll Down again… WATCH THIS! 

by mvm

It is interesting and a sad coincidence, that just a few days ago, I shared some thoughts with a group of people which resemble many of the ideas and thoughts expressed on this video.

We were arguing and commenting on the addiction and dependence social media feedback and smart phones generate on human brains.  To the point that we cannot stop glancing at our mobiles and we are no longer looking at people in the eyes, we do not have real human conversations because if you happen to have your head up-right … you will just see the back of the head of the people around u … cause they are hooked to their phone screens …

And this addictive glancing provokes accidents and death, irreparable damage, for example when people crossing the streets are immersed on their mobile screens with the ear-sets on, or drivers or bikers are checking on their phones without looking around at real life.

And we no longer talk in human terms, we have whatsapp conversations, instagram pic interchanges, tumbler interaction or twitter talks which will never match or even approach a real face-to-face verbal language conversation !

Drug dealers, make business and they need to be lucid to make the most of it so generally they are not consumers, the same happens with some tech companies which make business by developing apps or by marketing social media or by manufacturing smart phones… their founders do not get addicted or do not allow their children to consume what they produce !

We are missing a lot of our real 3-D lives and gaining … gaining so little online fantasy.  It is not worth it !

 

Social Media is highly addictive as cocaine | Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg | science & technology

Social Media Addiction & Depression

This might be one of the most important videos I’ve edited in 2018.

After everything that has been going on with the privacy crisis and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg going to Washington to speak with members of Congress, I felt that this video was timely.

I think social media can be good but we must be careful with how we use it.