gets to the small intestine and then into the blood That portion is around 30% in men, but only 10% in women Men therefore experience a slower rise in blood alcohol when they drink, and can drink more before they feel its effects And there are strong genetic influences on how well individuals are able to handle alcohol Overall, the body can metabolize around 10–15 grams of alcohol per hour, the equivalent of one standard-sized drink every 60–90 minutes The level of alcohol in the blood reaches a maximum 30–60 minutes after consumption Foods, and especially fats and oils, delay the passage of the stomach’s contents into the small intestine, giving the stomach enzymes more time to work, slowing the rise in blood alcohol, and reducing its peak to about half of what it reaches on an empty stomach On the other hand, aspirin interferes with the stomach’s alcohol metabolism and so causes a quicker rise in blood alcohol levels The carbon dioxide bubbles in sparkling wines and beer cause the same accelerated rise by as yet unknown means The Benefits of Moderate Drinking One consistent finding from several decades’ worth of studies is that people who regularly consume the equivalent of one or two alcoholic drinks per day die less often from heart disease and stroke (Higher consumption is associated with higher death rates from cancer and accidents.) Alcohol itself raises the levels of desirable HDL cholesterol and lowers the levels of blood factors that induce clotting and thus contribute to blockages And red wine and dark beer are good sources of antioxidant phenolic compounds (p 255) Wine phenolics also cause arteries to widen and reduce the tendency of red blood cells to stick together, and a ... decades’ worth of studies is that people who regularly consume the equivalent of one or two alcoholic drinks per day die less often from heart disease and stroke (Higher consumption is associated... cancer and accidents.) Alcohol itself raises the levels of desirable HDL cholesterol and lowers the levels of blood factors that induce clotting and thus contribute to blockages And red wine and. ..blood alcohol levels The carbon dioxide bubbles in sparkling wines and beer cause the same accelerated rise by as yet unknown means The Benefits of Moderate Drinking One consistent finding from