Does vodka remove radiation from the body? Myths and reality

Radiation accompanies us everywhere: solar radiation, accidents at nuclear power plants, an X-ray machine in a city clinic, even the walls of houses continuously emit a harmless stream of alpha particles. There are truly effective means of protection against radiation, but there are also rumors about “folk” methods. One of them includes the well-known “100 grams for prevention,” which in fact turns out to be just an urban legend. But what are its origins?

Will alcohol help with radiation exposure?

In general, several things can affect radiation exposure. The further and shorter the time a person is from the radiation source, the lower the radiation dose he will receive. If you take alcohol shortly before the expected exposure, it can partially reduce the severity of the consequences. To some extent, alcohol resists radiation, although the anti-radiation properties of ethanol cannot be compared with special drugs.

During radiation exposure, drinking alcohol can have different effects.

• red wine varieties in moderate dosages help strengthen the immune defense, thereby increasing resistance to various influences, including radiation. But no type of alcohol has specific anti-radiation activity, and if you abuse alcohol, the body will become defenseless against the same infections and radiation;
• doctors claim that it is possible to partially accelerate the removal of radionuclides by combining a sauna and beer, but a similar effect can be achieved by combining plenty of drink and a bath. That is, alcohol does not play a special anti-radiation role here.

Moreover, strong alcohol can further aggravate radiation exposure, since it reduces immunity, leaving the body without protection against radiation.

Radiation and beer

Initially, beer is a very healthy drink. Contains many vitamins, micro and macroelements, Strengthens and stimulates the body. It is a diuretic if consumed within reasonable limits.

But, unfortunately, natural beer is a dream. You can only buy it in small brewery stores, and even then we cannot be completely sure of its environmental friendliness. On store shelves there are beer drinks that have nothing to do with beer. It is better for sick people to avoid them, and they certainly will not bring any benefit in the fight against radiation.

Does alcohol remove all radiation?

Heavy metals and radiation are dangerous because they are quite difficult to remove from the body. To accelerate the removal of radionuclides, many try to use alcoholic beverages, which is not at all correct. Strong drinks cannot be used to remove radioactive particles. After all, even the protective and preventive anti-radiation effect of alcohol lasts no more than half an hour. And if the body has already received a dose of radiation, then alcoholic drinks will no longer help.

Moreover, alcohol is incredibly harmful to the body. Although alcohol partially protects from radiation, in return ethanol destroys liver cells, has a detrimental effect on the stomach and promotes the leaching of vitamins and microelements, and cellular structures of the brain. Yes, alcohol slows down the process of spreading harmful substances throughout the body, but this effect can only be achieved when radiation reaches critical doses, and you also need to drink a lot of alcohol. And if you abuse strong drinks after irradiation, the condition only gets worse.

A little history

From the beautiful name came the terrible word - radiation. The term “curie” is used to measure it. It is now difficult to say whether the discoverers foresaw what they encountered or not. But they only felt the effects of radiation on their health many years later. The quantities of new elements were insignificant, Pierre died under the wheels of the “crew” on a Parisian street, and Maria during the First World War, drove a truck at an army hospital, which means that everything was fine with her health - and only after a long time were obtained during research radiation doses resulted in cancer.

Already at the beginning of the 20th century, research institutes opened. The people of planet Earth became acquainted with their developments very soon. What can we say about nuclear weapons, when a “peaceful atom”, if handled frivolously, ceases to be “peaceful”.

Vodka cures all ailments, especially those that are unknown how to treat them. Many people are confident in this even today. And this fabrication is associated with Chernobyl, but in vain.

No one has ever treated the liquidators of the consequences of an accident with alcohol for the purpose of treatment or protection from radiation.

The situation was extreme - people were tired, scared, confused. Medicines affect everyone differently, but the effect of alcoholic beverages on humans has long been studied. It should also be noted that a drunk person will not be able to cope with heavy physical activity. The work was carried out labor-intensively, and also at speed, since staying in places with high levels of radiation was carried out taking into account the permissible time.

Did you know what products remove mercury from the human body?
We recommend that you read the material on how to quickly remove alcohol at home.

The real, and perhaps the only, monument to the powerful state of the USSR is the amazingly beautiful city of Slavutich. Each republic of the Soviet country built its own quarter in it from its own materials, with the help of its own builders. The city was built for the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. None of its residents ever referred to a desire to heal with vodka. No one has ever hidden their passion for alcoholic beverages behind radiation.

What drinks will help with radiation?

So, we found out that alcohol removes radiation from the body, just a myth. But some drinks can still have a positive effect on your general condition during radiation exposure. Enotherapy or treatment with dry red wine is especially recommended for radiation exposure. This drink has proven itself to be a very useful remedy because:

• helps improve immune status;
• contains rubidium, which accelerates the removal of cesium from the body;
• rich in vitamins and pectins, which has a positive effect on the excretion of radionuclide substances, although to an insignificant extent;
• helps increase the body's resistance to the effects of viruses, radiation and electromagnetic radiation;
• contains resveratrol, which is a natural antioxidant and reduces the degree of radiation damage.

Such anti-radiation qualities of wine provide its antioxidant properties. But it should be borne in mind that you can drink no more than a glass of dry red wine per day, i.e. 100-150 ml. If you increase the dosage of wine, you will get the opposite effect.

It is unlikely that it will be possible to cure existing radiation sickness with the help of alcohol, because alcohol protects against radiation, but does not cure

Origin of the myth

The daily diet of submariners includes alcohol. Hence the story that it was turned on to protect the crew of nuclear submarines. In fact, alcohol is included in the ration as an adaptogen, helping to adapt to the difficult conditions in which the submariner finds himself.

Internal troops, as well as civilian detachments, were sent to eliminate the Chernobyl accident. Everyone received the usual packed lunch - except that mineral water was added to it over time. There was no talk of any “hundred people’s commissars before the battle,” and army personnel were tried almost according to wartime laws for drinking alcohol. But “partisans” (the so-called civilian liquidators, as well as military personnel called up from the reserve) could have a fair reserve of forty-degree heat, using it more for courage.

And I’m taking the “Stolichnaya” treatment, personally, so as not to go completely crazy. People say, “Stolichnaya”, very good for strontium. (V. Vysotsky, Song about physicists)

The rumor that the liquidators were “doused with vodka,” and supposedly only this helps to cope with radiation, quickly spread among the people. The myth literally gave people a free hand. First in Kyiv, then throughout Ukraine, they began to storm wine and vodka stores in search of healing from the pervasive radiation. Not only vodka was used, but almost any alcohol-containing surrogates, just to get a saving degree. The excitement was multiplied many times over due to the prohibition law in force in the Union at that time.

Cunning people crossed publicly available recipes with medical data. One of the most dangerous isotopes is iodine-131. It easily enters the body and accumulates in the thyroid gland (which, unfortunately, does not distinguish regular iodine from its radio analogue), which leads to a cancerous tumor. This is precisely why prevention is necessary: ​​taking medications with stable iodine so that the body does not experience its deficiency. According to the principle “you can’t spoil porridge with oil,” they began adding iodine solution to vodka. It is unknown how many people were poisoned by such a cocktail.

In the post-apocalyptic world of the game STALKER, there is an artifact - Cossacks vodka, which significantly reduces the effects of radiation.

And yet, does vodka help against radiation? It is indeed capable of slightly reducing its impact, but only at the moment of direct radiation. Radiation sickness is a consequence of radiolysis of water in cells: ionizing radiation produces free radicals and forms peroxide compounds that are harmful to cells. Alcohol “dries out” the body, leaving less water in the tissues for reaction.

Bottom line: should you drink during radiation?

Let's summarize. The effect of alcohol on radiation is controversial. Radiation is categorically incompatible with strong alcoholic drinks, although the myth about the benefits of vodka during radiation is firmly entrenched among the population. Dry wine of red varieties has a positive effect on the irradiated body, but in strictly limited quantities.

Apples, green tea, beets, and fermented milk products are much more beneficial and safe for the irradiated body. In general, the statement that alcohol removes radiation is incorrect. Many people try to justify their excessive alcohol abuse in this way. But everyone decides for himself what is preferable for him: to remove radionuclides with the help of drugs intended for this and a specialized diet, or to drink himself to death and die from alcoholism.

Vodka and radiation

We will not take into account any research by some British scientists, but will turn to simple logical reasoning and the personal experience of every adult.

Quite a lot is known about the effects of radiation on the body. Unfortunately, this knowledge was obtained experimentally directly on humans. It is well known that radiation penetrates the body in different ways, accumulates in it and is not in a hurry to be eliminated. Especially a lot of it settles in hair, bones, and nails. Man himself becomes a source of radiation. Doctors are studying ways to remove it, but this topic is very difficult.

Most adults know what a hangover and the accompanying feeling of thirst are. The body must urgently remove the breakdown products of vodka. They are washed out more actively than radioactive elements, which means that the load on the body will increase significantly, and it is already weakened.

Many people have probably forgotten that vodka is a mixture of water and ethyl alcohol and does not contain any beneficial substances.

Are x-rays harmful?

Radiation research has long become an indispensable necessity for the rapid detection of many diseases dangerous to human health and life. Radiology is successfully used to create images of various parts of the bone skeleton and internal organs - fluorography, computed tomography, angiography and other studies. With this diagnosis, minor x-ray exposure occurs, but its consequences still frighten patients.

Indeed, when taking images, a small dose is used, which is unable to lead to changes in the body. Even when undergoing several similar procedures in a row, the patient is exposed to no more radiation than in normal life over a certain period of time. The comparison of ratios is discussed in the table.

The table shows that a simple x-ray is produced in a small dose, the same as a person receives in a week and a half. And more serious examinations, requiring the use of higher doses, are prescribed in fully justified situations, when the choice of treatment, as well as the patient’s condition, depends on the results of the examination. The factor on which the consequences of exposure to x-rays depend is not the fact of exposure itself, but its duration.

After a single diagnosis using X-rays, using a low dose of radiation - RO or FLG, no special measures should be taken, since it will gradually leave the body in a short time. But when undergoing several studies in a row using large doses, it is better to think about ways to remove radiation.

Smoking as an additional source of radiation

Background to the development of radioprotectors

Back in the 50s of the 20th century, during the development of nuclear weapons, scientists were given the task of developing an antidote (radioprotector) that would help the human body cope with the doses of radiation exposure received and remove all the resulting radionuclides, or at least create a protective barrier that prevents the penetration of these most radionuclides into the irradiated body. Among the many chemicals being studied, scientists also tested alcohol as a protective agent against radiation. However, apart from creating an artificial soldier's bravado, alcohol did nothing to help in this case. A soldier, pumped up with alcohol, carried out a combat mission in a radiation zone and was immediately sent to a medical facility for treatment of radiation sickness.

Alternative ways to combat the harmful effects of radiation

If you want to reduce your risks from radiation poisoning, here are some more simple tips to help you do this.
Let's try to figure out what removes radiation from the body:

1. Tea mushroom. This product is especially effective when exposed to low dose radiation. It must be taken for two weeks before and after radiation.
2. Pomegranate and grape juice. These fruits have excellent antioxidant effects.
3. Anti-radiation tablets – “Polyphepan”. This product helps to effectively combat the negative effects of X-ray radiation. For adults, the daily dose of this drug is approximately 16 tablets. It is recommended to give children no more than 10 pieces. The drug is completely harmless. It can be taken even by small children and pregnant women.

Uses of iodine

As for iodine, it is taken orally in the form of potassium iodide. It is worth considering that such prophylaxis is carried out before irradiation. As a result, the substance will accumulate in the thyroid gland and will help the body resist the influence of harmful isotopes. The medicine should be taken in a dosage of 100-200 mg per day. Take the tablets with water or milk. This supplement is an excellent prevention of radiation accumulation and thyroid problems.

There is one simple method, using which you can easily check whether there is enough potassium iodide in the body. To do this, iodine is applied to various areas of the skin using cotton wool. If iodine is quickly absorbed, it means that the body is experiencing a shortage of this microelement.

Why alcohol abuse increases the effects of radiation

Ionizing radiation creates background radiation in places where radionuclides are concentrated. First of all, in the lymph nodes. Scientific studies with labeled atoms have shown that after drinking alcohol, the outflow of radionuclides from the lymph nodes to vital organs begins: lungs, spinal and bone marrow, kidneys, thyroid gland .

Substances that help remove radiation

The following elements contribute to the removal of radiation from the body:

• Carotene: promotes cell repair. This element is found in apricots, carrots, tomatoes and sea buckthorn.
• Selenium: antioxidant, prevents tumor development. Found in legumes, eggs and rice.
• Methionine: responsible for cell repair. Fish, quail eggs, and asparagus are rich in this substance.

As you can guess, many protective and regenerative processes in the human body depend on the quality of nutrition. Sometimes a properly formulated diet can help cope with radiation symptoms better than medications. To select the appropriate food products, you need to know what removes radiation from the body.

Can alcohol develop immunity to radiation?

To date, there is no immunity from radiation. There are certain protective mechanisms that reduce the harmful effects of radiation.

This is the presence in alcoholic drinks of antioxidants and essential vitamins that neutralize free radicals. But this cannot be called immunity. It’s just that useful substances reduce the harm from radiation and prevent changes in the genome.

It must be remembered that small doses of alcohol have a positive effect.

As you increase the amount you drink, the reverse process occurs. Alcohol itself becomes an oxidizing agent, destroys cells, and suppresses the immune system. Therefore, there is no way to save from radiation. But it is quite possible to become the cause of alcoholism.