Food may reduce the effects of alcohol on the body by:

• A. slowing the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream
• B. neutralizing alcohol in the stomach
• C. increasing the rate at which alcohol is metabolized by the liver
• D. preventing alcohol from entering the digestive system

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the process of alcohol absorption: Alcohol is primarily absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine. The rate of absorption can be influenced by various factors, including the presence of food in the stomach.
2. Analyze the role of food in the stomach: Food slows the movement of alcohol from the stomach to the small intestine, where absorption occurs more rapidly. This delay reduces the rate at which alcohol enters the bloodstream.
3. Evaluate the incorrect options: Neutralizing alcohol in the stomach is not a physiological process, as alcohol is not chemically neutralized in the digestive system. Similarly, food does not increase the rate of alcohol metabolism by the liver, as the liver processes alcohol at a relatively constant rate. Lastly, food cannot prevent alcohol from entering the digestive system, as alcohol is ingested and must pass through the digestive tract.
4. Focus on the correct answer: The presence of food in the stomach slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream by delaying its passage to the small intestine, where absorption is more efficient.
5. Conclude: The correct answer is that food reduces the effects of alcohol on the body by slowing the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.