Experts say these are the healthiest ways to drink alcohol
You may have heard people say that it is safe to drink alcohol in moderation. However, we probably all have our own definition of how many drinks that actually consist of. Finding the happy medium isn’t as hard as you may think.
Doctors and dietitians have determined what alcohol in moderation means for you. Keeping track of how much you drink, you have to know your limit, and know when to stop. Experts have also pointed out that we each have our own cut-off number. This also varies depending on our biological sex, age, health, and body composition.
Although doctors recommend one drink per day for ladies, tune in to your body. Is it giving you cues that you’ve had enough after knocking back two cocktails? You know your body best.
So, here are the healthiest and smartest ways to drink alcohol:
Eating before you start sipping
Everyone absorbs alcohol at a different rate. Women, young people, and people with smaller bodies tend to absorb alcohol more quickly than men, older people, and those who remain larger in body size. Aside from that, your liver health also affects the rate at which your body processes alcohol.
However, eating also plays a big role in how your body handles alcohol. The small intestine quickly absorbs alcohol. The longer alcohol stays in the stomach, the slower it becomes absorbed and the slower it affects the body. Food also prevents alcohol from passing quickly into your small intestine.
When you drink on an empty stomach, much of the alcohol you drink passes quickly from the stomach into the small intestine. That’s when most of it is absorbed into the bloodstream. This, then, intensifies all the side effects of drinking. Light to moderate drinking on an empty stomach may not be a major cause of concern. However, drinking large amounts of alcohol fast on an empty stomach can be very dangerous.
Pacing yourself with water
Alcohol causes dehydration which basically means your body loses water and salts. Alcohol is a diuretic. This means that it causes you to use the bathroom more often. The lack of fluid not only strips your body of key electrolytes but also exaggerates the symptoms of a hangover. That’s why hydration is important, especially when you drink alcohol.
You have to alternate between an alcoholic beverage and a hydrating glass of water. Our brain tissues are mostly made of water. So, dehydration has the effect of shrinking the tissue. This, then, creates pressure or headaches. Aside from that, experts also suggest rehydrating your body before you go to sleep after drinking alcohol to prevent or lessen a hangover.
Going for healthier drinks
Alcohol isn’t created equal. Of course, there are not-so-great for you. Then, there are the notoriously mixed drinks high in sugar that will make you feel worse than alcohol alone. Experts recommended that you should choose mixers that aren’t high in sugar. This includes either club soda or sparkling water.
They also suggest red or white wine because it has the health benefit of antioxidants and takes longer to drink. To top it off, you can choose drinks that have fresh lime juice, fresh lemon juice, club soda, agave, jalapeño, and/or ice. Another simple hack you can do includes sticking with clear alcohol.
Dark liquor has a higher sugar content and contains byproducts. This means that it creates impurities once fermentation occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. Vodka and tequila can be better choices than rum, whiskey, and rye. Aside from that, clearer alcohol may also result in less severe hangover symptoms.
Switching it up with non-alcohol drinks
Booze-free refreshments are all the rage right now. They remain diverse and flavorful in their own right. Mocktails have become popular as it provides an opportunity to avoid alcohol. Meanwhile, you can enjoy a healthy, interesting beverage in a social setting. You can try and mix up your own mocktails from Georgina Kiely’s list on BBC’s Good Food.
A healthy relationship with alcohol looks different for everyone after all. Instead of limiting or shaming yourself for what you do drink, practice a mindfulness-based approach when it comes to drinking.
