It is no news that alcohol intake can mess up with your weight loss plans, dehydrate you and lead to health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and kidney disease. You know all these but that doesn’t stop you from reaching for that adult liquid during social gatherings or on nights when you feel down. And you gotta give alcohol some credit: it does help ease anxiousness or nervousness in social settings, reduce stress and boost happiness.
Alcohol, when taken lightly can be highly beneficial to the body but that’s the keyword right there—lightly. Many people often ignore that keyword, forgetting that moderation is the key to almost everything in life. If you are drinking socially, there are a number of steps you can take to make alcohol a bit better for you—as recommended by experts. Those steps are listed below:
Opt For Alcohol With Lower Volume
When you are taking alcoholic beverages, opt for one that has a lower volume of alcohol—your liver will thank you for it. It is advisable to opt for beers that are below 10% ABV (alcohol by volume). Beverages, including wine, with 10%-20% alcohol content may not be so kind on your liver.
Be Mindful Of Portions
It is easy to stretch out your glass for the extra pouring of alcohol when you are hanging out with friends or in a high tempo social gathering. You don’t want to kill the vibe or be the one who chickens out. But that won’t do your body any good. Try to limit the amount of alcohol you take in one sitting.
And it’s not just about having one pour of beer, wine or mixed drinks. Sometimes, one pour of these beverages contains multiple servings of alcohol. So it’s wise to be mindful of the drink you are having as well as the amount of drink you are consuming.
Go For The Real Deal
If at all you must drink alcohol, why not go for the real stuff? You see people reading the list of ingredients at the back of food products they want to eat but when it comes to drinks, they don’t do the same. You should check the label at the back of your drink too—drinks that contain a lot of artificial flavors are not healthy.
Stay Hydrated
Alcohol can dehydrate you the moment you are consuming it because it is a diuretic. It also flushes away important electrolytes from your system, leading to a terrible hangover. To avoid that, you’ve got to stay properly hydrated. Between every glass of alcohol you drink, gulp down a glass of water.
Round-Up Early Enough
Don’t drink close to your bedtime. Alcohol can disrupt your sleep cycle and make you sleep poorly if you hit the sheets not long after you drown alcohol. It’s best to be done with anything alcohol four hours before sleep calls. And before you sleep, drink a lot of water.
Try not to forget these tips the next time you are in a social gathering or have the urge to drink alcohol. Found this article helpful? Do share with your friends.
