The Truth About Hangovers And Drinking
Whether it is St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s Eve, or your best friend’s bachelor party, there is often more than one occasion where you may find yourself drinking too much. You may even try to justify it with your magic hangover preventatives and cures. However, before you saddle up to the bar and order a round for you and your pals, you may want to know the truth about drinking and hangovers.
For most people, the myths that they swear by when it comes to drinking come from their college life, where booze and books are often mixed. Even after they graduate, they tend to follow these “rules” without ever thinking about them. Here is a more scientific look at what is behind the legends.
One saying goes “liquor before beer never fear, beer before liquor never sicker.” However, drink enough of either and you will be sick. There are some studies that suggest that more alcohol gets absorbed after carbonated drinks than non carbonated ones, so drinking beer on an empty stomach might be the cause for this saying. However, in the long run, it is more about how much you drink and how quickly than what you drink when it comes to a hangover.
Some people will choose wine over beer since they have heard it can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, this really is not a good reason to choose wine, if it is your only one. Beer actually has some health benefits as well – as the silicon may improve bone health. Keep in mind that with both theories, it is drinking in moderation – one glass a day. Drinking either to excess will cause more damage than it will help.
Some people consider alcohol to be the ultimate truth serum, and get offended or pleased over something they hear from the person sitting next to them at the bar. While alcohol does reduce inhibitions, which can lead to violence or sex with someone you normally would not bother with; it really is not your true self.
One of the few hangover cures that actually holds up to scrutiny is eating. Anything you put in your stomach will help slow down the alcohol absorption. Solid food tends to be better than liquids, and carbohydrates and protein loaded foods tend to be better than fatty ones. So choose eating before and during drinking if you want to help prevent a hangover the next day.
If you watch a lot of TV, you might think that a pot of coffee and a cold shower is all you need to sober up after a wild night. In real life, however, all you are going to end up with is a wide awake, cold, and wet drunk. Caffeine may temporarily soothe your hangover, but will further dehydrate the body, causing you to feel worse later. Your body temperature is already lower thanks to the alcohol, so a cold shower is usually not recommended.
The long and short of the story is that there are no real hangover cures. While there may be some things you can do to help prevent a hangover, once you get one, you just have to ride it out.
Recommended Reading
- Preventing A Beer Hangover
- Things To Know About Preventing Hangovers
- Avoidance Of Hangovers
- Avoiding The Dreaded Hangover
- Causes And Cures For Hangovers
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