As the festive season is in full swing and Christmas is just around the corner, many of us are likely to indulge a bit more than usual.
Whether it’s having an extra drink or two, or helping ourselves to another slice of Christmas pudding, we’re all guilty of overindulging during this time of year. In anticipation of the potential hangovers that may follow, some people might be looking for ways to avoid a sore head without forgoing alcohol altogether.
One common method is ‘lining our stomachs’ before a big night out, hoping to slow down the absorption of alcohol into our bloodstream. However, Dr Karan Raj has debunked this myth in a recent video where he addressed the belief that eating food could ‘coat the stomach’. He stated: “Here’s a life lesson from a doctor.
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“You can’t ‘line your stomach’, or form a physical barrier, before drinking alcohol to get less drunk because most of the alcohol is absorbed in your small intestine. But you can slow down digestion overall, and GI transit time, by consuming meals high in fats, protein and fibre, and also slow down the rate of alcohol absorption.”
This could potentially result in you feeling less intoxicated and experiencing a milder hangover the next day, even if you’ve consumed the same amount of alcohol as when you ate less. “Essentially, consuming calories with or before consuming alcohol delays gastric emptying and digestion overall,” he continued.
If you’re partial to a cocktail, you might have noticed zero-calorie mixers can make you feel more intoxicated than their sugary counterparts. Dr Karan explained that the calories in sugar affect alcohol absorption in the same way as food calories – but this doesn’t mean you should swap your pre-drinks meal for a full-sugar mixer.
“The sugar and calories stimulate the release of digestive hormones like gastrin,” he said, “which slow down digestion and the absorption of alcohol.”
As we approach the festive season, it’s crucial to drink responsibly. NHS guidelines suggest that both men and women should not consume more than 14 units of alcohol per week. One unit equates to a single measure of spirits such as vodka, gin or rum.
A small (125ml) glass of wine is typically around one and a half units, although this can vary depending on the strength of the wine. Meanwhile, a pint of lower-strength beer – around 3.6% ABV – contains about two units, while a higher-strength pint (ABV 5.2%) is approximately three.
If you’re a regular drinker, consuming up to 14 units a week, it’s advisable to spread your intake over three or more days rather than drinking them all in one go. To cut back on your alcohol consumption, the health service recommends introducing a few booze-free days each week and gradually increasing the number of dry days.
You can find more information about alcohol units here. If you’re concerned about your drinking or someone else’s, you can contact your GP for advice or visit the NHS Better Health website.