What to eat before drinking alcohol to avoid hangover

Now, you probably know that two beers on an empty stomach can make you vibrate – even if you have to handle four or five. If you are a light drinker, you can simply find yourself in great shape with a glass of wine. That's why the old advice to eat before drinking is smart: if some foods are better than others, all some food in your stomach before these drinks hit you.

People get drunk because they drink alcohol faster than the body can metabolize it. Marjorie Nolan Cohn, owner of MNC Nutrition and Registered Dietitian, believes that the liver can only handle a significant amount of alcohol at a time. Drinking more means more alcohol is added to the queue to be treated, which increases your blood alcohol level. You can not force the body to process alcohol faster, but you can slow down the absorption in the blood by eating in advance.

Why should you eat before drinking?

Dana Hunnes, Ph.D., a dietician at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical Center, says that packing food in the stomach does three things. First, it dilutes the alcohol you pay later because of the water content of the food. Then, proteins, fats and fibers slow down the absorption of alcohol. It also refills your body with vitamins and minerals that alcohol depletes.

"Eating anything is better than eating nothing, except maybe for caffeine and salt," says Hunnes. Caffeine exacerbates the desiccating effects of alcohol, she says, and salt affects the hormones that your body uses to get rid of water. Salt also causes a feeling of bloating, and you are less likely to take a glass of water to hydrate you if you feel bloated.

Will fatty foods help you stay less drunk?

Many people also believe that eating fatty and high fat foods just before drinking helps as this "sheaths the stomach" like a protective membrane that slows down the speed of absorption. 39; alcohol. It's actually correct, at least partially. Fatty foods, like all foods, will slow down the absorption of alcohol and minimize the effects of drunk feeling, Cohn says. But this is not because it envelops the stomach. This is because the food, in general, mixes with alcohol in the stomach.

The best foods to eat are fruits and vegetables rich in water, such as cucumber, tomatoes, peppers and radishes, says Erin Morse, chief dietetician of health care at UCLA. If you are not one to be able to live off a veggie meal alone, eat salmon or a sandwich in a whole-grain wrapper. Humus is also a good vegetarian option, more substantial than fresh vegetables.

Avoid using basic treats as a way to refuel before drinking if you have other options. Foods based on simple sugars are digested quickly and therefore do not slow down the absorption of alcohol, says Cohn. She adds that it's best to eat a balanced meal of carbohydrates, protein and fats before eating, to reduce the vertigo that will come when you add alcohol to the mixture later.

How long before you drink should you eat?

Although you're starting to digest food from the moment your saliva starts to break down in your mouth, your stomach is a big mixing bowl, not an assembly line. You do not need to eat long before taking your first drink. Expect to have your first sip of alcohol at least 15 minutes after the start of your meal, says Hunnes. If you drink just at the beginning of a meal or empty stomach before the meal, the alcohol will be immediately absorbed by the stomach since there is nothing left. Another that can slow down the rate of absorption.

There is no specific amount to eat, it is a universal rule for everyone. Body weight, metabolism, sex, and level of activity will affect the amount of food needed before drinking. Hunnes says you just have to eat until you're hungry. You do not have to stuff yourself, but give yourself permission to go for more.

According to Cohn, Hunnes and Morse, no food will aggravate your intoxicated state. As long as you have something in your stomach before taking the first sip, continue and rationalize this plate of appetizer before the waiter brings the first set of drinks, even if it is not an ideal healthy meal. Your stomach will thank you later.