New Year, get-togethers and summer holidays and also think about goals for next year! There are many commitments at this time of year and it is difficult to organize your entire agenda. Another challenge is taking care of your health and not going overboard. After all, the year is coming to an end, but well-being, disposition and health must continue fully. Parties also bring a lot of exaggerations, such as excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, for example, which the next day results in the famous hangover.
A hangover is the body’s overload to be able to absorb and metabolize the large amount of drink ingested. The main cause is dehydration and loss of fluids, along with vitamins and minerals. “It is up to the liver to metabolize all the alcohol consumed in excess at the end of the year celebrations. And even so, chemical substances are produced that cause the classic symptoms of a hangover: nausea, headache, malaise and even diarrhea”, explains Dr. Érico Souza de Oliveira, general practitioner at Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz.
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the standard dose of alcoholic beverage consumption in Brazil, for adults, is approximately 10 grams of pure alcohol, the equivalent of a can of beer or draft beer (330 ml), a glass of wine (100 ml) or a dose of distilled spirits (30 ml). The recommendation is not to exceed two drinks per day and to abstain from drinking at least two days a week.
Check out some tips that can help you avoid a hangover and stay healthy:
Hydration before, during and after drinking alcohol
The ideal is to hydrate before and during drinking alcoholic beverages. Drinking plenty of water makes all the difference in the metabolism of alcohol in the body, and the feeling of a hangover the next day is less. According to the general practitioner, there is no medicine that cures a hangover. “The ideal is hydration, carbohydrate intake, such as potatoes, pasta, cereals and plenty of rest. Water, juices, coconut water and isotonic drinks (without alcohol) replace lost water, minerals and vitamins. Soda doesn’t hydrate, but it helps against the drop in glucose,” he explains.
Do physical activities outdoors
If you exercise at the gym and it is closed for the holidays, take advantage of the outdoor areas to exercise with a walk or light run, to get in touch with nature. If you are traveling to the beach, for example, take walks along the sand and keep up with your physical exercise. At home it is also possible to exercise, for example, jumping rope.
Drinking alcohol on a full stomach
Eating meals very late, after consuming alcoholic beverages, is not recommended. Instead, eat before your first drink and continue snacking throughout the night, such as light toast, healthy snacks, low-fat cheeses and nuts. The food slows gastric emptying and can reduce hangover symptoms.
Importance of self-care
Taking time to rest is essential. A rested body has more energy, well-being, health, energy and quality of life. And even with all the commitments, preserving hours of sleep is important to celebrate with intensity and joy.