During the New Year, family reunions are inevitable, and drinking is often part of the celebration. However, some people have misconceptions about drinking that need to be corrected. I. Drinking without food
Drinking on an empty stomach allows alcohol to be rapidly absorbed into the body, thereby increasing the toxic effects of alcohol on the liver. It is generally believed that sugar has a certain protective effect on the liver, so appetizers should include dishes high in sugar, such as crispy sweet fish, sweet-fried peanuts, and sugar-dressed tomatoes. Alcohol can increase the depletion of protein in the body, so it is also necessary to consume dishes rich in protein. Vinegar can react chemically with alcohol to help detoxify it; therefore, choosing vinegar-based cold dishes and sweet and sour pork ribs can aid in sobering up.
II. Drinking before eating
When a person is about to eat, their stomach is often empty. If alcohol is consumed before a meal, it can be quickly absorbed into the stomach, enter the bloodstream, and reach the liver, which is very harmful to the body.
III. Strong tea to sober up
Alcohol and strong tea both have a stimulating effect on the heart. Combining the two increases the stimulation on the heart. Furthermore, most alcohol is converted into acetaldehyde in the liver, then into acetic acid, and further broken down into carbon dioxide and water, which are excreted by the kidneys. The theophylline in strong tea has a rapid diuretic effect on the kidneys, causing unmetabolized acetic acid to enter the kidneys prematurely, thereby causing damage to kidney function.
IV. Drinking to warm up
After the body absorbs alcohol from drinks, it stimulates the dilation of blood vessels on the body's surface, causing blood from internal organs to flow to the surface and dissipate heat, making a person feel temporarily warm. However, the dilated blood vessels after drinking cannot constrict promptly to prevent heat loss, leading to excessive heat dissipation from the body, resulting in a feeling of getting cold after initially feeling warm.
V. Smoking and drinking together
When drinking and smoking, the liver must not only clear the alcohol but also detoxify and eliminate the toxins from cigarettes, which increases the burden on the liver. At the same time, the combustion of tobacco produces harmful substances such as hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and benzopyrene. Alcohol can dissolve these harmful substances, allowing them to enter the body.
VI. Drinking to fall asleep
Scientific evidence shows that people who use alcohol to fall asleep often experience a state of drowsiness, and may also suffer from abnormal symptoms such as labored breathing, louder snoring, and sleep apnea. Especially for patients with heart and lung diseases, drinking before sleep can pose a risk of cardiac sudden death and respiratory arrest.