Perhaps the best loved health studies of all time are the ones that tell us that a little bit of judicious drinking goes a long way in maintaining good health.
But as New Year's Eve 2012 ushers in a world of food, fun and laughter, we know that moderation isn't what you seek. On the other hand, would you love us any lesser, if we told you there were a few smart tricks you could employ to ensure that alcohol brings just fun and no other dismal friends to the party? Here's Dr. Simran Saini, Weight Loss Management Consultant at Fortis Hospital, as she reveals these tricks on how to drink right this New Year's Eve!
First, a little reminder: Moderate use is usually defined as between one to two drinks a day. Moderate drinking promotes a feeling of well being and reduces stress. It is noted that drinking the right quality of alcohol in the right amount prevents coronary diseases. It also helps reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular conditions. It even improves our bowel movements and prevents mood swings, but only in moderation.
Know what you're ordering: A standard drink is a notional drink that contains a specified amount of pure alcohol. The standard drink is used in many countries to quantify alcohol intake. It is usually re-expressed as a measure of beer, wine, or spirits for convenience. For example in the United States, a "standard" drink is any drink that contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of "pure" alcohol.
Healthy alcohol choice #1. Light beer: Beer is a blend of barley and hops and thus, it is healthy. Light beer is reduced in alcohol content or in calories, compared to regular beer and has some nutritional value too. Light beer contains less than 100 Calories in a 12 ounce serving.
Healthy alcohol choice #2. Red wine: Polyphenols and Flavonoids in red wine have a positive effect on your body. They are excellent antioxidants and have free radical scavenging property. Thus they lower total cholesterol and blood pressure, lessen risks of cancer, stimulate the immune system, and have anti-bacterial properties. An ounce of red wine is just 20 calories.
Healthy alcohol choice #3. White wine: White wine, which is made from the pulp of grapes but not the skin, is also a healthy option as there are studies to show it prevents respiratory disorders. It again has around 20 calories in one ounce.
Healthy alcohol choice #4. Whiskey: Whiskey is a grain-derived alcohol that is created by fermenting rye, barley, wheat or corn. People drink the different varieties of whiskey, and if taken in small amounts such as just one drink a day it helps in preventing the onset of dementia, diabetes and blood clots. It has 60 Calories in one ounce.
Healthy alcohol choice #5. Flower liquor: There are certain drinks mostly in the west cultures of France where liquors were made with distilled alcohol comprising of certain flowers and medicinal herbs. These alcohols have different properties or benefits depending on the components used.
Smart drinking tip #1. Know your limit: It is advised to have only a drink or two to the most in one day. One drink would count as 30 ml. Do not exceed this limit.
Smart drinking tip #2. Eat healthy food while you drink: It is particularly good to eat high protein foods such as those with cheese, fish, which help to slow the absorption of alcohol into the circulatory system. Try to take your drink along with your meal. Do not drink on an empty stomach.
Smart drinking tip #3. Sip your drink: To enjoy the pleasure of tasting and smelling the various flavours, sip your drink. Drinking any kind of alcohol slowly actually makes drinking a pleasurable activity. It helps you imbibe the scent, taste and enjoy the flavor of your drink.
Smart drinking tip #4: Detox: Try to drink a lot of water along with your drinks to prevent dehydration and prevent a hangover. Also, drinking plain water along with drinking is important. Alcohol is a diuretic, so drinking plenty of water during and after alcohol helps ward off dehydration, headaches, and aches.
Smart drinking tip #5. 'Small' drinks benefit over 'large' drinks: Two small drinks definitely benefit over 1 large drink because they will give you more satiety or psychological comfort of having devoured your drink at the expense of fewer calories. Large drinks will pose health risks and offer more calories with the mindset of "Oh I just had one drink".
A word of caution: Alcohol poses disadvantages when you start drinking in excess quantities. Alcohol starts acting as a depressant, which slows down the central nervous system and can cause drowsiness and impairs motor skills. Chronic heavy drinking may cause alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation and destruction of liver cells) and then cirrhosis (irreversible lesions, scarring, and destruction of liver cells). It also weakens the heart muscle and their ability to pump blood ( Cardiomyopathy). It also causes steady weight gain resulting in obesity.
But as New Year's Eve 2012 ushers in a world of food, fun and laughter, we know that moderation isn't what you seek. On the other hand, would you love us any lesser, if we told you there were a few smart tricks you could employ to ensure that alcohol brings just fun and no other dismal friends to the party? Here's Dr. Simran Saini, Weight Loss Management Consultant at Fortis Hospital, as she reveals these tricks on how to drink right this New Year's Eve!
First, a little reminder: Moderate use is usually defined as between one to two drinks a day. Moderate drinking promotes a feeling of well being and reduces stress. It is noted that drinking the right quality of alcohol in the right amount prevents coronary diseases. It also helps reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular conditions. It even improves our bowel movements and prevents mood swings, but only in moderation.
Know what you're ordering: A standard drink is a notional drink that contains a specified amount of pure alcohol. The standard drink is used in many countries to quantify alcohol intake. It is usually re-expressed as a measure of beer, wine, or spirits for convenience. For example in the United States, a "standard" drink is any drink that contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of "pure" alcohol.
Healthy alcohol choice #1. Light beer: Beer is a blend of barley and hops and thus, it is healthy. Light beer is reduced in alcohol content or in calories, compared to regular beer and has some nutritional value too. Light beer contains less than 100 Calories in a 12 ounce serving.
Healthy alcohol choice #2. Red wine: Polyphenols and Flavonoids in red wine have a positive effect on your body. They are excellent antioxidants and have free radical scavenging property. Thus they lower total cholesterol and blood pressure, lessen risks of cancer, stimulate the immune system, and have anti-bacterial properties. An ounce of red wine is just 20 calories.
Healthy alcohol choice #3. White wine: White wine, which is made from the pulp of grapes but not the skin, is also a healthy option as there are studies to show it prevents respiratory disorders. It again has around 20 calories in one ounce.
Healthy alcohol choice #4. Whiskey: Whiskey is a grain-derived alcohol that is created by fermenting rye, barley, wheat or corn. People drink the different varieties of whiskey, and if taken in small amounts such as just one drink a day it helps in preventing the onset of dementia, diabetes and blood clots. It has 60 Calories in one ounce.
Healthy alcohol choice #5. Flower liquor: There are certain drinks mostly in the west cultures of France where liquors were made with distilled alcohol comprising of certain flowers and medicinal herbs. These alcohols have different properties or benefits depending on the components used.
Smart drinking tip #1. Know your limit: It is advised to have only a drink or two to the most in one day. One drink would count as 30 ml. Do not exceed this limit.
Smart drinking tip #2. Eat healthy food while you drink: It is particularly good to eat high protein foods such as those with cheese, fish, which help to slow the absorption of alcohol into the circulatory system. Try to take your drink along with your meal. Do not drink on an empty stomach.
Smart drinking tip #3. Sip your drink: To enjoy the pleasure of tasting and smelling the various flavours, sip your drink. Drinking any kind of alcohol slowly actually makes drinking a pleasurable activity. It helps you imbibe the scent, taste and enjoy the flavor of your drink.
Smart drinking tip #4: Detox: Try to drink a lot of water along with your drinks to prevent dehydration and prevent a hangover. Also, drinking plain water along with drinking is important. Alcohol is a diuretic, so drinking plenty of water during and after alcohol helps ward off dehydration, headaches, and aches.
Smart drinking tip #5. 'Small' drinks benefit over 'large' drinks: Two small drinks definitely benefit over 1 large drink because they will give you more satiety or psychological comfort of having devoured your drink at the expense of fewer calories. Large drinks will pose health risks and offer more calories with the mindset of "Oh I just had one drink".
A word of caution: Alcohol poses disadvantages when you start drinking in excess quantities. Alcohol starts acting as a depressant, which slows down the central nervous system and can cause drowsiness and impairs motor skills. Chronic heavy drinking may cause alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation and destruction of liver cells) and then cirrhosis (irreversible lesions, scarring, and destruction of liver cells). It also weakens the heart muscle and their ability to pump blood ( Cardiomyopathy). It also causes steady weight gain resulting in obesity.
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