The Christmas tipple comes in many forms – we indulge during the office party, or sip wine while cooking. There are the endless top-ups during family visits, then the glass we need to recover from the stresses of the day and to help us sleep. As the booze flows, so do the calories, and the good intentions often fly out of the window.
As alcohol loosens our inhibitions, self-restraint becomes harder, and before you know it, the morning kicks off with an almighty hangover and the heartfelt promise that we’ll never drink again.
Sadly, as we get older, our bodies do not tolerate alcohol as well as in our younger days, and the punishment for overindulgence gets harsher, not to mention the growing waistline. So here are some tips to help you enjoy the season of plenty, without wiping out your health, energy levels, or good intentions.
- Alcohol contains a significant amount of calories, so if you are watching your weight, account for these – a glass of wine equals a piece of chocolate. However, drinking on an empty stomach is not a good idea, but then you probably know this already. Have a meal before drinking, it slows down the absorption rate of alcohol. In other words, it will take longer to get drunk.
- Between the rounds of drinks, have a small glass of water. A hangover has many causes, dehydration being among them, so remember that skull-splitting pressure on your brain from the last one, and do better this time. Start the boozy night well hydrated – with water (!), then keep up the water intake throughout. Once you are tipsy, it will be harder to reason with yourself to drink some water.
- Alcohol is a muscle relaxant. It makes us drowsy and helps us nod off in the unlikeliest of places, but that glass of wine before bed interferes with sleep as the body has to work hard to process the alcohol. One unfortunate consequence of drinking is that it also relaxes the muscles in our throat, leading to snoring and sleep apnoea, a dangerous condition where the snorer temporarily stops breathing for short periods of time. The resulting lack of oxygen and the interrupted sleep mean waking up feeling groggy and unrefreshed. If you must have a night time tipple, have it a couple of hours before bedtime.
Lastly, if you like to justify your wine habit by quoting research and resveratrol, know this: the benefits of drinking red wine were shown in those who drink a little red wine with their meal. By all means go for the red from hot countries and enjoy drinking your grapes full of resveratrol, just remember that if a little bit of what you fancy is good for you, unfortunately, more is not better.
Here’s to Christmas! Eat, drink and be merry…sensibly