Eat, drink and be merry – in moderation!

There is no denying that alcohol consumption inevitably increases during the month of December, it’s a month of socialising and relaxing following a year of hard work. However, it’s important to drink in moderation and to be aware of the effects alcohol has on your body. Your mind may be thinking ‘just one more won’t hurt’ but your body will be saying something completely different.

‘Saving up’ the recommended 2-3 (women) or 3-4 (men) units for a big night out at the weekend isn’t as clever as it may sound. Binge drinking poses a more serious threat to your body than drinking little and often. Take note of the following tips to reduce your risk of alcohol related illnesses.

Know your units

Six pints of beer* (14 units) has the equivalent calories of six slices of pizza coming in at 1,092 calories. If you’re somebody who is partial to a glass of wine, of two, six glasses of medium wine** (14 units) is the equivalent of eating six ice creams, coming in at 954 calories. Finally, if your tipple of choice is a single shot of spirit*** you’re looking at 854 calories for 14 single shots, not including your choice of mixture.

Stay in control

While the obvious answer to avoiding a hangover is don’t drink so much, eating a healthy meal before you go out and snacking in between drinks if you’re feeling unsteady on your feet can help to slow down the absorption of alcohol. Also, sipping on a glass of water between each alcoholic drink not only will help to reduce the effects of alcohol but will reduce the chances of a heavy head the next day. Avoid spirits served with energy drinks as these types of drinks leave a high risk of later hypertension.

Alcohol related diseases

There are an array of diseases which can be the effects of drinking too much alcohol. These include:

• Pancreatitis
• Liver disease
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Mental health issues

It may be a well-known saying but avoid ‘hair of the dog’ as it will only delay and worsen the hangover as well as having an impact on your overall health.

Simple tips

Try ordering half pints instead of full pints, medium wine spritzers instead of large glasses and single measures over doubles. Avoiding the jagerbombs is another pretty safe bet to a hangover-free day, and a healthier body!

Most importantly, we hope you all enjoy relaxing and letting your hair down over the Christmas period. It’s important to eat, drink and be merry, but in moderation!

If you are concerned about your general health, please do not hesitate to give our self-pay team a call today to book in to see a specialist consultant on 01582 714 420.

*based on an average of 4% per beer

**based on 175ml glasses of 13% wine

***based on 25ml shot of 40% strength