Drink Responsibly
Alcohol has always been part of our social lives. Whatever the occasion, most of us enjoy a cheeky drink or a few on a night out. However, scientists have discovered that alcohol has other negatives than the hangover the next day. alcohol has the same amount of calories as food, which means a night of drinking could potentially be equivalent to eating a few portions of beans on toast. The NHS in 2010 released how many calories there are in a range of alcoholic drinks and the results are shocking. Red wine for example has 120 calories per 175ml glass, similar to a small slice of sponge cake. Therefore drinking a bottle of wine maybe like eating a whole cake. Cider (a pint) and Alcopops (330ml) are also high in calories with 200 per drink, the same as eating 50g of cheddar cheese. Sound horrific? Despite these drinks being high in calories, Vodka and other spirits (25ml) are only 55 calories per drink.
Don't think drinking on an empty stomach will lower your daily calorie count. If you're going to drink, food must be consumed beforehand. Health warnings have suggested foods such as bread, potato and cheese help absorb alcohol, slowing the affects of alcohol. It also makes the morning after headache a little more bearable. Alcohol consumption on an empty stomach attacks the stomach lining, causing the feeling of being drunk take hold quicker. This maybe a cheaper way to drink but unhealthy as the body struggles to fight the alcohol without nutrients. It's what's on the inside that counts. The alcohol starts forming into a toxic substance called Acetaldehyde and then into acetate which is harmless. Acetate is broken down into carbon dioxide and water (which explains the frequent trips to the bathroom). Around 90% of alcohol is broken down by the liver and the rest excreted. Research has found that your age, body mass and whether you are male or female affects the process of alcohol. The term "lightweight" comes from this fact, therefore a petite, female who is under age and drinks alcohol, will feel the affects quicker than that of a full grown man. This isn't to put you off having a great time, it does however highlight the dangers of excessive drinking and the internal harm is causes which can be long term. To find more information visit www.nhs.uk. Drink responsibly. Naomi Havergal
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