In today’s society, it is almost inevitable for male friends in the workplace to drink alcohol; however, excessive drinking can be harmful to the body, especially causing severe damage to the liver. Since drinking is unavoidable, are there any methods to reduce alcohol-related liver damage?
These 5 tips help you drink with less harm to your liver:
1. Eat before drinking
During gatherings where alcohol is consumed, many male friends start drinking on an empty stomach even before the food arrives. However, drinking on an empty stomach causes significant harm to the liver. Without food interference in digestion, drinking on an empty stomach leads to a sudden increase in alcohol concentration in the blood, making it easy for those with low tolerance to quickly get drunk after just a drink or two.
During gatherings, it is best to eat some starchy foods before drinking to reduce alcohol intake and therefore decrease alcohol-related liver damage.
2. Avoid excessive drinking
Some people at banquets tend to gulp down alcohol quickly or engage in bottle blowing, which can be fatal to the stomach and liver. The immediate alcohol stimulation can exceed the stomach and liver’s capacity, potentially leading to severe consequences like gastric bleeding.
Therefore, it is advisable to avoid the habit of excessive drinking and focus on savoring the drink gradually while eating alongside to prevent overloading the liver and stomach.
3. Avoid mixing drinks
Mixing drinks is a common habit at gatherings, where some believe that drinking a variety of alcohols is less monotonous. However, besides altering the taste, mixing drinks can have adverse effects and greater impact on the liver.
4. Eat more vegetables
Many male friends have the habit of eating a lot of meat during gatherings, which burdens the liver and stomach, affecting alcohol breakdown. Consuming more vegetables rich in antioxidants and vitamins can help protect the liver and reduce alcohol-related damage.
It is advisable to eat more vegetables when drinking, rather than solely focusing on meat.
5. Learn to sober up
Even though some male friends may end up getting drunk involuntarily, it is essential to know techniques to sober up. Sobering up can accelerate alcohol metabolism, reduce its accumulation in the body, and minimize persistent effects on various organs.
After getting drunk, drinking fruit juice can aid in quicker sobering up as the fructose in the juice speeds up alcohol metabolism. Additionally, drinking honey ginger water can help sober up faster since ginger contains phenolic substances that can warm the stomach.
Alcohol culture is prevalent in our society, and while we may sometimes find ourselves unable to avoid it, with the right methods and techniques, we can reduce the harm caused by alcohol to our bodies.