How to drink alcohol less harmfully

The harmful effects of alcohol do not depend on the type of drink, but on the amount of alcohol consumed and the speed at which it is consumed. The allowable limit is a maximum of one unit of alcohol per day for women of all ages and men over 65, and a maximum of two units of alcohol per day for men under 65. One unit of alcohol is equivalent to 10 grams of ethanol, which is 250 ml of 4-degree beer, 76 ml of 13-degree light wine, or 25 ml of strong wine. But in reality, there is no recommendation on the safe limit for drinking alcohol because it depends on many factors. It is best not to drink, or to limit drinking.

Many people like to mix beer with soft drinks and fruit juices in the hope of reducing the alcohol content and curbing drunkenness. Most people mix based on their feelings, not on scientific proportions.

Pharmacist Le Kim Phung, former lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said thatdrink alcohol mixed with carbonated drinks, beer, caffeine, and industrial fruits with lots of dyes... very harmful to health.

Some fruits such as durian combined with alcoholic beverages increase the risk of poisoning, difficulty breathing, and if not reacted promptly, can easily lead to death. Persimmons are cold, while alcohol is spicy and slightly bitter. Drinking alcohol and eating persimmons at the same time will irritate the intestines, cause intestinal obstruction, and lead to digestive disorders.

Wine and beer make alcohol quickly absorbed into the blood under the influence of flavors, additives and other substances. At that time, the drinker feels excited, easily drunk but tired, lethargic when waking up, leading to alcohol addiction in the long run.

Do not drink alcohol mixed with beer, carbonated soft drinks, sweets, spicy foods... Photo: Health.

Carbonated soft drinks or soda contain a lot of CO2, which makes the alcohol absorption process faster, causing headaches and dizziness. Ethanol is harmful to the brain, impairing memory, reducing flexibility, reducing intelligence, and even losing consciousness when drinking too much. Combining alcohol and soft drinks also dilates blood vessels in the skin but causes vasoconstriction in other deep organs, leading to sudden high blood pressure, which can be fatal.

To be safe, you should drink slowly, talk while drinking or drink with strong tea to sober up. You should not eat candies, cakes, jams that are too sweet or spicy foods and smoke while drinking alcohol, which will quickly make your body tired and your mind not clear...

Homemade winecreate a sense of security for the drinker. However, using herbs and animals of unknown origin to soak in wine can also lead to poisoning.

You should choose good medicine, soak it properly, use the right dose, and follow the right standards. Do not drink too much, drink it when hungry, tired, or while taking other medications. After drinking, if you feel drowsy, lethargic, or excited, you should take the patient to the hospital for timely examination and treatment. You should buy medicine from a specialist or reputable seller and soak it according to the correct procedure.

Limit the use of "hangover remedies"after drinking alcohol. "This is actually a functional food, only has the effect of supporting the body but not treating diseases," said Dr. Le Thi Cam Tho, People's Hospital 115, Ho Chi Minh City. To date, there has been no research proving that these foods have the ability to protect or restore organ damage caused by alcohol or to eliminate drunkenness.

Functional foods that "cure hangovers" have unclear origins, sources, and drug ingredients, and can cause side effects for users. At that time, both alcohol and "drug" are metabolized by the liver at the same time, increasing the burden on the liver and increasing the risk of acute liver failure.