On weekends and at graduate student gatherings, a classmate who works as a civil servant asked: "Because of work needs, I can't avoid drinking frequently. Although I'm not overweight, I already have mild fatty liver disease. By the end of the year, there will be more dinner parties. What should I eat after drinking? Will eating fruit help? How about drinking vinegar?"
This is a very common question, but also one that troubles many Chinese people. Everyone knows that alcohol is toxic and excessive drinking is harmful. So why do we still have to drink?
Another classmate who studied in France said: "The reason French people live longer is because they are taught from a young age to take care of their bodies. Therefore, they don't binge drink or overeat. They don't force others to drink, nor do they勉强themselves to drink more for personal gain. However, Chinese people haven't been educated from a young age to love and protect their health. As a result, we often sacrifice our health to meet material desires and harm ourselves and others. Perhaps only when we surpass the primary stage of development will the public gradually shift from the mindset of poverty to that of an advanced society."
I said, "As the ancients said: 'Preparation leads to success; lack of preparation leads to failure.' Do you know the story of 'Curving the Chimney and Moving the Firewood'? Instead of thinking about what to eat after drinking, it's better to consider what to eat before drinking."
Eating something before going out to drink can form some protection in the stomach, reducing irritation to the gastric wall. Secondly, it allows alcohol to mix with food, lowering its concentration and slowing down alcohol absorption. Thirdly, it provides the necessary nutrients for alcohol metabolism. But specifically, what should we eat?
We need to think about what stays in the stomach for a longer period of time, what can combine with alcohol to slow its absorption, and what components are needed during the detoxification process. Here are some foods suitable to eat before drinking:
1. Dairy products and soy milk protein drinks. Especially yogurt, which is thick and often contains plant gum thickening agents, staying longer in the stomach, helping to dilute alcohol and delaying its absorption. Although milk beverages have lower nutritional value than milk and yogurt, they contain thickening agents that play a certain role in protecting the stomach lining. These foods are easy to consume and prepare. You can continue drinking them conveniently between drinks.
2. Fruits and vegetables rich in pectin. Such as hawthorn, apples, cauliflower, pumpkin, etc. Eating more of these foods is beneficial as the pectin in them delays the absorption of food components and helps dilute alcohol. Since these foods have low calories, eating more doesn't cause obesity concerns.
3. Starchy foods. Large starch molecules can bind with alcohol and delay its absorption. Foods rich in straight-chain starch are even better, such as legume products. This is because alcohol can penetrate into the spiral structure of starch molecules, forming "inclusion compounds."
4. Foods rich in B vitamins, like non-greasy offal, whole grains, dairy products, egg yolks, mushrooms, etc. If necessary, oral vitamin B complex tablets can be taken, which are beneficial and harmless to the body. All pharmacies sell these small tablets, around 3 yuan for 100 tablets, taking two beforehand is convenient. Alcohol metabolism in the liver requires their assistance.
Many people believe that eating fatty meat helps prevent drunkenness, but this isn't true. Alcohol is hydrophilic and does not mix well with lipophilic fats. Fat cannot form a thick protective membrane on the stomach surface like yogurt. Moreover, fat only delays the emptying of stomach contents, while alcohol is absorbed directly in the stomach. Therefore, it's not as helpful for protecting the stomach as proteins and starches. To let fat delay absorption, it needs to be mixed with alcohol into an emulsified state, and it's best to eat foods rich in lecithin, such as liver and egg yolk.
Some say that acid and alcohol combine to form esters, so drinking vinegar can help sober up. However, the reaction speed at body temperature is very slow and doesn't produce noticeable effects. When wine and vinegar are cooked together in a frying pan, there is a rapid esterification reaction that produces fragrance.
In any case, try to avoid drinking on an empty stomach and drinking too quickly or too much. Showing off at the dinner table by pretending to be tough is meaningless and only invites more health damage. Try to drink slowly, swallowing in small sips. If possible, immediately drink some milk beverages to dilute the alcohol. Eat regular meals while drinking and avoid coffee, cola, energy drinks, etc.
Especially men who haven't had children yet, must protect their health for the sake of future generations!
My related posts:
2007-12-29 | Is a bottle of beer equal to two large apples?
2007-11-23 | Red wine: how much is harmful to the heart?
2004-09-01 | Red wine: does it really bring only romance and health?