Alcohol consumption is one of the most common weekend (and often weekday) activities amongst young professionals, especially in the UAE. Everywhere you turn there's a brunch, a ladies night, a boozy dinner to attend; it's often hard to say no, or is frowned upon by your social group. Despite following a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly and eating well during the week, a weekend packed with mojitos and g&t's can detrimentally affect our health long term. And let's not even mention the hungover cheat days, that more often than not leave us bloated and feeling worse than before.
We all know alcohol has an effect on the brain, causing slower reaction times, lowering inhibitions and altering our mood. We also know the effects on the liver by increasing inflammation and leading to cirrhosis or alcoholic hepatitis. We may not know the effects on the heart, increasing blood pressure and risk of stroke, or on the pancreas by inhibiting secretion of digestive enzymes leading to poor digestion and inflammation of the GI tract. Long-term excessive consumption can lead to cancer and other significant health issues due to decreased immune health.
But, being young and naive, we do it any way. I know some people who are 200% committed to their health and don't drink, and all the power to them. But I grew up around friends and family who do enjoy a social drink or four, and I actually do enjoy a few bevies every now and again as well. The problem lies when I get a bit carried away, and I spend the entire next day regretting my decisions and craving (consuming) hot chips, then a burger, then a pizza, then spaghetti bolognaise, then an ice-cream sunday. It's not even so much the hangover day, but the week after always seems like a struggle, I'm constantly tired and training and keeping on track with eating is not high on my list of priorities.
So, despite my love of a zingy g&t, I try to follow these few rules:
1. Don't drink every weekend. This can be a hard rule to follow at times in Dubai, but I feel a lot better after having a 'weekend off' drinking, and am more inclined to enjoy a social draaaank the following week!
2. Don't get plastered. Again, difficult in Dubai where 'all you can eat & drink' is very common. But trust me, ordering a few glasses of water in between and eating before drinking will definitely reduce the hangover the next day!
3. Pretend you don't have a hangover. I do this a lot. I get up, maybe go for a walk on the beach or do some yoga, eat some yummy eggs on toast for breakie, even if I don't feel like it. And generally it makes the hangover hurt a little less.
4. Drink LOADS of water. Before you go to sleep, before you start boozing, when you wake up. Essentially after a night on the drink, are bodies are dehydrated and devoid of nutrients. I feel like this is the rule for every health related issue ever, but drinking plenty of H20 will make you feel a million times better. Maybe throw a coconut water in there somewhere too.
5. If you're going to drink, make sure it's a worthwhile occasion! And I don't just mean 'I made it through a tough week'. Drinking isn't just hard on your body, its tough on your wallet too. If you try to narrow big drinking events down to birthdays or really important occasions, not only will you feel healthier, but you'll have more money in the bank!
Finally, if a healthy body isn't enough to keep you off the alcohol, just remember moderation is key, and if you don't drink to excess, you won't have to waste a day hungover in bed!
V x
