A night of drinking doesn’t have to come with blacking out, embarrassing behavior and a nagging hangover. Follow these 5 tips to avoid getting drunk too quickly!
Pace Yourself
Matching your friends shot for shot, may sound like fun, but it’s also a perfect way to get drunk too quickly. Dr. Luisa Petre, board certified cardiologist, weight loss expert, and nutritionist says, “The time it takes your liver to metabolize and remove the alcohol from your system is approximately one drink per hour to an hour and a half…By sticking to this schedule, you would be able to stay fully cognizant”.
Prep Your Stomach
Dr. Petre suggests eating whole foods to prep your body prior to consuming alcohol. Eating magnesium and potassium rich foods, such as broccoli and grilled chicken, and foods loaded with fiber- like quinoa, lentils and avocado- will properly prep your body. Healthy whole foods not only keep up your energy throughout the night, Petre also states that eating properly, “…mitigates how quickly that fuzzy drunk feeling arrives by slowing the time it takes to empty your stomach”.
Ditch The Sugary Chasers
Sugary chasers are often a preferable choice because they hide the taste of alcohol. The issue with sugary drinks is that they not only speed up the effects of drunkenness, they also lead to drinking more alcohol. Instead of sugary mix-ins, try adding cucumber juice or ginger juice. Dr. Petre explains that these drinks will speed up your metabolism and aid in detoxing your liver. She also recommends diluting your drinks with ice or sparkling water.
Stay Hydrated
One of the top tips to staying sober is to drink a glass of warm water between drinks. It’s important to remain hydrated because proper hydration also prevents the dreaded hangover. Dr. Petre explains, “Alcohol is a diuretic, so drink more water to compensate, even if not thirsty”.
Get Some Fresh Air
If you’re in a crowded, hot room, not only will you get drunk quickly, you’ll also feel drunker than you would in a cool room. The warmth of the room will also contribute to raising your blood pressure, which can lead to dehydration. Dr. Petre suggests stepping outside to help slow down the effects of the alcohol.
