Going out tonight ? What will you drink?
Hangover, tips to consider;
1, Alcohol or ethanol is metabolised in the body to acetaldehyde by and enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which is highly toxic and makes us feel drunk, acetaldehyde is then metabolised to acetic acid by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) another enzyme. ADH and ALDH come in different iso-forms in different people which explains how some people get drunk quicker than others. If you have fast acting ADH and slow acting ALDH then you will get drunker and stay drunk longer than someone with slow acting ADH and fast acting ALDH. Those with slow acting enzymes fear not a far more powerful substance can metabolise alcohol and its called glutathione, before a couple of days before you go out and the night you go out take your glutathione supplements.
2, Ethanol suppresses vasopressin which regulates the bodies retention of water, explaining why you need to go to the toilet more once drunk. Lose water you lose electrolytes thus you need to replace once you return from your adventure with ethanol. Best option is to replace electrolytes in a solution with water. Drinking water without electrolytes will further dilute your electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes are compounds that are conductive to perform important and vital to life tasks in the body.
3, Either drink congener free alcohol, why? Congeners are slowly metabolised thus contribute to hangovers. Congeners are found in dark drinks such as whisky, rum, brandy and even red wine (however in red wine it is a good thing, stay tuned). This is how it works;
Methanol is a congener, its metabolites (formaldehyde and formic acid) extremely toxic and has been known to cause death. Methanol is metabolised the exact same way as ethanol however ethanol is preferred when both toxins are in the body thus leaving high amounts of methanol and its metabolites when ethanol has been eliminated, the next morning this is what makes you feel rotten, the high amounts of methanol and its metabolites. The key tip to beat a hangover in the morning if consuming congeners is the next morning to consume more ethanol but not congeners, why methanol poisoning in hospitals is treated with large doses of ethanol which causes the slow metabolism of of methanol which prevents the sudden build up of the highly toxic metabolites. This is commonly known as the 'hair of the dog' and why vodka (my favourite drink) yields little hangover effects if you replace electrolytes of course. Though one could just drink alcohol without congeners for an easier time.
Back to red wine the congeners are actually polyphenols like resveratrol help to counteract the damage that is done to the brains hippocampus. Good news for red wine drinkers.
4, I do not agree with the use of drugs long terms but do for short terms. High levels of prostaglandins. The special nerve endings that sense pain are extremely sensitive to this chemical. Hangovers have been associated with high prostaglandins, best option is to take a prostaglandin inhibitor like aspirin (ensure it is caffeine free and you are medically fit to take it).
In conclusion;
- Take glutathione supplements leading up to and on the night of drinking
- Drink either congeners free alcohol or red wine for an easy hangover
- If you do drink congeners then prepare an ethanol drink in the morning
- Drink Electrolyte and water solution all day
- Take 2 aspirin upon returning home and in the morning
(please check drug and supplement interactions and that you are medically fit to take aspirin before taking any medications)
If you liked this little post I will be bringing biochemistry and lab testing education to the UK in 2014. Please visit and like this page for more information;
www.facebook.com/
www.bodybynaturesupplements.com
No comments:
Post a Comment