Speak to anyone about drinking or alcohol and you’re bound to hear some tales and remedies for preventing a hangover or sore head. Here in the UK around 56.9% of us like to enjoy an evening glass of wine after work – but how much do we really know about alcohol and its effects on our bodies? We’ve busted some common alcohol myths below…
1. The Myth: Taking Aspirin or ibuprofen before heavy drinking can reduce hangover effects.
FALSE
Taking preventative measures may feel like a common sense tactic to avoiding a hangover – but studies show that most medication wears off before a hangover headache even begins. One of the best ways of avoiding that dreaded morning after headache is to make sure you are well hydrated, so grab a bottle of water in the morning instead.
2. The Myth: Darker alcohols are better for you.
FALSE
Darker alcohol (like dark rum) contains more antioxidants than some lighter beverages – but they are not healthier. Most dark alcohol often contains more congeners – a toxic chemical which is created during the fermentation process. This chemical can actually make a hangover worse in some cases!
3. The Myth: Alcohol kills brain cells.
FALSE
Alcohol can impair your thinking and decision making. But does Alcohol kill brain cells? No, this is a myth. Alcohol can damage brain cells but it does not kill them. Over a long period of time alcohol can damage the dendrites, the brand like ends of the brain cells. The dendrites are key for passing messages throughout the brain – so excessive alcohol, over a long period of time can result in cognitive problems.
4. The Myth: Alcohol is a stimulant.
FALSE
Actually, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. This means although we sometimes feel euphoric after consuming alcohol, it actually depresses the brain. This means that we often stagger, loose co-ordination and can make decisions we wouldn’t normally make.
5. The Myth: Alcohol can help us keep warm on a cold day.
FALSE
More than one alcoholic drink can actually lower your core body temperature! The warm fuzzy feeling we get when drinking is cause by alcohol warming up the skin – not the body. As we drink alcohol blood vessels dilate, moving blood closer to the skin’s surface. Although this makes the skin feel warm – it actually causes your body to lose heat.
Remember - we should all always try to drink in moderation. Not only will doing this help you avoid the dreaded hangover, but your body will thank you for it. Health insurance is a safety net when it comes to your health, if you want to learn more about how it works take a look at our blog post which outlines the benefits of private health insurance.
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