WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO LIMIT ALCOHOL USE?

First, you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you. —F. Scott Fitzgerald In modern times, we often enjoy a drink every now and then with friends or at a party!rnWhile we do things out of our habit, we try to incorporate such practices into our lives andrnreach a point where we really can’t stop to think about it. Such is the tale of consumingrnalcohol. Contrary to the common belief that there are known health benefits of alcohol when takenrnin limited quantities, there is also a study which reveals, “No amount of alcohol is good forrnyour health.” Most Indians savor Indian made foreign liquor – whiskey, rum, vodka, gin and brandyrn(42.5% alcohol content); country liquor (desi sharab – 33%), beer (5-8%) and flavoredrnalcoholic beverages. With the rise of heavy drinking among newer generations; it hasrnbecome very important to draw a line between low and heavy consumption. It is alsorncrucial to understand that measuring a drink is not enough; there are genes, diet, weightrnand other social histories involved in alcohol uptake. In today’s world, it is very difficult tornavoid drinking completely. Even though following a healthy diet is under control, there are drinks where we lose!rnChoosing the right drink with fewer calories can actually keep you on a healthy track. Onernshould prefer low-calorie drinks like wine, champagne, vodka-soda etc. It is best to avoidrncocktails as they contain sugars, syrups, and juices that account for maximum calories.rnPrefer diet coke or soda as a beverage along with a drink as it contains zero calories. One must consume one drink per week in the following quantities:rnBeer ……………………… 330ml (1can) …………………. [153kcal]rnBrandy …………………… 60ml …………………………….. [120kcal]rnGin …………………………. 60ml …………………………….. [130kcal]rnRum ……………………….. 60ml …………………………….. [130kcal]rnVodka …………………….. 60ml …………………………….. [130kcal]rnWhiskey………………….. 60ml …………………………….. [130kcal] Food portion control is another important thing while taking those shots! A drink followedrnby a healthy snack to munch on and a wholesome dinner helps in combating dehydrationrnand dietary deficiencies which lead to health complications in the long run. rnOne can munch on any two of the following side dishes alongside drinks: A bowl of boiled or roasted peanuts/ unsalted chana/ boiled chana/ corn or chickpea chaat/ stir-fry veggiesrnA bowl of salad sticks + 2 tbsp dips or hummusrnTwo small pieces of paneer/ tofu/ chicken (either tikka, fried or grilled)rnA bowl of Greek/ Green/ Caesar salad (with veggies or chicken)rnTwo pieces of poached egg whites/ roasted chicken or tikka or kebabs Dinner options should include any one of the following: A tawa roti with dal tadkarnOne paneer kathi/ soya kathi/chicken kathi/ tikka rollrnA bowl of veg biryani/ dal khichdi/ pulav/ chicken biryani with a bowl of raitarnA bowl of whole wheat pasta/ noodles (with veggies or chicken)rnEven though alcohol is a slow killer, consuming it in moderate amounts helps us inrndifferent ways. Benefits of low alcohol use: Relieves stress and leaves a soothing effectrnCan be used as a flavoring agentrnDecreases the risk of cardiovascular diseasernPrevents gallstones Too much of a bad thing can affect our standard of living in an irreversible way. That isrnwhy, we need to manipulate our alcohol dependency today, for a better tomorrow. Byrnbeing physically and mentally fit, one can circumvent the long-term effects of drinking andrnit is easy to do that. We need to focus more on what we eat, how much we drink and howrnmuch we exercise/ engage in any physical activity. The impact of good nutrition isrnimmense. Working on it each day keeps us at good health.