| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | slow the absorption of alcohol into your system. |
| The benefits of cutting down | | | | Champagne on an empty stomach is the worst |
| Many people make it their New Year's resolution | | | | because the bubbles cause the body to absorb |
| to give up alcohol for a few weeks or to cut | | | | alcohol more quickly. |
| down on their drinking for a longer period of time | | | | 3. Dilute wine with ice and mineral water or order |
| - as limiting your alcohol intake can benefit both | | | | spirits in a long glass topped up with plenty of |
| your overall health and longevity. | | | | soft drink. |
| Here are but a few reasons to give up the drink | | | | 4. If you know it's going to be a long evening, sip |
| in 2008: | | | | slowly and pace yourself. Enjoy your drink and |
| Alcohol is packed with kilojoules (calories) and | | | | think quality rather than quantity. |
| is often the culprit behind weight gain. At 29 kJ | | | | 5. Have a soft drink in between drinks. |
| per gram, it supplies more kilojoules than protein | | | | 6. Switch to light beer or lower-alcohol wines (see |
| or carbohydrates per gram. | | | | below). |
| Excessive drinking can cause liver disease (like | | | | Non-alcoholic drinks |
| cirrhosis and fatty liver), high blood pressure and | | | | It is important to remember that alcohol will not |
| cancer of the mouth, oesophagus and larynx. | | | | guarantee a good time for you, or the people |
| Too much alcohol damages the pancreas (a | | | | around you. Don't forget the non-alcoholic options |
| small organ behind the stomach) which can | | | | such as: |
| eventually lead to diabetes, as the pancreas | | | | Lime, soda and bitters |
| produces digestive enzymes as well as the | | | | Tomato juice |
| hormone insulin needed to mobilise carbohydrates | | | | Clayton's and soda |
| into the body. Recent studies have shown that | | | | Grapefruit or cranberry juice with mineral |
| rising alcohol consumption in young people has led | | | | water |
| to a rise in pancreatitis (inflammation of the | | | | Ginger beer |
| pancreas) over the past 30 years. | | | | Brewed soft drinks |
| Alcohol is also a major cause of injury and | | | | Diet soft drinks; and |
| accidents. Statistics show that alcohol is involved in | | | | Iced tea. |
| around half of all serious/fatal car accidents. | | | | Try lower-alcohol choices |
| Standard drinks | | | | There are currently many low-alcohol variations to |
| Current medical opinion is that women should not | | | | traditional beer and wine ranges at your bottle |
| have more than two standard drinks per day and | | | | shop. So if you need to drive home or just hate a |
| men not more than four drinks. | | | | hangover, you may want to consider: |
| A standard drink contains around 10 grams of | | | | Early Harvest wines |
| alcohol which you'll find in: | | | | If you pick grapes early, they have less sugar so |
| One nip (30ml) of spirit such as rum, bourbon, | | | | you end up with a wine with around 30 per cent |
| scotch or vodka | | | | less alcohol. This also translates to fewer kilojoules |
| A small glass (only 100ml) of wine | | | | which is also good for your waistline. |
| A can or stubbie (375ml) of low-alcohol beer | | | | Light Italian-style wines |
| One middie (285ml) or two-thirds of a regular | | | | These light fruity wines are a little sweet with a |
| beer; or | | | | slight spritzer effect. They have only 5.5% alcohol |
| Two-thirds of a 350ml bottle of | | | | - less than half of most wines. |
| ready-to-drink spirits. | | | | Light low-alcohol beers |
| It is important to be aware of the size of your | | | | Light beers generally have half the alcohol of |
| glass as many drinks are now served in larger | | | | full-strength beer and half the kilojoules. They're a |
| glasses. A large big-balloon glass of wine can hold | | | | good choice if you're thirsty, but need to drive |
| 200 or 250 mls - equivalent to two or three | | | | home later. |
| standard drinks, not one. | | | | Low-carb beers |
| Drinking lighter | | | | Low-carb or blond beers have one-third of the |
| 1. Have a glass of mineral water or juice when | | | | carbohydrates of regular beers, but the same |
| you first arrive to quench your thirst before you | | | | alcohol level. If you like them, they'll save you |
| start drinking. | | | | kilojoules so you're less likely to put on weight. |
| 2. Have something to eat before you drink to | | | | |