Memorial Day is finally upon us, and along with breaking out the grill this weekend, many of us will be popping some bottles. Here’s a quick crib sheet for imbibing the healthy way:
- Experts define moderate drinking as an average of up to two drinks daily for men under age 65 and an average of one drink daily for women (or for men older than age 65). Since the one or two drink limit refers to an average over several days, yes, you can have a little more at your BBQ. We won’t judge you. Promise. A “drink” can be a 1.5 ounce (shot glass) of hard liquor, 12 ounce bottle of beer, or a five ounce glass of wine.
- That said, responsibility pays off, big time. Binge drinking, which is having five or more drinks in two hours for a man or four or more drinks for a woman, can be exceptionally dangerous. It is directly associated with traffic fatalities, violence, suicide, overdose, and unsafe sex. And over time, regular drinking of more than moderate amounts can affect our heart, liver, reflex time, driving, and judgment. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Memorial Day is one of the top three holidays for alcohol-related traffic accidents (the other two are, predictably, Fourth-of-July and Labor day). Sobering statistics.
- To keep your intake in check, follow the 1:1 rule. Take a sip of water after every sip of booze. Better still, follow up each drink order with a full glass of something non-alcoholic and consider watering down your wine or drink with seltzer and plenty of ice cubes. Also, avoid salty snacks; because they make you thirsty, they’ve got a sneaky tendency to make you drink faster. Foods rich in protein and fiber, on the other hand, coat your stomach and keep your alcohol and blood levels steady.
If you have questions about alcohol use, feel free to reach out to us at 1-844-MD-OSCAR or help@hioscar.com. We’re happy to walk you through the information, and can refer you to in-network physicians and treatment programs.