As part of my goal to be healthy and "clean" on my diet, I try to limit myself to usually only one drink (preferably red wine), if I am drinking that day. However, in some social situations, my strict diet tends to be difficult. Drinking alcohol can be a big detriment if you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle. Research has shown that while one drink may be beneficial to heart health, any more than one or two drinks can have tons of bad effects on your health such as causing inflammation, and can lead to liver and heart problems. Alcohol by nature is a toxin to the body. So I find that if I am always filling my body with organic foods, and antioxidant foods, why should I load my body with toxins that are bad for my health, heart, and liver?
I know drinking is very much a part of everyday social life. When you are out bar hopping with your friends, it's difficult not to give into the peer pressure to drink. Or if you are at a wedding or a party, it can be difficult to pass on the booze. Here are some tips I have found that help me to limit my alcohol intake when going out:
- Offer to be designated driver - As a designated driver, your friends won't (or at least shouldn't!) pressure you to drink. This is a sort of free pass for the night to get out of drinking more than your one drink.
- Nurse your drink & you don't have to finish the whole thing - This past weekend, my friends were bar hopping and this is the most difficult drinking dilemma for me. The social expectation is to get at least one drink at each bar that we "hop". What I did at the first bar was that I nursed my drink and I didn't even finish it. Nobody noticed that I didn't finish my drink. Just as with food, portions can be out of control at bars and restaurants so don't feel guilty about not finishing your drink, especially if it's more than the normal serving size.
- Pawn off your drink on a friend - Sometimes, I give my unfinished drink to my husband who usually gladly takes the extra beer. I'm watching what I drink, but he isn't and appreciates getting some extra beer his way.
- Order non-alcoholic - I have found that as long as you have some drink in hand (alcoholic or not), people will just assume that you are drinking alcohol. You can choose to get just plain cranberry juice, club soda, etc. A lot of juices aren't even the healthiest since they are loaded with unnecessary sugar, so if you are on a diet you still need to be careful with the non-alcoholic drinks that you consume. However, juices are still a better option than excess alcohol.
- Choose healthier option - If I drink, I try to do mimosas since sparkling wine has less calories than other forms of alcohol. Also, orange juice contains at least some nutrients such as Vitamin C and sometimes is enriched with Vitamin D and/or calcium. Gin and tonic would be another go to for a low-calorie drink. Try to avoid any mixed cocktails or sweet/sugary drinks.
- Show up late and/or leave early - I find that when I show up late to a party, most people have already started drinking and loosened up. Thereby, there is less pressure on me to drink. I also like to leave earlier, because first of all, as part of my healthy lifestyle, I choose to get up early and go to bed early. Second of all, I have learned that the old saying holds true: "nothing good happens after 2am". That's when the drunks get drunker and the debauchery really starts. And there is nothing fun about being the sober person in a middle of a bunch of drunks.
- Plan more active/healthy social gatherings - I'm not a big drinker, so when I am the one making plans for the weekend, I tend to suggest more active/healthy activities such as hiking, going to workout together with girlfriends, or even inviting my friends over for home-cooked dinners while watching a game on TV.
Now I am not perfect, and sometimes I do have more than one drink. It's just about finding the right balance for you. If you have tips about drinking and your diet, please share as I'd love to hear more.
Best,
Nina
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