Gone are the days when the nightlife scene was dead in Singapore. Recently bars are open till late, nightclubs are full, and drinking is all part of the fun. However, for us Asians, there’s one thing that we have to be wary of when we drink: the dreaded Asian flush. Some of us tend to hold ourselves back in fear of the so-called Asian glow, a reaction caused by the genetic intolerance to alcohol.
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Yes, most of us have been there, and while some are fine with it, it can be rather inconvenient, uncomfortable, and maybe even a bit embarrassing for others. What’s more, some of us also experience terrible hangovers that can last an entire day. Think — diarrhoea, fatigue, headache and nausea for 24 hours. It’ll makes you feel absolutely rotten the next day.
Well, if you’ve chanced upon this article then it’s safe to say that you might have gone through these experiences while you were out drinking with your friends or even at home parties. So the next question is: What can you do about it?
In our quest to find the best ways to beat the Asian flush or hangover, we’ve decided to round up some useful tips for your next night out.
While some of us do indulge in cocktails and wines, it is important that you should probably take your drinking down a notch if you’re planning to avoid getting that Asian flush or even a hangover the next day. This is because binge drinking overloads the body’s ability to metabolise alcohol. For those who suffer from Asian flush syndrome, you should wait till the redness subsides before taking another drink to avoid acetaldehyde overload.
It’s the weekend and you and your friends are out getting drinks. And while some might be able to take a few glasses at a go, it’s important that you take note of the number of drinks you’re consuming and ensure that you don’t consume more than you can handle. For example, men should limit themselves to two standard alcoholic drinks per day and women should stick to a maximum of one alcoholic drink per day.
Drinking on empty stomach is a definite no-no. And while you might not have the time to squeeze in dinner because you were too busy doing your makeup or getting ready, it’s still important that you have a quick bite before you start drinking the night away. Reason being: A full stomach protects the stomach lining against excessive irritation due to alcohol. For instance, snacking on fatty and carbohydrate-rich foods like seeds, nuts, cheese, pizza, pasta and bread can prevent the alcohol from entering the small intestines too quickly, therefore, this also slows down the rate of alcohol absorption.
Drinking alcohol can in fact cause dehydration as it is a diuretic, and it can increase your thirst. To counteract these effects, it’s advised that you drink a few glasses of water before you start drinking alcohol, and try to alternate alcoholic drinks with a glass of water or even non-alcoholic drinks to rehydrate your body.
Do you flush worse with red wine, but less with beer? Whatever the case is, choosing the right alcohol is key in managing your symptoms when you’re out drinking. In fact, you can also check the bottle labels to find out the APV for each drink. For instance, drinks like beers and sparkling wines have lower APVs than spirits.
Last but not least, I can’t emphasise how amazing hangover pills are when it comes to managing hangovers. After trying a few in the market, one of the few brands that have worked tremendously well is Bounceback. The homegrown was first founded by two former Singaporean Grab executives who simply needed a more effective long-term remedy for their brutal hangovers drinking with clients through the night.
So what makes Bounceback any different from the other brands you might ask? Well, first of all it contains twice the dose of Dihydromyricetin (DHM) found in regular anti-hangover pills which essentially means that it protects your liver from Acetaldehyde and it increases the speed of your alcohol metabolism. What’s more, it also combats free radicals from alcohol in the body and protects it from long-term alcohol damage.
What I love most about this pill is that you can consume them before drinking alcohol and it increases my alcohol tolerance, so I don’t have to worry about redness, headaches or nausea. And if you do forget to consume them before, you can also take them after your night out, and it will support your liver detoxification and protection, and you won’t wake up with a hangover.
Buy it here.
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Text: Shazrina Shamsudin/HerWorld