RESSACA - How to avoid, mitigate and/or get better faster

RESSACA - How to avoid, mitigate and/or get better faster

So as not to make this text too long, I'll try to be more objective in this one and leave the “physiology of the issue” to be explained in the next article, okay? So, here we go:

What is RESSACA?

It's that set of very uncomfortable and sometimes incapacitating symptoms that appear the morning after alcohol abuse and can last for hours or even days (for those who may not have known what it was).

What causes the RESSACA?

In a nutshell:

• Low fluid intake;
• Inadequate nutrition;
• Alcohol poisoning;
• Alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

This is because, approximately:

• 50% hangovers are due to the dehydration caused by alcohol, coupled with the lack of fluid replacement when drinking alcoholic beverages;
• 25% hangover is caused by the relative malnutrition/hypoglycemia that alcohol abuse causes, in addition to eating little (and poorly) during and after alcohol consumption;
• 25% is the result of intoxication of the body, especially the liver and brain (but also, importantly, the gastrointestinal tract, muscles and lungs), combined with the brain's lack of the initial stimulating effect of alcohol.

How to avoid RESSACA:

• Do not drink alcoholic beverages (obvious);
• If you do drink, avoid excesses and follow the other guidelines in the “how to mitigate” section below;
• Avoid consuming any amount of alcohol if you are not feeling well, whether for physical or mental reasons, etc.

How to mitigate the RESSACA:

• Avoid drinking too much;
• Alternate as much water as possible between alcoholic drinks;
• Never drink on an “empty stomach” - foods rich in protein and good fats are great options;
• Eat regularly while drinking alcoholic beverages;
• Always prefer quality drinks;
• Respect the time to stop: remember that when you start to feel unpleasant effects, there is still a lot of alcohol being absorbed in your intestines;
• If you smoke, do so as little as possible to avoid overloading yourself with more toxins;
• Drink at least one full glass of natural juice before going to bed (or a light diet accompanied by a good amount of water).

THE NEXT DAY:

• Consume light food on a regular basis;
• Drink plenty of water, also regularly;
• Practicing light physical exercise, such as walking, helps with detoxification;
• Respect your limits - your body may only need rest;
• Avoid consuming more alcohol (to make a mistake once is human, but to do it again is not very “smart”);
• Be careful about overdosing on medicines or even teas - remember that your liver is overworked and doesn't need any more stress (for example, boldo is excellent for the liver, but it increases acidity in the stomach...).

In the next post, I'll explain important points about RESSACA and the effects of alcohol on the human body, focusing mainly on clarifying what is true and what is myth.

Best regards, Dr. Ícaro Alves Alcântara