How to Keep Your Alcohol Usage Healthy This Summer

How to Keep Your Alcohol Usage Healthy This Summer

With the weather warming up and summer lurking just around the corner, many people are already daydreaming about things like backyard barbecues and days at the ballpark. Although it remains impossible to predict what this summer will look like due to COVID-19 restrictions, it’s likely that the global vaccine rollout will make small gatherings possible.

As friends and family come together to enjoy the warm weather, there may also be some alcoholic beverages involved. That isn’t a problem as long as you know how to drink responsibly. Although there is no way to make drinking alcohol healthy, these tips will help ensure that your alcohol usage this summer is as “healthy” as it can be.

Don’t Forget the Water

On a hot summer day, an ice-cold beer can really hit the spot. Although there’s nothing wrong with cracking open the occasional cold one, it’s also important to remember your water intake. The same can be said regardless of what your alcoholic drink of choice may be.

Those who have had a few drinks on the same night know that you tend to go to the bathroom more often than normal. That is because alcohol acts as a diuretic. It tells the body to remove fluids through your renal system much faster than it would normally. As a result, alcohol can leave you dehydrated if you don’t drink enough water along with it. Combined with the summer heat and sunshine, alcoholic beverages will dehydrate you even faster.

To avoid this issue, it’s important to stay hydrated while you’re drinking alcohol. Aside from drinking plenty of water beforehand, you should also remember the one-for-one rule. This means that you should be drinking one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume. By alternating those beers with water, you’ll stay hydrated and feel much better the next day.

Mind the Calories

Many people forget that drinks like beer and wine are full of empty calories. If you’re drinking multiple beverages throughout the night and eating a meal or snacking at the same time, there’s a good chance that you’re consuming more calories than you need for the day.

It’s okay to indulge in a few drinks, just remember that those calories count. If you are trying to lose weight (or avoid putting it on) you might want to consider cutting back on your alcohol consumption.

Avoid Mixers

Pre-made alcoholic drinks have plenty of calories in them. If you’re mixing your own drinks, those calories can add up even faster. Not only does the alcohol have calories, but the mixer (like juice or soda) also has calories as well.

If you prefer hard liquors over beer and wine, drinking it “on the rocks” is lower in calories than a mixed cocktail. To keep your caloric intake even lower, choose clear alcohol like gin or vodka. As a bonus, these are also easier on the body than things like tequila and whiskey.

Pass the Wine

If you had to choose one type of alcohol that is the “healthiest” option, then wine would be the easy answer. Many research studies have found that there are benefits to drinking a glass of wine when done in moderation.

For one, wine is packed with antioxidants and tannins. These can help reduce the risk of things like heart disease and stroke. Studies have even found that drinking a single glass of wine per day can lead to better brain function.

The important thing to remember is that wine isn’t a superfood. It is still an alcoholic beverage and should be consumed in moderation. That being said, if you want to enjoy a few drinks this summer, a chilled glass of wine might be a good choice.

Velocity Urgent Care is Here to Help

As mentioned, there is no way to make drinking alcohol completely healthy. There are also plenty of risks that come with it. Being intoxicated makes it more likely for accidents to occur and injuries to happen. It also leaves you prone to dehydration. So, if your summer barbecue goes poorly or you find yourself feeling ill, Velocity Urgent Care is here to help.

Our facilities are equipped to handle things like sprains, broken bones, burns, cuts, and more. We have x-ray machines on-site and our providers can prescribe you medications to get you back on your feet.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking serious safety precautions to ensure that our locations are as clean as possible. We’ve put strict sterilization protocols into place and are carefully handling patients who may be contagious to ensure that each one of our clinics is safe for those who need urgent medical care or occupational health services.

Velocity Urgent Care offers convenient online registration that helps you limit your contact with others during a visit. You can sign up for an appointment online ahead of time and arrive when it’s time to be seen to skip the waiting room. We even offer text message updates so you can wait in the car (if you prefer) until it’s time for your appointment.

Velocity Urgent Care is an in-network provider for most major insurance plans, meaning you can be seen for the cost of your co-pay and deductible. All of our locations also accept Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare. Veterans Administration beneficiaries are also welcome.