Live Right at Night … Drink Right in the Daylight
Hello sun goddesses, it seems (almost) all over the country that spring has sprung and summer is on its way! But before you whip out your fabulous shades and lean back in a chair while having a cocktail at a sidewalk café wait a minute! Be careful as you order a diet soda mixed with that cocktail that you don’t want to end up sun drunk.
Researchers have shown that diet drinks like diet soda coupled with alcohol versus the full-bodied, full-calorie soda mixed with alcohol may actually cause you to get drunk faster. Whaaattt? I know crazy right? What’s a girl to do, I mean hello calories count even when you drink them through a straw. Now I’m not saying you should start ordering a rum and regular Coke. But it’s important to understand how your drink choices can impact your blood alcohol level. Sugar (aka carbohydrates) slows down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Diet soda drinks don’t have sugar so there’s no slowing of alcohol absorption and therefore, you can get drunk faster compared to enjoying a cocktail with regular soda. Drinking diet soda versus regular soda with alcohol can lead up to an 18% difference in breath alcohol content. Which means yes, ladies those two drinks may sneak up on you faster. Couple the a few sugar free cocktails with a sun filled café and OMG – you could be drunk at happy hour before the sun sets.
So as the days get longer, the sun shines brighter, and you partake in more adult beverages be mindful of your alcohol intake. There’s nothing wrong with having a few cocktails with friends, but if you are going to partake in “diet” cocktails then perhaps think about having a glass of water between those drinks; extending the amount of time between drinks; or even grabbing a bite to eat while drinking to put some food and carbs in your stomach to help slow the absorption of alcohol in your system and ensure you stay safe and sober.
Wishing you a fabulous weekend and enjoy the sun!
Smooches,
Dr. V