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The 5 alcohol myths you probably believe are going to may put into question everything you think you know about drinking. And that is thing about drinking; how much do you really know about it? Many of the common things we know about drinking are pretty much just old wives tales that have been passed down from generation to generation. And as a result of this steady hand me down of supposed knowledge about alcohol and drinking it we have readily accepted many things as fact when really they are totally and ridiculously false; they really are just myths.
Here are 5 alcohol myths you probably believe; yes you.
1. Beer before liquor. . .
If you haven’t actually heard this saying before it goes something like this, “Beer before liquor makes you sicker, liquor before beer you’re in the clear.” I had heard this saying before I had even started drinking and actually tried to stick by it. Little did I know this is totally a myth-the fact that it rhymed should have given it away as what it was but nope. So how is it an alcohol myth? Bottom line is it isn’t which order you consume your drinks in that matters, it’s the total amount of alcohol that you consume. With any alcohol, your inhibition decreases, which often leads to drinking more — so if you start with a beverage that has higher alcohol content, your inhibition goes down more quickly and you tend to drink more.
2. There are different drunks
Back in my non-recovered days I fell victim to this myth too. I honestly believed that Vodka made me angrier and sicker then Rum and so on and so forth. This is total bologna. So how is it an alcohol myth? It all comes down to the amount you drink and not what you are drinking. That and I probably psyched myself out with the Vodka. The mind is really powerful like that.
3. Beer gives you a beer gut
Isn’t it a relief to know that this is an alcohol myth; maybe or maybe not? Since it is an alcohol myth, that means that you just have a gut and can’t blame it on anything except unhealthy eating habits and not exercising enough. Obviously beer has a lot of calories; most alcoholic beverages do, and drinking a ton of it will cause weight gain but not just in your stomach; it really depends on your body type and your genes where you gain weight. And, there is a beer belly gene. People get fat in different ways and abdominal obesity is one of those ways. You can thank your genetics for that. So if you have the pot belly gene you will end up having a beer gut regardless of whether or not it’s from beer if you aren’t taking care of yourself.
4. Drinking will help you sleep
You think drinking a glass of wine will help you to sleep. There has been a ton of recent research coming out about how drinking before bed actually does the exact opposite this. I was victim to this alcohol myth too. The reason I fell victim to this alcohol myth is because drinking before bed did make me more tired and sleepier. I am sure anyone who is tried it doesn’t doubt that, but when it comes to the quality of your sleep; well you have just sabotaged it. Drinking before bed messes up your REM cycles and can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night. You may fall asleep quickly but you won’t rest easy if you do at all once the alcohol leaves your system.
5. Whatever you have heard is a cure for a hangover
There are so many alcohol myths when it comes to the dreaded hangover the next morning. Many people believe in the “hair of the dog” tactic where drinking more alcohol will make you feel better and it may make you feel better for a moment until that bit of alcohol begins leaving your system. Or maybe you have heard the greasy food bit. A hangover is the result of drinking too much and the only cure for it is sleep and water. Nothing can “cure” a hangover. It is going to feel terrible, it is going to hurt, and it is going to suck. You just have to wait for it to pass. You may be able to do some things to ease your pain but it won’t cure it. So what is the best way to avoid a hangover? Don’t drink.
If you or someone you love is in need of alcohol addiction treatment, please give us a call at 800-951-6135.
Sources:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20500709_last,00.html