For many, it’s the biggest celebration of the year, and for some, the booziest.
But by sticking to certain types of alcohol, you give yourself a better chance of starting the year without a thumping headache, a nutritionist has revealed.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Australian holistic chef, Lee Holmes, from Supercharged Food, unveiled what alcoholic drinks are most likely to give you a regrettable hangover.
By sticking to certain types of alcohol, you give yourself a better chance of starting the year without a thumping headache, Australian nutritionist Lee Holmes (pictured) revealed to FEMAIL
Ms Holmes said the additional ingredients in alcoholic beverages are often to blame more than the alcohol itself (stock image)
Ms Holmes said the additional ingredients in alcoholic beverages are often to blame more than the alcohol itself.
‘Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the chemical used in different types of alcohol and can be taxing on the liver,’ she said.
‘However when it comes to the dreaded next day hangover, this is mostly due to the extra ingredients that are added to alcohol to create a specific taste, such as sugar and other preservatives also known as sulfites.’
Drinks containing the substance congeners – such as red wine and darker spirits like bourbon – are considered the ‘biggest hangover culprits’, Ms Holmes said.
A congener is a chemical compound which is a by-product of fermentation processes, and is also used as a flavour enhancer or artificial colour in spirits.
Drinks containing the substance congeners – such as red wine and darker spirits like bourbon (pictured) – are considered the ‘biggest hangover culprits’, Ms Holmes said
Ms Holmes suggested sticking to lighter varieties of alcohol such as higher quality and preservative-free white wines and clear-coloured spirits like gin or vodka (stock image)
‘It’s a good choice to not mix varieties of alcohol, as it will be much easier on the body, resulting in less of a hangover,’ Ms Holmes (pictured) said
‘Congeners can affect the way you process alcohol,’ Ms Holmes said.
‘It’s best to steer away higher concentrations of congeners, which are found more readily in red wine and darker spirits.’
Ms Holmes suggested sticking to lighter varieties of alcohol such as higher quality and preservative-free white wines and clear-coloured spirits like gin or vodka.
She added: ‘It’s a good choice to not mix varieties of alcohol, as it will be much easier on the body, resulting in less of a hangover.
‘It’s also helpful to drink water in between each glass of alcohol to help the digestion process, and to watch out for sugar-filled mixers too.’
Sage advice for this December 31…