Encore: Hangovers Explained: How Alcohol Affects Your Brain and Body | Dr. Mark Hyman
Mark Hyman
Dec 27, 2024
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Stop drinking three hours before bed to improve sleep quality
The half-life of alcohol is four to five hours, meaning you should stop drinking at least three hours before bed to minimize its negative impact on sleep.
Eliminate alcohol for optimal health
According to the World Health Organization, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption for human health.
Take NAC to boost glutathione and alleviate hangover symptoms
Taking N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) helps your body produce glutathione, the master detoxifier, which can help with nausea and weakness from hangovers.
Choose sugar-free electrolyte powders over sugary drinks
Avoid popular drinks like Liquid IV and Gatorade which are loaded with sugar, and instead use sugar-free electrolyte powders like Elite or LMNT.
Supplement zinc and niacin to reduce hangover severity
Zinc and niacin (Vitamin B3) are critical cofactors needed for the enzymes that detoxify alcohol, and supplementing them may lower hangover severity.
Avoid dark liquors to reduce hangover severity
Darker liquors like whiskey and red wine have higher concentrations of congeners, which are byproducts that lead to more severe hangovers.
Avoid light drinking to protect brain health
Even light to moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk for dementia and Alzheimer's because it shrinks your brain and reduces neuroplasticity.
Recognize alcohol as a top carcinogen alongside asbestos and tobacco
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, the same high-risk group as asbestos, radiation, and tobacco.
Use red ginseng to alleviate hangover symptoms
Taking red ginseng soon after drinking can help reduce hangover symptoms by increasing the metabolism of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol.
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