Un toast leads to another. It is the spirit of the holidays, of course, but between a glass of wine, one of sparkling wine and another of amaro, the risk of making alcohol mistakes is around the corner especially these days. So how to regulate the relationship between alcohol and parties? In moderationsimply, as the Dr. Marco Ciambotta, nutritionist biologist, which specifies «That alcohol is a toxic substance for our metabolism is beyond doubt, but it is equally true that alcoholic beverages have been part of our traditions for millennia. For example, wine is an integral part of the Mediterranean Diet, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site ».
Alcohol, consumed in moderation, is a World Heritage Site
And it is precisely in the guidelines reported by the Organization itself, which emphasizes how much and when wine should be consumed “Wine is an integral part of the Mediterranean Diet, if taken in small quantities, preferably with meals. The sense of conviviality, one of the pillars on which the Mediterranean Diet stands as the most touted lifestyle in the world, is also the result of the wine which, drunk in small doses, facilitates sociability and brings out good feelings. However, we must not exceed in its consumption. Drunk in the doses of one glass per meal and only during meals, it becomes a food worthy of the Mediterranean Diet: tasty and healthy ”is written in the document dedicated to the Mediterranean diet drawn up by Unesco.
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«So the answer to the question of how to behave with alcohol during the holidays is precisely in these lines. A glass per meal, also to stimulate chatter and that famous conviviality typical of our culture, is enough»Specifies the nutritionist.
Alcohol and parties: the importance of the glass of wine
Unfortunately, however, as the expert points out, in recent years we think about nutrition only in terms of calories, their positive and above all negative effects, and macro nutrients. not taking into account the pleasure of being at the table. “You should start taking a step back in how you view nutrition and start thinking about it in global terms and not just focusing on a few aspects. In fact, at the base of the nutritional pyramid there is a fact that is not only underestimated but just forgotten. Which is conviviality, spending time together “.
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And what better time than Christmas after two years of pandemic to toast with friends and family? “It would make no sense to deprive yourself of a toast or a glass of wine or beer. The important thing is not to overdo it, after all it is the quantity that the poison makes and the solution is to maintain a healthy balance»Explains doctor Ciambotta.
A few simple rules to always keep in mind
So if the “golden rule” is that of the right quantity, however, there are some precautions to keep in mind. First among all, avoid not drinking on an empty stomach “Food in the stomach actually helps slow down the absorption of ethanol.” Attention also to sugar, but exaggerate «First because we eat too much of it, especially in this period, second because it is better to focus on wine, beer and spirits that contain fewer calories than the classic cocktail or to all sugary alcoholic beverages’.
On the other hand, the myth of “we must not mix” must be dispelled: «Also in this case, the problem is not the mixing itself but the quantities. If you stick to the glass rule for every alcoholic drink you drink, mixing isn’t a problem. On the contrary, it is often better to start dinner with a drink that has little volume, therefore little alcohol, and gradually increase the alcohol content during the meal precisely because food helps slow down the absorption of ethanol. By doing so, you can end the meal with the classic digestive without having any consequences »concludes Dr. Marco Ciambotta.
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