The biggest myths about alcohol, busted
People the world over have sought remedies to mitigate the dreaded hangover. Here we put some of the better known myths to scientific scrutiny.
'Lining' your stomach
There is a belief that a glass of milk before a drinking session can help to lessen the effects of alcohol by 'lining your stomach'. Biologically speaking, there is no such thing as 'lining your stomach'. If there is any effect, it is through slowing your stomach emptying. Around 20 percent of alcohol is absorbed in the stomach and the rest is absorbed in the intestine. So any food containing fat, protein or, to some extent, carbohydrate that delays your stomach emptying could have a very modest effect on slowing down the absorption of alcohol.
A hearty breakfast mops it up
A survey of 2,000 British adults, conducted by One Poll, found that a fried breakfast is 'the preferred remedy for Brits battling the aftermath of a heavy night'. The survey also reported that 26 percent of popular hangover cures rely on a dish that contains egg. But is there any science in this?
A study involving rats suggests there could be some support for this idea. Eggs are high in a substance called cysteine. When rats were fed lethal amounts of acetaldehyde – a toxin your body produces when it breaks down alcohol – those that were given cysteine were more likely to survive the toxic assault than the controls.
Coffee sobers you up
If you're drunk and you need to sober up in a hurry, what do you do? Well, if the movies are anything to go by, drink a mug of strong, black coffee. The science is less emphatic on this one, though. This is partly due to the complex way alcohol acts as a sedative – making you dizzy and forgetful – whereas coffee, a stimulant, makes you more alert, but does nothing to improve dizziness or forgetfulness.