Too much booze can have long-term effects on the kidney, liver, and increase the risk of cancer, complications during pregnancy, and birth defects. However, even if you are a social drinker, there can be an immediate effect, too. It may affect your looks, skin, eyes, and belly. Just in case you don’t already yet, below are 4 ways how excessive drinking can make you ugly.
1.It dries you up
The morning after your drinking session you will notice how thirsty you are and how your head hurts. The reason is that the kidneys work harder at removing water from your organs and your brain is shrinking from dehydration. How to Fight the Booze: Obviously, drink a glass of water between alcoholic beverages. Avoid drinking caffeine as it will further dehydrate you. Instead have a fruit shake.
2.It makes your nose, cheeks, and eyes red
Alcohol increases circulation and dilates blood vessels that may cause permanently broken capillaries, a condition called rosacea. Since alcohol depletes the system of nutrients required for eye health, it can also cause a condition called alcoholic optic neuritis and worse, blindness. How to Fight the Booze: Applying a primer to even out your skin tone, followed by a tinted moisturizer to bring a little hydration back. For red eyes, over-the-counter vasoconstrictor eye drops should work for a one-off quick fix.
3.It gives you a beer belly
Alcohol gives you “empty” calories and can mess with your hormones, suppresses fat oxidation, and stimulates your appetite. This makes you gain weight and get a Homer Simpson belly. How to Fight the Booze: Drink moderately and work out on the calories they’ll cost you.
4.It makes you bloat
Because you’ve lost water and electrolytes from your system, the water left is retained, causing tissues to swell and puff up. How to Fight the Booze: Aside from drinking lots of water, you soothe your puffy eyes with cold tea bags or a caffeine under-eye product. You can also try a simple coffee-with-honey mask on your entire face for 15 minutes.
Extra Tip to Help When You’ve Got the Booze:
- Eat food with carbs and protein before, in between drinks, and for breakfast the morning after. Food acts as a buffer that can slow down alcohol absorption. Light-colored or transparent drinks are less likely to give you a hangover since they have lower congener content. You may drink healthier cocktails like Bloody Marys, which use Vodka or Gin that are packed with antioxidants and are practically a food in itself. There is no need to cut out alcohol completely. You just have to be smart about the way you consume it.
