Lunar New Year is a time for family reunions and festive meals. Alcohol is often an integral part of these celebrations, but it’s important to be mindful of certain food combinations that can overload your body.

Salted Dishes

Salted dishes like Taiwanese braised pork, dried shrimp, and dried fish tend to increase thirst and alcohol consumption. High salt content can also be harsh on the stomach. Combining alcohol with these salty dishes can have adverse effects on your health, exacerbating the negative impacts on your body.

Deep-fried Dishes with High Fat Content

Deep-fried dishes like fried sticky rice cakes, Chinese sausages, and braised pork belly, when paired with alcohol, can lead to the production of enzymes that promote fat absorption. This can result in long-term health issues such as fatty liver and cardiovascular diseases.

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Limit your consumption of salty dishes and spicy, pickled foods when drinking alcohol.

Caffeinated Beverages

Drinking caffeinated beverages such as coffee, soft drinks, or energy drinks with alcohol can inhibit nerves, giving a false sense of sobriety. This might lead to excessive drinking and increased health risks. These drinks also worsen stomach issues and harm the digestive tract, making the combination with alcohol an unhealthy choice.

Spicy and Pickled Foods

Spicy and pickled dishes like sour pickles, salted onions, and kimchi are common during Lunar New Year celebrations. While these dishes can stimulate digestion in moderation, combining them with alcohol can irritate the digestive system and stomach lining, increasing the risk of gastroesophageal reflux. This is why you might experience heartburn, indigestion, or stomach ulcers when consuming excessive alcohol with these foods.

Additionally, alcohol, particularly red wine, contains tannins that hinder the digestion of iron-rich foods like soybeans, red beans, white beans, black beans, and beef. Individuals with a history of iron deficiency anemia should refrain from consuming alcohol and iron-rich foods simultaneously.

Before drinking alcohol, consider consuming protein-rich and electrolyte-rich foods like bananas, eggs, avocados, and salmon to curb hunger, fill your stomach, balance electrolytes, and mitigate the adverse effects of alcoholic beverages on your health.

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