"Where there is no wine, there is no feast." Many employers even consider "drinking ability" as a criterion for recruitment. We often come across situations like "You're late, so you have to drink three glasses of wine as punishment!" or "It's not easy for us to get together, so let me propose a toast to everyone."
This current "table etiquette" makes many people feel helpless, as if they can only demonstrate their loyalty and generosity in this way. However, they are unaware of the health risks they are subjecting themselves to by drinking on an empty stomach. Studies have shown that people who drink on an empty stomach have a significantly higher mortality rate compared to those who only drink during meals.
Most people who drink alcohol at the table don't eat much. Over time, this will increase the burden on the liver and damage its function. This is because when people consume alcohol, most of it is absorbed by the duodenum and small intestine, with only a small amount being absorbed by the stomach and entering the bloodstream. It is then detoxified by the liver and affects various organs in the body. Therefore, drinking on an empty stomach increases the concentration of alcohol in the blood and intensifies its harm to the body.
When drinking on an empty stomach, the alcohol is quickly absorbed, which hinders the absorption of amino acids and folic acid. This leads to a severe deficiency of these substances in the body, which greatly affects the brain, nerves, heart, liver, and other organs and tissues. It can cause dizziness, tinnitus, fatigue, shortness of breath, and even severe pain in the liver area. Additionally, when people drink on an empty stomach, there is no food in the stomach to alleviate the effects of alcohol, which directly stimulates the gastric mucosa and muscle layer, leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, and impaired digestion. Many people suffer from chronic diseases such as gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis, mixed hemorrhoids, and even uremia and colon cancer due to long-term drinking on an empty stomach.
In addition, regularly drinking on an empty stomach increases the risk of hypertension. Therefore, before drinking alcohol, it is necessary to eat something such as milk or fatty foods, or slowly eat while drinking to avoid increased harm to the body caused by alcohol.
Editor's Note:
After consuming a large amount of alcohol, people often feel extremely thirsty and drink glass after glass of water. However, this further damages the liver. The best approach is to eat some fruits as they can neutralize the acidity in the stomach and liver. The sugar in the fruits can also promote the burning of alcohol in the body, reducing the damage to the liver caused by alcohol.
