What foods absorb alcohol the fastest? (2023)

What foods absorb alcohol the fastest?

What foods soak up alcohol? Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach means your body will absorb alcohol faster and you'll feel the effects of alcohol more rapidly. Any food will help, but carbohydrates — like bread, pasta or potatoes — slow down how quickly your body absorbs the alcohol.

Foods high in protein and healthy fats, like yogurt and salmon, can help slow alcohol absorption. Avocados and bananas also contain plenty of potassium, which you might lose after drinking. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Bananas are a great source of it. They're also easy to digest, so your stomach won't feel upset. On another note, coconut water is a great option and is high in potassium (and will give you some fluids) as well as orange juice and avocados.

Strong stressful emotions like anxiety, anger or depression all have affects on the enzymes in the stomach, leading to faster absorption. Dehydration. When you're dehydrated you absorb alcohol at a significantly faster rate. Dehydration also affects the liver's ability to break alcohol down.

According to Chernus, “Toast with a little bit of peanut butter and jelly is really great because peanuts have niacin, which is used up in metabolizing alcohol. Plus it's tolerable for most people after a night of drinking.”

Our bodies tend to lose potassium when we drink alcohol (especially when drinking excessive amounts),2 so eating potassium-rich foods prior to drinking can help boost the amount in your body. Spinach, avocado, potatoes, lentils, milk, and yogurt are also high in potassium and great to snack on before drinking.

B-vitamins are a family of water-soluble vitamins that help with proper metabolism, nerve functioning, energy production, and the breakdown of alcohol in our system.

Pineapple (10/10)

Solid amount of absorption, and the sweetness of the pineapple masked the vodka taste without sacrificing the concentration of alcohol.

Approximately 20% of alcohol is absorbed through the stomach and most of the remaining 80% is absorbed through the small intestine. Alcohol is metabolized by the liver, where enzymes break down the alcohol. Understanding the rate of metabolism is critical to understanding the effects of alcohol.

Consider reaching for Gatorade, Pedialyte, Powerade, or a similar nonfizzy sports drink. These drinks are packed with certain minerals called electrolytes — such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium — which help regulate fluid levels in the body.

Why should you eat before drinking?

Alcohol is most quickly absorbed by the small intestine. The longer alcohol stays in the stomach, the slower it is absorbed and the slower it affects the body. Food prevents alcohol from passing quickly into your small intestine. When there is food in your stomach before drinking, alcohol is absorbed more slowly.

Eating a nutritious meal before drinking alcohol can help you avoid a hangover or getting too drunk. Foods high in protein and healthy fats, like yogurt and salmon, can help slow alcohol absorption. Avocados and bananas also contain plenty of potassium, which you might lose after drinking.

Having a snack or a meal before your first beverage will help give your body the time it needs to process alcohol and help prevent nausea, headache, and upset stomach. A little bit of starch or dairy goes a long way in coating your stomach lining and preparing your body for alcohol.

Taking 2 grams of vitamin C one hour before alcohol consumption increases the rate at which alcohol is cleared from the blood, and may reduce acute toxic effects on the liver (Chen 1990).

Is Vitamin B12 Good For Hangovers? The only reliable hangover cure is limiting alcohol intake in the first place. Nonetheless, taking vitamin B12 supplements before and after drinking alcohol may help replenish the amount of this essential nutrient in your body and allow it to recover faster from hangover symptoms.

Vitamin B & C

Antioxidant vitamins taken right around the time of consumption of alcohol may lessen or prevent hangover effects by neutralizing alcohol metabolites that cause oxidative damage to the body and brain in those who can't stop drinking.

If your stomach is empty when you start drinking, the alcohol will enter your bloodstream faster. You may feel the effects of your drinks quickly, making it harder to manage your drinking. It's a good idea to eat before your first drink, and while you are drinking.

What is the #1 factor that removes alcohol from the body?

About 90 per cent of alcohol is eliminated by the body's metabolism. While the kidneys and gastro-intestinal tract play a role in this process, the liver is the main organ responsible for transforming alcohol absorbed by the blood into substances that your body can process and eliminate.

Alcohol detection tests can measure alcohol in the blood for up to 6 hours, on the breath for 12 to 24 hours, urine for 12 to 24 hours (72 or more hours with more advanced detection methods), saliva for 12 to 24 hours, and hair for up to 90 days. The half-life of alcohol is between 4-5 hours.

Drinking water, juice, broth and other non-alcohol beverages to reduce dehydration. Getting sleep to counteract fatigue. Taking antacids to help settle your stomach. Trying aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to help your headache or muscle ache.

Drinking water while consuming alcohol is an important part of minimizing its effects. Staying hydrated not only improves your mental capacity but also helps your body flush out toxins and protects your skin.

Protein, fat, and carbohydrates help clear alcohol from your system.

Drink Plenty of Water Beforehand

Alcohol, being the diuretic it is, also effectively strips your body of electrolytes, making your potential hangover worse than it would have been had you stayed on top of your hydration game. So, be sure to pre-game with plenty of water beforehand.

Sip, don't chug

Sipping your drinks slowly so that you're not exceeding more than one drink per hour is the best way not to get drunk. To help pace yourself, don't order another drink or let someone refill your glass until it's empty. Having ice in your glass will also slow you down (and water down the booze a tad).

Having food in your stomach will help slow the processing of alcohol. A person who has not eaten will hit a peak BAC typically between 1/2 hour to two hours of drinking. A person who has eaten will hit a peak BAC typically between 1 and 6 hours, depending on the amount of alcohol consumed.

Alcohol moves quickly from the mouth to the stomach and on to the intestines. Some of it is absorbed directly through the lining of the mouth and esophagus, some through the walls of the stomach and the rest is absorbed by the intestines, mainly the small intestine.

Nutritionist Ian Marber says: “Milk last thing at night might help replace lost minerals,” while Shah adds: “Milk contains a protein called casein, which can counteract alcohol and aid sleep.” It isn't the best source of minerals, though, says Marber.

Should I eat before or after drinking?

If your stomach is empty when you start drinking, the alcohol will enter your bloodstream faster. You may feel the effects of your drinks quickly, making it harder to manage your drinking. It's a good idea to eat before your first drink, and while you are drinking.

Once alcohol is in the bloodstream, it can only be eliminated by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, sweat, urine, and breath. Drinking water and sleeping will not speed up the process.