Drinkwel Blog

Date

May 15 2013

Written By

James Madeiros

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How & Why Electrolytes Help a Hangover

Written By James Madeiros - May 15 2013

By James Madeiros

 

Electrolytes! Everybody wants more electrolytes, even though we don’t know what they do or where to find them.

The good news is that electrolytes can help with a hangover (among other things) and are really easy to find, because they’re everywhere. Specifically, it’s the primary ions of electrolytes that are what’s important, and they include:

- Sodium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Chloride
- Hydrogen phosphate
- Hydrogen carbonate

Why are these electrolyte ions important, at least when it comes to hangovers? Basically, it’s because keeping them in balance in the body will allow it to effectively regulate hydration. And, since dehydration is one of the primary contributors to a hangover, it stands to reason that electrolytes play a key role in the game of Dodge the Headache.

Finding electrolytes is as easy as putting a vaguely healthy food item in your mouth. Actually, for some of these it doesn’t even have to be healthy, but it may as well be. If you have a banana with a glass of milk as part of your hangover breakfast you’ll already be halfway home.

Of course, maintenance is as important as replenishment when it comes to electrolytes. Hydration regulation is as important before you drink as it while you’re drinking or after you’ve finished, so eating right day and night is the best way to keep your electrolytes in check.

Legal Stuff: We should remind everyone that our blog entries are for your information only and are not intended as medical advice. If you’re going to drink, do it legally and responsibly; don’t be stupid =).

Date

May 01 2013

Written By

James Madeiros

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Differences between Cysteine and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

Written By James Madeiros - May 01 2013

By James Madeiros

 

Alcohol consumption is all about chemistry – once you get past all the fun and flavor, that is.

Most of the time we focus on the outward manifestations of these chemical reactions, because they can be pretty amusing, but there’s a lot of other action going on at the cellular level that often gets ignored.

Cysteine is a “non-essential” amino acid, which is just a confusing way of saying the human body can make it on its own. It’s definitely essential, though, because a metabolite contained in cysteine called N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is what helps the liver metabolize acetaldehyde.

This is super important because acetaldehyde is no more than a fancy word for poison. It is toxic and it will kill you. It’s more toxic than alcohol itself and is a byproduct of alcohol metabolism. Incidentally, the stuff also occurs in nature and we absorb it every day, which is why we need lots of cysteine and its metabolite, NAC.

The danger of acetaldehyde can’t be overstated. The stuff can totally give you cancer and recent studies have shown that heavy drinkers are far more susceptible to acetaldehyde-related cancer than those who simply absorb it in the environment. Why? Because heavy drinkers are getting much higher doses since they’re basically adding the amount they get from booze to their environmental exposure.

So, even though cysteine may be “non-essential,” making sure you have some on reserve is never a bad idea.

Legal Stuff: We should remind everyone that our blog entries are for your information only and are not intended as medical advice. If you’re going to drink, do it legally and responsibly; don’t be stupid =).

Date

April 17 2013

Written By

James Madeiros

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5 Famous Prohibition-Era Cocktails

Written By James Madeiros - April 17 2013

By James Madeiros

 

Prohibition, for those of you who are not familiar with this dark chapter of American history, was the period between 1920 and 1933 when there was a federal ban on alcohol. That’s right – alcohol was illegal across the entire country.

Of course, that didn’t stop people who wanted a drink from finding one, which is why Prohibition is often blamed for giving rise to organized crime and one of the most violent periods in American history that didn’t involve a civil war.

People in search of the forbidden nectar would sometimes wet their whistles at a speakeasy – a kind of secret saloon that often had no sign and would be relocated from time to time to keep John Law off the scent. But, what were they drinking in those speakeasies?

1. Old-Fashioned

The old-fashioned has been around since the 1800s and has many variations, but a popular version during the Prohibition days required the barman to muddle a sugar cube in a splash of water at the bottom of an old-fashioned glass, followed by adding a dash of Angostura bitters, a few ice cubes, a jigger of whiskey and a squeeze of lemon.

2. Highball

Another easy one that elevated the flavor of one of Prohibition’s most commonly available spirits, a highball is made by mixing whiskey and ginger beer over ice with a twist of lime. Any brown spirit will do, though, and the mixture can be as high as 1 to 1 – especially if you’re a favorite at your local speakeasy.

3. Singapore Sling

This gin drink tastes as good as it sounds and, true to its name, was first developed in Singapore. How it reached the shores of America during a booze ban is anybody’s guess, although word travels fast for drinks this tasty. Make it by adding an ounce of fresh lemon juice, 1/4-ounce simple syrup and 1/2 ounce cherry brandy to 2 ounces of club soda and a jigger of gin.

4. Gin Buck

This is more a less a highball made with gin. There are several kinds of “bucks” in a bartender’s handbook made with all types of liquors and additional ingredients, but the simplicity of the gin buck is highly prized. Mix a jigger of gin with 4 ounces of ginger beer and a splash of lemon juice over ice to make this easy and tasty cocktail. Add a lemon twist if you want to class it up a little.

5. Sidecar

The sidecar’s origins are the stuff of legend and its emergence as a popular drink during Prohibition makes it a necessary feature on any list paying homage to the period. Once again, it’s a cocktail made popular in another country while the U.S. was busy criminalizing fun. There are both French and English versions of the drink (although involving the same ingredients), but since France fights hardest to lay claim to the origin, we’ll honor that recipe: Pour equal parts cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice in a shaker half-filled with ice then strain and serve in a sugar-rimmed glass.

Legal Stuff: We should remind everyone that our blog entries are for your information only and are not intended as medical advice. If you’re going to drink, do it legally and responsibly; don’t be stupid =).

Date

April 10 2013

Written By

James Madeiros

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Hangover Cure Smoothie Recipe

Written By James Madeiros - April 10 2013

By James Madeiros

 

Everyone wants a magic bullet when it comes to a hangover cure and marketers have been quick to take advantage of that fact by offering any number of magical powders, potions and palliatives – but there’s really only one thing that can help a booze-induced head-splitter.

Actually, there are several things, but if you blend them all together into one delicious smoothie they’ll work a lot better and taste more pleasant going down.

So, what goes into the perfect hangover smoothie? Basically, the kind of stuff that helps with hangovers before it’s liquefied: protein, vitamin B, vitamin C and electrolytes. Below, we take a look at the ingredients and why you want them in the mix.

1 Cup Coconut Water: Coconut water is one of the best hangover cures in liquid form, anyway. It contains lots of electrolytes like potassium, sodium and chloride, and is a good hydrator.

1 Cup Milk: Vitamin D is always a good thing, but this is really to keep things creamy and yummy – and because 2 cups of coconut water is a lot of coconut water.

1 Banana: Potassium! Plus, bananas are a go-to fruit base for any smoothie.

1 Orange: The choice is yours and you can use any kind of fruit, although an orange is recommended for its vitamin C. This is the part where you can healthily tweak the flavor of your smoothie (mangos, strawberries, blueberries and pineapple are all great options).

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder: This is a much tastier way to get protein in the mix without cracking a raw egg into it a la Rocky.

2 Tbsp. Honey: This will give you a good wallop of vitamin B, which gets zapped pretty hard by booze.

Finally, blend it all together with a little ice and an aspirin or drinkwel (optional), and you’ve got yourself one mean hangover smoothie.

Legal Stuff: We should remind everyone that our blog entries are for your information only and are not intended as medical advice. If you’re going to drink, do it legally and responsibly; don’t be stupid =).

Date

April 03 2013

Written By

James Madeiros

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5 Healthy-ish Cocktails Commonly Available

Written By James Madeiros - April 03 2013

By James Madeiros

 

First, let’s all agree that “healthy” is a very subjective term when it comes to alcoholic beverages, because somebody out there will note that putting alcohol into anything will zap the health benefits right out of it.

This, of course, is as much a matter of opinion as whether a cocktail can be healthy and science seems to support that the fact that they can be, if only because alcohol can’t kill vitamins and nutrients. It doesn’t really work like that.

Alcohol can, however, disrupt your ability to absorb and break down said nutrients, so consuming these healthy beverages in moderation is always a wise choice.

Now, with all of the qualifiers and disclaimers out of the way, let’s take a look at 5 healthy-ish cocktails that are commonly available.

1. Screwdriver.

Vodka + Orange Juice = Vitamin C

How much Vitamin C depends on the size of the glass and the size of the pour. We’ll leave you to decide where the vitamins are hidden. Tip: add a little squeeze of lemon juice for extra nutrients and even better taste.

2. Bloody Mary.

Vodka + Tomato Juice + Garnishes = Vitamins A and C, Calcium and Iron

The listed nutrients are from the juice, but you’ll extract even more healthy goodness from garnishes like olives, celery, green beans, shrimp and other kinds of yummy add-ons common to this beverage.

3. White Russian.

Vodka + Kahlua + Cream = Vitamins A and D, Protein, Calcium, Riboflavin and Phosphorus

Fix up your white Russian (or Caucasian, as The Dude would call it) with at least 3 ounces of real cream and you’ll be hooked up with 25% of your daily allowance of Vitamin A along with small amounts of the other goodies listed. Be aware that this one is heavy on calories.

4. Cape Cod.

Vodka + Cranberry Juice = Vitamins C, E and K, Antioxidants

Cranberry juice is great for you and is loaded with all kinds of awesome stuff as well as the vitamins listed. And, as The Departed violently reminds us, it’s also a natural diuretic. Tip: use 100% cranberry juice with no sugar added.

5. (Real) Margarita.

Tequila + Lime Juice + Agave Syrup + Cointreau = Vitamin C

A real margarita, also known as a Cadillac in some parts, is not made from that yellow junk they pull out from underneath the bar at the rat hole down the block. It’s made from pure lime juice and has enough Vitamin C in it to cure a thousand crusty seadogs of scurvy in one sip. Arrrghhhh!

If you’re into ultra-healthy cocktails, be sure to check out our mini-booklet of 12 healthy cocktail recipes.

Legal Stuff: We should remind everyone that our blog entries are for your information only and are not intended as medical advice. If you’re going to drink, do it legally and responsibly; don’t be stupid =).

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