Photo: Jill Burrow

What is the cleanest alcohol to drink?

Red Wine Red Wine. Red wine is widely recognized as one of the healthiest alcoholic drinks out there. Poon notes that it's "relatively low in calories and also offers some health benefits."9 She adds that red wine is rich in antioxidants such as resveratrol and proanthocyanidins and can promote cardiovascular health.

byrdie.com - 15 of the Healthiest Alcoholic Drinks, Straight From Dietitians - Byrdie

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You don't need alcohol to relax and unwind, but the practice is ritualized in our culture as one that helps you "let your hair down.” However, as we all know, "too much of a good thing can be, well, too much," Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., CNS, notes. "The most healthy way to drink is in moderation and alongside plenty of water to counterbalance the diuretic effects," explains nutritionist Serena Poon. Hardly groundbreaking news, but what exactly does drinking in moderation look like? "This is a tricky question because the line between healthy drinking and unhealthy drinking is really more about total consumption than individual drinks," explains Poon. Gittleman advises, "one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men as moderate alcohol consumption." Drinking in moderation can also help you avoid some of alcohol's negative physical effects. "If you want to avoid other negative effects like hangovers, weight gain, and sleep disruption, stick to beverages that are lower in sugar, contain clear alcohol, and are lower in calories. Drinking sugary beverages can disrupt your blood sugar and cause problems with sleep and metabolism. Just the alcohol can send your blood sugar levels for a spin on its own, and the combination can create hypoglycemia," which can contribute to that shaky feeling you might experience after a night of drinking. You also want to regulate when you drink. Poon emphasizes, "The digestion of alcohol can really affect your sleep, and quality sleep is one of the most important factors in overall health. Researchers have found that it’s best to drink at least four hours before bedtime to avoid disrupting sleep." Finally, some people should avoid drinking altogether. Poon makes the following recommendation. "Communities who would want to abstain completely would include pregnant women, people who struggle with alcohol abuse, people with certain conditions such as liver disease, and people who are on certain medications," Gittleman adds that because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, it's important to check if any medications you’re taking are contraindicated. "This includes over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen," she says, "which can interact with alcohol to cause stomach bleeding and liver damage when taken in large amounts. Other populations might want to avoid alcohol to stay committed to a healthy lifestyle. "In my opinion," says Poon, "abstaining from alcohol is helpful for people who are trying to lose weight and people who are training for an endurance event or preparing for a big presentation at work. Also, if you are having troubles with your digestion or with anxiety, you may want to consider abstaining from alcohol to see if it helps." If, however, you fall outside these populations and choose to imbibe, some alcohol is healthier than others. As a rule of thumb, Poon suggests, "the simpler, the better. When choosing alcoholic beverages, avoid syrups, sweet mixers, sodas, and tonic water. Instead, stick to one or two ingredient drinks, high-quality clear alcohols, and hydrating mixers such as water and soda water." In addition, Gittleman suggests adding herbal garnishes to drinks, like mint, basil, ginger, or rosemary, for flavor. Ahead, Poon and Gittleman offer 15 of the healthiest alcoholic drinks to choose from the next time you want to imbibe.

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How do you know if your liver is struggling?

As the liver becomes more severely damaged, more obvious and serious symptoms can develop, such as: yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice) swelling in the legs, ankles and feet caused by a build-up of fluid (oedema) swelling in your abdomen caused by a build-up of fluid known as ascites.

nhs.uk - Symptoms: Alcohol-related liver disease - NHS

In many cases, people with alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) do not have any noticeable symptoms until their liver is badly damaged. If you do experience early symptoms of ARLD, these are often quite vague, such as: As the liver becomes more severely damaged, more obvious and serious symptoms can develop, such as:

When to seek medical advice

ARLD does not often cause symptoms until it's reached an advanced stage. If you misuse alcohol, you may have liver damage, even though you have none of the symptoms above. A good way to assess your history and pattern of drinking is to use a short test known as the CAGE test, which consists of 4 questions:

Have you ever thought you should cut down on your drinking?

Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking?

Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?

Have you ever drunk an "eye-opener", which means: have you ever drunk alcohol first thing in the morning to get over a hangover and steady your nerves?

If you answer "yes" to one or more of the questions above, you may have an alcohol problem and are advised to see your GP. See your GP as soon as possible if you have symptoms of ARLD.