By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Nightlife Editor
I go out a lot. Several times a week sometimes.
But I do it in a healthy way.
How do I do that, you ask? It’s easy. In this post, I explain how to balance nightlife with health, including tips on recovery, staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy lifestyle while enjoying the party scene.
1.) Exercise & Socialize
That’s my term for it. Before I go out and party, I exercise. I run, ride a bike, play beach volleyball or do some other physical activity. Actually, I do this several times a week but the idea is to be in good physical shape. When you are in shape, you are not just feeling good physically, you feel great mentally You have energy and that translates into a positive experience at the bars.
Being in shape has several health benefits which helps to counter the negative effects of alcohol. Exercising pumps up your blood, helps with liver disease, heart issues, and even diabetes. In fact, a Alcohol Liver Center study found that patients who did 2.5 hours of moderate-high exercise each week had a lower risk of developing alcoholic liver disease compared to those who did not exercise.
Plus, other studies show that the more you work out the less you drink.
2.) Drink Healthy Drinks
Avoid sugary drinks. Not the good ones like margaritas and mai tais but limit the pina coladas and the cheap ones served in what I call the “party bars.” Those are mostly consumed by college and recent post-college people because they have a lot of bottom shelf alcohol and provide a cheap buzz.
Beer is a good, healthy drink. It helps to maintain a healthy immune system, contains B vitamins and, like the human body, is comprised largely of water. There have been several studies to support these facts. Wine, too, is good for the body. Some doctors even recommend drinking a glass or two of wine a day (red wine is more healthy than white wine because red wine contains more antioxidants than white wine. Sparkling wine, or champagne, also has health benefits.
Vodka is a low-calorie spirt, which is one reason why so many girls like drinking it. The Bloody Mary and vodka tonic are one of the most “healthy” cocktails you can drink.
3.) Don’t Binge Drink
Act like you’ve been there before, as a legendary college football coach would tell his players when they scored a touchdown. Veteran party goers know to pace themselves when they go out and that means drinking enough to get a good buzz but no so much you are feeling falling-down drunk or being stupid.
Binge drinking is the complete sign of an amateur and will lead to health problems such heart disease, liver failure as even alcohol poisoning. Remember, when you go out it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Pace you drinking accordingly.
4.) Hydrate While You Party
Considering the adult body is 60% water it makes sense to replenish it often, even while you party. I know some people who drink one glass of water for every two beers or cocktails and while that’s more than I ever do, the point is that it is healthy to have water along with your alcohol. It will hydrate you, help you from getting a hangover and will enable you to get up the next day and exercise.
Electrolytes are also an excellent way to hydrate your body while, or before and after, you party.
In other words, hydrating while you party is a win-win situation for your body.
5.) Eat Healthy All The Time
Avoid fatty foods, fried food and especially fast food franchises – they are bad enough for you without compounding it with alcohol. Instead, have a regular diet consisting of chicken and turkey, salads, vegetables, juices and – one of my top hangover remedy cures – bananas. The potassium in bananas does wonders for your system after a big night out on the town.
Having a solid, healthy diet all the time provides you with the energy to excercise and gives you the strength to go out at night. It also positively affects your mentality about what and how much you put into your body – when you eat healthy you don’t want to drink too much or drink sugary cocktails that are bad for you.
Oh sure, sometimes you go for the nachos, potato skins and other unhealthy bar food but that’s okay as long as you do it on occasion and not on a regular basis. Just because you live healthy doesn’t mean you have to live boring when it comes to food.
Vaping as an Substitute
Alcohol, smoking, and partying have always seemed to go together. But if you are looking to make healthier decisions when going to nightlife parties, switching to vaping may be a viable alternative to smoking. When you look at different vapes online, there are options that cater to different preferences, from flavored e-liquids all the way down to nicotine-free varieties. Just remember moderation is important, and making informed decisions can help you have a balanced night out experience.