Watch how much you drink. Every glass counts — even during a pandemic.
While liquor stores are considered essential businesses during the COVID-19 crisis and the rules have been relaxed on purchasing alcoholic drinks to-go, it’s important to remember that increasing alcohol consumption is not a good way to deal with stress, anxiety or boredom, according Blair Brown, a dietitian with the University of Texas Medical Branch.
In fact, she said, it will likely make you feel much worse.
“Be mindful of coping mechanisms. This is a time period where everyone is stressed,” Brown said. “Are you reaching more for food or alcohol? If so, recognize that and work on getting a healthier coping mechanism for you.”
Harris County officials decided to make liquor stores an essential business for one reason: to keep people out of the hospital for alcohol-withdrawal symptoms.
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A withdrawal from alcohol can be worse than heroin or cocaine, according to Dr. Paul Nestadt, a Johns Hopkins University psychiatrist who treats patients with substance abuse disorders. It’s possible people may not realize their regular drinking habits would cause withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop having access to alcohol.
For light and moderate drinkers, it is smart to select one day a week to drink an alcoholic beverage. And try to keep it to one glass, said Amy Jo Palmquest, a dietitian and personal trainer from Washington state.
Now more than ever, people are looking for outlets for their stress. Alcohol should not be one of them, she added.
“It totally affects everything you do during the week,” said Palmquest. “We can’t get ourselves off the schedule that we really desperately need.”
Plus, drinking more than usual will have an unintended effect on your waistline — especially if you’re moving around less, Brown said.
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Stay-at-home orders have affected American lives in every way — from daily movement to mood to sleep patterns. And it’s all cyclical.
Moving less means we are not as physically tired at the end of the day, which leads to staying up late and sleeping less than the recommended eight to 10 hours.
Which brings us to caffeine.
Consuming too much caffeine is a vicious cycle, Palmquest said, and it was a problem long before the spread of the new coronavirus.
“People use more caffeine when they under-sleep, so the next night, they’re not getting quality sleep either,” she said. “In that moment, you feel like you need it because you’re overwhelmed and full of anxiety. No one is thinking about what it’s doing for them the next day.”
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It’s not that coffee is bad for us — like alcohol, it’s fine in moderation. But an overdose will make the drinker feel more anxious and increase their blood pressure, Palmquest said.
A woman who weighs 180 pounds or less should not have more than 250 mg of caffeine in a 24-hour period. This is equivalent to three 8-ounce cups of coffee.
For a man who weighs 200 pounds or more, the limit should be 300-350 mg of caffeine or four cups of coffee.
The cups should be spread during the day: early morning, late morning and early afternoon. It’s important to not drink caffeine too late in the afternoon.
When tempted to drink more, ask yourself these questions:
Am I thirsty? Drink water because it’s possible you’re dehydrated. A quick tip from Brown: Add slices of lemons and limes to your water glass.
Am I feeling anxious? Go for a walk or a run or try a livestreamed exercise class in your home.
Am I tired? Eat a well-balanced meal following the USDA’s MyPlate guidelines: 50 percent vegetables, 25 percent starch (vegetable, potato or bread) and 25 percent protein.
Am I bored? Find a new hobby (fun activities with your family, woodworking, baking, gardening) or use some of this free time to catch up on good TV.
julie.garcia@chron.com
Twitter.com/reporterjulie
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