Avoiding Certain Beverages with Your Barbeque: Expert Advice from a Physician

Grilling Up Shashlik? Skip the Bubbly Booze, Doc Says

A word of caution from endocrinologist Galina Smirnova: steer clear of fizzy and sweet alcoholic beverages when nibbling on shashlik! In an interview with Lenta.ru, she highlighted the potential health issues involved in such a combo.

Her advice? Avoid drinking beer, champagne, or cocktails with carbonation alongside your shashlik. The excess carbonic acid speeds up alcohol absorption and leads to quicker-than-usual intoxication and bodily intoxication. Furthermore, sugar in these drinks boosts calorie content.

Beer's high carb content equals roughly a bread portion in calories, and bubbly drinks like champagne and sparkling wine double the damage due to their sugar content. When coupled with shashlik's heavy protein-fat meal, these drinks put added strain on the stomach. The body has a hard time digesting both the food and neutralizing the alcohol, leading to slowed digestion and feelings of discomfort.

This sluggish digestion places additional stress on the liver, which must work doubly hard to break down both alcohol and food fats and carbs. This can disturb the function of the pancreas, Smirnova stressed.

Russians Love Their Pork Shashlik!

A staggering 50% of Russians rank pork shashlik as their top choice for a delicious grill-out! With a taste profile that's hard to beat, it's no wonder this dish is so beloved.

Health Hazards of Mixing Shashlik and Sweet, Fizzy Drinks

Tummy Troubles Shashlik's protein and fat require thorough digestion, and carbonated alcoholic beverages could lead to increased bloating and acidity in the stomach. The carbonation and alcohol might irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing discomfort, indigestion, acid reflux, and worse.
Rapid Intoxication Carbonated sweet drinks typically absorb alcohol faster due to their sugar content and carbonation. When consumed with shashlik, this speedy absorption could result in quicker intoxication and alcohol-related risks.
Heart Strain Shashlik's saturated fats and sodium put pressure on the heart. Sweet alcoholic drinks may exacerbate this by promoting dehydration and blood vessel dilation, contributing to heart disease risks.
Blood Sugar Disruptions The high sugar content in sweet alcoholic drinks can cause sudden spikes in blood glucose. In combination with a heavy protein-rich meal like shashlik, this could throw off glucose metabolism and insulin response.
Overeating and Poor Nutritional Balance Combining shashlik with sweet alcoholic drinks could easily result in excess calorie intake over time, potentially leading to weight gain and related metabolic disorders. Moreover, this combo often pairs with unhealthy food choices, further impacting overall nutrition.

For those with hypertension, digestive sensitivities, or metabolic disorders, exercise caution with this combo. A few safer choices include more hydrating, less sugary drinks, or embracing vegetable-rich sides to offset some risks. joyful moments and celebration, these indulgent pairings may be hard to resist. But remember, moderation is key for a healthier lifestyle!

To maintain a balance in nutrition and prevent potential health issues, it's advisable to avoid beverages containing sugar and carbonation, such as sweet alcoholic drinks, while consuming health-and-wellness focused meals like science-backed nutrition recommendations for shashlik.
Instead of opting for carbonated, sweet alcoholic drinks that may lead to increased intoxication, rapid absorption of alcohol, and potential health hazards, consider choosing mocktails or non-alcoholic beverages to complement your health-and-wellness conscious shashlik meal.