But, heading to the ER to detox isn’t necessarily the best plan. If you simply show up and you’re not having a medical emergency, they might just refer you to a local substance abuse treatment center. Drinking water does not affect the speed of alcohol metabolism in the body.

• As a result, they might either take a day off and stay asleep for the entire day or go to work and produce poor results.
• If you’re not sure if your drinking crosses a certain line or not, try measuring your alcohol intake.
• However, this rate can vary based on several factors, including age, gender, liver health, and whether other drugs or medications are present.
• So, how much alcohol you consume in a specific amount of time gives you an idea of its intensity.

Foods to Eat

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. It isn’t a refresh, per se, but it may briefly mask the smell of alcohol if that’s your main goal. If time’s not on your side and you’ve got a business meeting — or smooching — on your agenda, there are some temporary fixes you can try. If you feel you fall into this category, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a good place to start.

Best ways to avoid intoxication

It’s always a good idea to opt for low-calorie mixers and avoid drinks overflowing with sugar, Dr. Gelb says. Tequila—as well as vodka, rum, and gin—all have zero grams of carbs, so they won’t raise your blood sugar if you drink them straight up. If you have diabetes, you should count your drink best way to get alcohol out of your system as two fat exchanges. Dr. Umhau recommends learning about Community Reinforcement Approach to Family Training (CRAFT). He continued by stating that research shows the approach of the CRAFT program is more effective than confrontation (which can be part of many well-meaning interventions).

• Keep in mind that fruit juice and kombucha may be high in sugar.
• If you believe your post-alcohol discomfort is related to withdrawal, you should seek professional help from an alcohol detox program.
• Your liver metabolises and eliminates 95% of the alcohol you consume.
• The short-term effects of alcohol can be broken down into three areas.
• Alcohol-induced dehydration can cause unpleasant side effects such as drowsiness and headache.

Downsides To Exercising After Alcohol Consumption

You should regularly sleep 7 to 9 hours per night to help promote good health (18). Drinking too much alcohol reduces your liver’s ability to carry out its normal functions, such as detoxifying. When this happens, your liver cannot function adequately and perform its necessary tasks — including filtering waste and other toxins from your body. Your liver metabolizes more than 90% of the alcohol you consume (3). However, popular detox diets rarely identify the specific toxins they aim to remove or the mechanism by which they supposedly eliminate them.

• To stop drinking alcohol, you first need to understand your relationship with drinking.
• Consider writing them down and keeping notes on hand, so you have a physical reminder to look at when you need it to help motivate you to stay the course.
• Foods rich in potassium include potatoes, squash, kidney beans, bananas, and spinach (51).

Increase Your Water Intake

Try to occupy yourself with short activities, such as television shows, walks, video games, or trips to a store. While there are several mechanisms behind the health benefits of exercise, reduced inflammation is a key point (55, 56). Antibiotic use, poor dental hygiene, and diet quality can all alter the bacterial balance in your gut (43, 44, 45). However, these processes release wastes in the form of urea and carbon dioxide, which can cause harm if they build up in your blood (23). Sleeping allows your brain to reorganize and recharge itself, as well as remove toxic waste byproducts that accumulate throughout the day (11, 12). You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

How Do Urine Tests for Alcohol Work?

Whether you’re looking to sober up after a social event or simply aiming to detoxify, the question of how to get alcohol out of your system is crucial. In addition to flushing out alcohol, water increases your hydration levels. This is important since alcohol drinks often leave you dehydrated. Alcohol-induced dehydration can cause unpleasant side effects such as drowsiness and headache.

Consequently, this unhealthy shift in bacteria can weaken your immune and detoxification systems and increase your risk of disease and inflammation (46). Poor sleep has links to short- and long-term health consequences, such as stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity (16, 17). Many diets and supplements claim to ‘detoxify’ the body from these substances, but they are typically unsupported by research. A full-body detox is part of regular organ function, with the body naturally eliminating harmful substances through the kidneys, liver, digestive system, skin, and lungs. This less common form of sleep apnea occurs when your brain fails to send signals to your breathing muscles. This means that you make no effort to breathe for a short period.

That said, If you’ve been drinking excessively, then stopping drinking cold turkey can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Your symptoms may be similar, such as anxiety, headaches, nausea, and sleep disturbance. But hangover symptoms tend to last no more than one day, while alcohol withdrawal can last up to a week or more. On average, your body eliminates alcohol at a rate that would reduce your BAC by 0.015 per hour. That's the equivalent of processing about one alcoholic beverage each hour.

The Vital Role of Medical Supervision in Alcohol Detox: Your Path to a Healthier Future