Toasting the Holidays

Why Alcohol Affects Women Differently

By Lisa Marie Metzler

'Tis the season to celebrate! Whether it's the annual Christmas party at the office or a casual New Year's Eve party at a friend's home, a glass of wine or a champagne toast are sure to be part of the festivities.

With so much tempting food and drink it's easy to get carried away and indulge a little too much. Whether you have two parties or two dozen to attend during this holiday season, the first rule of responsible drinking for women is not to "keep up with the boys."

According to the Society for Women's Health Research, women produce less of the gastric enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase – which breaks down the ethanol in the stomach – than men. So even if women drink comparable amounts of alcohol, they will have a higher blood alcohol content than men of the same age. When differences in size and body weight are taken into account, the blood alcohol content is still higher in women than in men.

So what is a safe amount to drink? Experts agree that for those who elect to drink, the lower risk way to do so is to consume no more than one drink per hour and not more than two drinks per occasion.

Remember that alcohol is alcohol, no matter what form it takes. A standard serving of alcohol is a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a mixed drink containing 1 1/2 ounces of liquor. Although drinking too much of any alcohol will get you drunk, drinking clearer liquids may decrease the severity of a hangover. Dark alcohols, such as red wine, dark rum and brandy are higher in tannins, which are impurities that can cause hangover symptoms. Another hangover culprit is cogeners, which are byproducts of the fermentation process. When these are released into the bloodstream, the immune system works to eliminate them by releasing cykotines. This surge of cykotines causes hangover symptoms such as headaches and body aches.

Want to see more?

• Confessions of an Ex-Smoker: Winning the Battle Against Nicotine
• A Holiday for Mom: Taming Your Inner Brat for a Joyful Season
• All Tied Up: Unwrapping a Stress-free Holiday Season
• Seasonal Stress Relievers: How to Relax and Enjoy the Holidays With Your Partner