How to avoid bloating this Christmas

Booze

To help avoid a hangover and some of the worst effects of the demon drink, try some of these tactics:

• Avoid mixing drinks. Mulled wine is a good example where brandy is often added to wine. You can make the mulled wine with the spices and fruit and leave the brandy out. Stick to one type of drink all evening and don't mix.
• For every alcoholic drink you have, consume an equal amount of water.
• Try to only drink when you can dampen the effect with some food, even if it is just some olives or nuts.
• If you get a bad reaction to your usual drink, switch to another. Often red wine causes a histamine (reddening effect) in some people and white wine will go down better. Beer may make some people feel gassy and a switch to a long drink may be a solution.
• Mix shorts with juice (such as tomato juice or orange juice) instead of fizzy mixers which may increase bloating, and certainly speed up alcohol absorption into the blood from the carbon dioxide in the mixer.
• If all else fails and you have overdone it, artichoke extract, sold as a herbal supplement, is very successful at reducing bloating and calming a 'liverish' feeling. The herbs artichoke and milk thistle are restorative for the liver.

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