Congratulations if you’ve made it smug and sober to the finish line of Dry January. While you may be ready to celebrate with a libation, an expert warns of the party peril of Wet February.
Courtney Smith, a registered dietitian, diabetes specialist, and founder of the Keys to Nutrition, told The Post that Wet February brings the danger of over-imbibing after a month of banishing booze.
“It defeats the purpose when you have that extreme restriction, and then on February 1, you’re back to partying,” she said.
Smith recommends that those who are getting off the wagon ease alcohol back into their lives.
“With a lot of things, we tend to restrict and then binge. If I tell you that you can’t have tequila, what are you going to think about, what are you going to want? Tequila. That’s the one con of Dry January,” she said.
Add to the mix (drink) that February plays host to drink-heavy holidays like Superbowl Sunday and Mardi Gras that can encourage those who have been teetotal to go buck wild with booze.
“Be cognizant about your alcohol consumption. The idea is not to erase the benefits of Dry January by making February a party month.”
Giving up booze, even temporarily, comes with a slew of proven health benefits, from improved sleep to weight loss to better mood.
With the Surgeon General noting that alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States — and that consuming alcohol increases the risk for “at least seven types of cancer,” including breast, colon and liver — it’s clear that abstaining has some long-term plus-sides too.
According to Smith, the Surgeon General, and other experts, there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink.
“You’re always going to have that increased cancer risk. That’s there. I never suggest people increase their alcohol intake. I recommend that it’s moderate. I want my clients to enjoy their lives and find a plan that works for them.”
In a similar vein — or shot glass as it were — Smith does count some alcoholic beverages as better, or at least easier to consume in moderation.
“There are supposed health benefits associated with red wine, and because it’s not temperature sensitive, you tend to drink it slower.”
She recommends pairing red wine with food and specifically waiting for the food to hit the table before you start drinking to reduce excess consumption.
“If you drink a glass while you’re waiting for dinner, you’re going to have two.”
Don’t I know it.
When it comes to cocktails, Smith maintains that mixers matter and can add both excess calories and improve the taste of alcohol to the point that people overindulge or have too many too fast.
She notes that beverages like beer and white wine are most enjoyable when cold, encouraging consumers to drink them quickly: “Beverages that don’t have ice cubes that don’t get hot quickly, you’re going to be drinking them slower.”
The same slow vibe applies to liquor served on the rocks, “whiskey on ice or neat, those are sippers, and that will prolong your drinking, especially if you just want to have just one.”
Smith is completing her second annual Dry January, and while she thinks a month off the sauce is a strong start, “people should think about permanently lowering their alcohol consumption as a lifestyle change.”
