Do you suffer from a racing heart, nausea, and a general feeling of rot after just a couple of drinks?
Research now suggests that being a lightweight could be in your genes.
Those who carry anti-alcohol DNA are programmed to feel terrible after even a small amount of drinking, explained Dr. Yiannis Mavrommatis, a genetics expert and registered dietitian.
‘Symptoms usually begin shortly after alcohol consumption, with facial redness and heat, headaches and dizziness.
“In more severe cases, this can lead to nausea and vomiting, heart palpitations and difficulty breathing.”
Experts have explained that those with a specific mutated gene cannot produce an enzyme that helps break down alcohol.
Now there is a home dna test That may reveal whether you are one of the unlucky people who are genetically adverse to alcohol.
The simple mouth swab test detects telltale clues in your DNA and results are sent to you within 10 business days, according to the company behind it, called My Health Checked.
For those with alcohol intolerance, what starts out as a late-night drink can quickly lead to headaches and nausea.
The test, which costs £54, also tests for sensitivities and intolerances to other ingredients, such as gluten and lactose.
When our body breaks down alcohol, it turns into acetaldehyde, which is toxic to humans, explains Dr. Mavrommatis.
An enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is responsible for removing this toxic byproduct.
In most people, this enzyme works by removing acetaldehyde, but some have a variation in the gene that results in a defective form of the enzyme, causing acetaldehyde to build up, Dr. Mavrommatis warns.
He urges those with this defective enzyme to drink only small amounts and be sure to drink alcohol with plenty of water.
‘Make sure you eat a balanced diet, avoid stress and sleep well. When you want to drink alcohol, make sure you are well hydrated, eat before drinking and, of course, avoid consuming excessive amounts of alcohol,’ he said.
Liva Di Batista, 40, from London, who works in financial technology, has admitted to making several changes to her lifestyle since discovering an alcohol intolerance through DNA testing.
Liva Di Batista, from London (pictured) admitted to making several changes to her lifestyle since discovering an alcohol intolerance through DNA testing.
“I haven’t stopped drinking completely, but I’m selective about my drinking now, so I drink significantly less alcohol overall,” she said.
‘I also choose low calorie options. “This has helped reduce the inflammation I was experiencing and I feel less fatigued,” she added.
Isabela Ramos, a nutritionist at MyHealthChecked, explained that spirits such as vodka, whiskey and rum have higher alcohol concentrations, which can worsen symptoms.
“Some wines and beers, particularly red wines and certain craft beers, contain higher levels of congeners, which are byproducts of fermentation that can worsen symptoms,” he added.
But mixing drinks with non-alcoholic mixers, such as tonic water, can also help reduce symptoms in people with sensitivities.
Ms Ramos said: “Mixing alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks, such as spritzers, can reduce the overall alcohol content and mitigate symptoms.”
“However, the safest option is to consume beverages with low or no alcohol content, minimizing the amount of ethanol that needs to be metabolized.”