summer cocktails They are one of the biggest attractions in beach bars and hotels, as well as meeting friends in swimming pools or private homes. As with any alcoholic drink, you need to be careful with them because there is no safe amount of alcohol. Even if we drink in moderation, we must clearly understand that we are taking on a risk, logically much less than if we were alcoholics, but still existing. However, in the summer, you need to be even more careful, because summer cocktails can be dangerous for much less common reasons.
Some of them are associated with alcohol, as its effects are even worse when it is very hot. Others, on the other hand, have absolutely nothing to do with this substance. In fact, they are associated with other ingredients for summer cocktails. Its effects could be experienced in other ways, but it is so common with these drinks that some of the phenomena associated with them bear names associated with them.
There are also risks of summer cocktails, which depend on a place to drink. To sum up, all this does not mean that we should not drink on this holiday, but there are some factors that we should consider.
Alcohol in summer cocktails can make you feel worse
People endothermic animals. This means that we can regulate our temperature so that it remains more or less stable. around 36.5ºC in our case, regardless of the ambient temperature. We do this through several mechanisms, including sweating This is one of the most effective.
It consists in the release of a liquid, consisting mainly of water, after a certain glands located in the skin. As soon as they are on the surface, the liquid must evaporate, and for this it needs heat. It is extracted from inside the body, so it helps to cool it by maintaining a constant temperature inside it.
The problem is that this represents a large loss of water that you must try to replace in order not to experience dehydration.
On the other hand, alcohol prevents the release vasopressin. It is a hormone with many functions, including sending signals to the kidneys to retain fluid. If this is slowed down, the kidneys will release water more often, we will urinate more and we will feel more dehydrated.
Therefore, if we drink a lot of summer cocktails, alcohol can dehydrate us from the heat much faster than usual. Be careful with this when ordering a mojito at a beach bar.
Beware of chamomile burns
One of the most popular summer cocktails is chamomile flowermade with tequila, triple sec, lime juice, salt and of course ice.
With it, we have a shot of tequila, lemon and salt, all in one. It sounds good, and the truth is that it is very good. But making this cocktail in the summer can cause some pretty significant burns.
This is because the file, as well as the rest of the citrus, contains furocoumarin. It is a substance that quickly penetrates the skin and on contact with ultraviolet radiation from the sunmay cause severe burns. It is logical that this can happen with any citrus and in any situation. However, this happens so often when making cocktails in the summer that, although the technical name for the condition that occurs is “phytophotodermatitis“, is known colloquially as daisy burn.
It is important to be careful and wash the skin well after contact with citrus fruits if we are going to sunbathe, because this can even increase the likelihood of getting melanoma.
Piña colada is also worn by the devil… sometimes
Another of the most famous summer cocktails is Pina colada. Its recipe is also very simple: rum, milk or coconut water, pineapple juice, natural pineapple and, again, ice.
In this case, the insidious ingredient is pineapple, although it does not affect everyone in the same way. This fruit contains a large amount of an enzyme called bromelain. Enzymes are proteins that help catalyze certain reactions. In other words, they act as concrete tools to allow them to happen. In the case of bromelain, it catalyzes the protein breakdown reaction. For this reason, it is used in the food industry to tenderize meat. But just as it breaks down these proteins, it can also affect the proteins in our own mouths.
This is an effect that varies greatly from one person to another. Some people don’t notice. On the other hand, other people experience some tickling or tingling when they eat pineapple And finally, there are those who her gums and the inside of her cheeks are bleeding.
So if you’re drinking summery pineapple smoothies like pina coladas and you start bleeding, don’t panic. It’s rather annoying, but not dangerous. Of course, it’s almost better if you switch to a drink with other ingredients.
Food safety, including in summer cocktails
What would summer cocktails be like without bleeding? So fresh, so good and so versatile. For its preparation, almost any fruit can be added to red wine. But be careful if you’re about to bleed and you already have cut fruittry keep it cold before using it.
No matter what kind of fruit you use when you cut them into pieces. increases the contact surfaceor so they can bacteria multiply on its surface. That is, a full apple is not the same as many pieces of an apple. In addition, there is a large amount of sugar, much more exposed. Definitely a microbial amusement park. If summer heat is added to all this, the reproduction of microorganisms will be colossal. For this reason, it’s important to keep sliced fruit cold, whether you’re eating on the beach or making summer cocktails.
Be careful with methanol when traveling
According to a study conducted by the Indonesian Center for Policy Studies, between 2013 and 2016. 487 people died in this country due to methanol poisoning. Many of these cases have occurred in very touristy places such as Bali. In this way, more profit can be made from summer cocktails that are sold to tourists.
The problem is that ethyl alcohol, regardless of intoxication and subsequent risks, is safe to drink. On the other side, methanol With the help of which many drinks are adulterated in these places, it is very toxic and can cause blindness to death.
Therefore, special care must be taken when taking summer cocktails in places where we have no record of food safety measures followed by
These are just a few examples of the more or less serious dangers of summer cocktails. But, as we have seen, the biggest problem, summer or winter, is alcohol. We are free to do what we want and we don’t have to feel guilty about a daiquiri on the beach. Not for not drinking when everyone else is drinking. Everyone is free to make their own decisions. Of course, this summer could be a good time to try non-alcoholic alternatives like juices. Or even without free sugars, like water with chopped fruit. Of course, to add it to the water, and also put it in the cold before it, and then troubles later.
Source: Hiper Textual
