ALCOHOL

Alcohol reactions can affect more people than we might think! It’s not uncommon for some people to feel tired, bloated, or have headaches and reflux after a few beers or glasses of wine, while others may have no problems at all.

Interestingly, the type of alcohol and its ingredients can also play a role in causing a reaction. Some people may have sensitivities to certain grains like wheat, rice, or barley, while others may react to fruits, corn, potatoes, sugar, or sulfites. These hypersensitivities can ultimately lead to a reaction to alcohol itself. But don’t worry, not everyone experiences these reactions – some people can drink without any problems at all!

Main symptoms associated with alcohol

• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, gas or diarrhea
• Skin conditions such as eczema and urticaria
• Sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion
• Headache
• Tiredness, drowsiness
• Diarrhea

Main types of alcohol

• Beer
• Whiskey
• Wine
• Bourbon
• Tequila
• Gin
• Vodka
• Rum
• Brandy
• Liqueurs

Foods that may contain alcohol

• Sweets and cakes with alcohol-extracted vanilla extract
• Flambéed steaks and desserts
• Marsala chicken or veal marsala
• Marinated meats and stews
• Pure or artificial flavor extracts such as vanilla, rum, and almond
• Cooking wines
• Malt vinegar or  wine vinegar
• Some brands of dijon mustard
• Many sauces such as béarnaise or bordelaise use wine in preparation
• Fondues
• Desserts such as liqueur filled chocolates, cherries jubilee, mousse, flambé desserts, some pastries or cakes such as black forest or fruit cake
• Wine flavored cheeses or pates
• Cooking spray
• Kombucha
• Alcohol extracted herbal tinctures

Common allergens in alcoholic beverages include:

• Barley
• Egg protein (usually in wine)
• Gluten
• Grapes
• Histamines
• Hops
• Rye
• Seafood proteins
• Sodium metabisulfite
• Sulfites
• Tannins
• Wheat
• Yeast