June 16, 2021

When Well-Oiled, Skip the Fat


When Well-Oiled, Skip the Fat
Far better to offset drink with something like this. Photograph by ja ma on Unsplash

On June 13, gastroenterologist Anna Denisova at the SM-Clinic in St. Petersburg gave advice that may seem contradictory for lovers of wine and other alcohol.

While any seasoned drinker knows that hydration and a snack can prevent hangover, Denisova has found that some post-beverage foods should be avoided for individuals with chronic illnesses such as ulcers or gastritis.

Fatty foods such as salo (cured pork fat), sausages, salmon and mackerel, and spicy foods like pickled vegetables and wasabi, can irritate the stomach alongside drink. Risks include hospitalization due to conditions like pancreatitis.

While a glass or two of wine per day should be fine, Denisova clarifies, in general drinking anything more will almost certainly exacerbate gastrointestinal issues.

Much like the fabled activated charcoal pill that many a Russophile has swallowed before a night drinking with friends, the snack is still essential. Just remember: fat and spice are not very nice, although they are tasty and, admittedly, complement drinks better than fruit.

And if you're interested in what else you might avoid after a good drink... don't plan on thieving or driving a tank!

 

You Might Also Like

Getting into the Spirits
  • April 01, 1998

Getting into the Spirits

Results of the First Annual International Vodka Taste Off and Taste of Russia Dinner, held in Montpelier, Vermont, February 28, 1998.
Like Uber for Booze
  • January 20, 2021

Like Uber for Booze

Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade has thrown its support behind a measure for distance-selling alcohol.
Don't Drive Tanked
  • October 30, 2020

Don't Drive Tanked

Cars and alcohol don't mix, especially when your job is driving a military IFV.
Lighten Up, Russia
  • June 30, 2020

Lighten Up, Russia

Experts report that Russian drinking habits over the last couple of months have gotten a bit lighter.
No Booze for You
  • April 04, 2020

No Booze for You

Nothing is sacred when it comes to fighting coronavirus. Not even vodka.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
At the Circus

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
White Magic

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
Russia Rules

Russia Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
Fish: A History of One Migration

Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.
Jews in Service to the Tsar

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955