Do you suffer a heart racing, nausea and a general feeling of rottenness after only 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 awful after a small amount of drink, explained Dr Yiannis Mavrommatis, genetics expert and registered dietitian.
‘Symptoms typically start shortly after alcohol consumption, with facial flushing and warmth, headaches and dizziness.
‘In more severe cases, this can escalate to nausea and vomiting, heart palpitations and difficulty with breathing.’
Experts have explained that those with a specific mutated gene cannot make an enzyme that helps to breakdown alcohol.
Now, there is an at-home DNA test that can reveal if you are one of the unfortunate people who are genetically adverse to booze.
The simple cheek swab test detects telltale clues in your DNA, with results send back to you within 10 working days, according to the firm behind it, called My Health Checked.
For those with an alcohol intolerance, what starts as an evening tipple can quickly lead to headaches and nausea
The test, which costs £54, also tests for sensitivities and intolerances to other ingredients, like gluten and lactose.
When our bodies break down alcohol it’s turned into acetaldehyde, which is toxic to humans, Dr Mavrommatis explains.
An enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is responsible for eliminating this toxic byproduct.
In most people, this enzyme works at clearing away acetaldehyde, but some have a variation in the gene that results in a defective form of the enzyme, causing acetaldehyde to accumulate, warns Dr Mavrommatis.
He urges those with this defective enzyme should only drink in small amounts make sure they’re washing alcohol down with plenty of water.
‘Make sure that you follow a balanced diet, avoid stress and sleep well. When you want to drink alcohol make sure that you are well-hydrated, eat before you drink 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 lifestyle changes since discovering an intolerance to alcohol through DNA testing.
Liva Di Batista, from London, (pictured) has admitted to making several lifestyle changes since discovering an intolerance to alcohol through DNA testing
‘I haven’t stopped drinking altogether, but now I’m selective over when I drink, so that I drink significantly less alcohol overall,’ she said,
‘I’m also choosing lower 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 make symptoms worse.
‘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,’ she added.
But mixing drinks with non-alcoholic mixers like tonic water can also help reduce symptoms for those with a sensitivity.
Ms Ramos said: ‘Mixing alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic mixers, such as spritzers, can reduce the overall alcohol content and mitigate symptoms.
‘However, the safest option is to consume low or zero-alcohol-content beverages, minimising the amount of ethanol that needs to be metabolised.’
