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U.S. Campus Life

Cheers!

By Masako Yamada


乾杯!

雅子さんはパーティーを主催したり、参加したりするのが大好き。しかし、パーティーに付きもののお酒となると話は違います。実は雅子さんはお酒をほとんど飲みません。しかし、そんな彼女がなんと、ここしばらく、毎晩ナイトキャップを楽しんでいるのだそうです。さて、その理由は?

Every time I've gone to the Boston University health clinic for my annual physical exam, a doctor or nurse has always asked me how much I drink. The answer has always been the same: very little. I only drink at restaurants or parties — about once or twice a month.

オレンジジュース、ウィスキー、酢の特製カクテル
I've never been a daily drinker — I don't keep beer in my fridge — but nowadays, I haven't been drinking much even on special occasions. I haven't been drunk in years. I usually have only a couple of drinks even when I'm at a rowdy party with old friends.

筆者はこれらの酒類をベースにしたカクテルを毎晩楽しんでいる。
This month, I've decided to have one drink every evening, which is roughly 30 drinks per month. This is about 10 times the usual amount that I drink. Why have I suddenly decided to do this?

I admit that this is another one of my health plans. Long-time readers of this column are probably quite familiar with my forays into different diets and therapies. For the past several years, I've been on a quest to 1) increase my energy levels and 2) reduce my chronic shoulder pain.

There are many different things one can do to improve one's general health. I've tried many of them, including diets, exercise, stretching, mind-related therapies (such as meditation and hypnosis), physical therapies (such as acupuncture and massage) and the ingestion of various herbs.

The problem is that I lose interest in these methods quickly, especially if they are unpleasant, or if they don't seem to work. Just a month or two ago, I tried eating only organic fruits and vegetables for a few days to clean out my system. I read that this detoxifying process would increase my energy levels and make my blood flow more smoothly, hence reducing muscle stiffness.

My friends rolled their eyes and said, "Haven't you tried that diet already?" I told them that this wasn't the vegetarian diet that I had tried before, since this time I wouldn't be eating any cooked grains such as rice or bread. Well, I ended up throwing out lots of tired-looking veggies after a week, and I quickly went back to eating doughnuts.

Taking a nightcap daily has been much easier to follow, and surprisingly my friends have not been so skeptical of this health plan. It's widely known that moderate drinkers of red wine live longer and have fewer health problems than people who don't drink at all. Apparently, the good effects are not limited to red wine: Any alcohol can provide similar benefits.

It's not entirely clear why the alcohol helps. It may be physical, in the sense that the chemicals thin the blood and increase circulation. Or it may be psychological, in the sense that alcohol helps one relax, thus reducing unhealthy tensions. Or it may simply be social, in the sense that most people drink in a leisurely setting with friends, thus making them happier about life. In any case, I've been satisfied with this routine. I've decided to make myself a cocktail every evening, since there is such a large variety of mixed drinks and it's fun to change flavors.

Many friends have contributed liquor to our apartment for parties in the past, so I haven't had to buy any alcohol on my own yet. The nice thing about spirits is that, unlike wine, it keeps even after the bottle is opened and it doesn't take up any space in the fridge.

I've used the different bottles in my pantry to make my drinks. I don't follow any recipes and I don't think too much about the proper proportions of this or that when I stir my drinks. Kahlua and chocolate, coconut-flavored rum and milk, sake and lime, vanilla-flavored vodka and ginger, orange juice and whiskey — these may not be the sorts of cocktails one orders at a bar in a hotel, but they are tasty. Compared to fine wines, it doesn't take too much expertise to enjoy a good cocktail.

As for the health effects, it might only be my imagination, but I think that I sleep better at night and don't feel so tired during the day. I only have one drink (equivalent to a glass of wine), so I don't get drunk, but I do feel pleasantly warm and I suspect that the flowing blood is bringing fresh oxygen to my muscles. For whatever reason, I enjoy mixing my drink before I go to bed. I think I'll be able to continue this routine for longer than the others I've tried.



Shukan ST: July 12, 2002

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