The liver: the second largest organ in your body behind skin. It helps in digestion, stores nutrients, and detoxifies the blood stream. Most importantly in the minds of many college students, the liver processes alcohol.Below are a few facts about the liver and alcohol that may be surprising.1. Prolonged excessive drinking can make your liver fat. Fatty liver disease can occur after regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol, or after a short period of heavy drinking. If too much fat accumulates in your liver, it can lead to liver disease and other health complications. Spring Break may turn out to be more expensive than you thought. On the bright side, a hiatus from alcohol can bring your liver back to normal fat levels.
2. The liver breaks down 90 percent of the alcohol consumed. On average, the liver can break down one drink per hour. A standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or one and a half ounces of liquor. Many parties lack a scale that measures in ounces, but a Solo cup provides an easy solution. One serving size of liquor is the bottom line, wine is the second line from the bottom, and beer is the third line from the bottom. Thank you, Solo Cup Company.
3. The liver regenerates and detoxifies itself. The liver is the detoxification center of the body, and it is capable of detoxifying itself when aided by a consistent, healthy diet. However, abundant alcohol consumption can cause some problems. Foods such as leafy greens, garlic, citrus, and green tea can help the liver clear itself of toxins. There is also a large market of liver cleansing vitamins available.
The three-and-a-half pound organ directly below your diaphragm is keeping you alive. It rolls with the punches, kicks out the alcohol you kick back, and may possibly be the most important organ for a college student--after your brain of course.
After your next night of drink specials, make sure to give a helping hand to your liver and feed it the nutrients it needs. It deserves all the thanks in the world for making the consumption of alcohol possible.
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Coors Light Summer Brew:
This summer shandy begins this list, it's a mix of lemon, lime and orange. While this is by no means a craft beer, it still has it place as a refreshing summer brew to enjoy.
Leinenkugel Summer Shandy
Solid choice for any summer get together, great taste with a hint of citrus.
Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat
Distinctly reminds me of Fruity Pebbles, but nonetheless is a wonderful summer beer.
Sam Adams Summer Ale
Sam Adams is known for their traditional Boston Lager, but their Summer Ale is damn good.
Hell or High Watermelon
Made with real watermelon, not much is more summer-esque than juicy watermelon in July.
Blue Moon Summer Honey
I love me some Blue Moon, so the summer brew is a no-brainer on this list.
LandShark Lager
Fun fact: LandShark is owned by Anheuser-Busch, and is more commonly know as the signature drink of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville.
Corona
Obviously Corona had to take the number one spot. To me, there's nothing more refreshing than a cold Corona with lime on a hot summer day.
So whether you're on a sandy beach, a fishing boat, or at a pool, just remember what our dear friend Jack Nicholson said, "Beer, it's the best damn drink in the world."
Drink responsibly and never drink and drive.
Photo by Jeff Hopper on Unsplash
Perfect Weather
Photo by Julian Myles on Unsplash75 degrees and sunny, plus, no humidity. I mean do I really need to say more?
You'll get an effortless tan
Photo by Roberto Nickson on UnsplashBeing outside is inevitable when the weather is this nice, so slap on some low SPF and enjoy the perfect weather as you become a bronzed beach babe!
You can exercise with a view
Photo by Cedric Letsch on UnsplashWho said working on your summer bod has to stop when summer starts? In SoCal there are hundreds of gorgeous hiking trails in the mountains or on the cliffs overlooking the beach, so maintaining your summer bod is easy on the eyes and a lot less of a drag!
You don't have to worry about bug bites
Photo by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on UnsplashThe likelihood of you getting bit by a bug is slim, so you don't have to worry about smelling like bug spray whenever you want to go outside.
Photo by We have outdoor concerts
Photo by Aranxa Esteve on UnsplashAt the county fair or on the beach, summertime means outdoor concerts with good music and great friends.
We live where people vacation
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on UnsplashWe're lucky enough to live in paradise and we don't take that for granted. We take advantage of our sunsets on the beach and backyard staycation without spending a pretty penny on visiting somewhere that isn't nearly as perfect as SoCal. We're pretty spoiled.
File:Hampton Beach, New Hampshire - low tide - panoramio.jpg ...commons.wikimedia.org
When the summer days end, the beauty of New England does not. Summer nights are arguably the best time of day. At the end of the day, we enjoy the most beautiful sea breeze. I’ve spent so many nights wrapped in a sweatshirt on the porch, counting the fireflies lighting up the yard. This weather also makes for the perfect bonfire. If we’re not at the Wall, it’s very likely that someone will have a fire in his/her yard. If you haven’t huddled up to a fire with your best friends, then I recommend doing so this summer (just make sure someone brings the ingredients for s’mores!).
fire on fire pit during night time
Photo by Mahad Aamir on Unsplash
With the beach, comes the best seafood in the country. I’ve seen menus in other states refer to clam chowder as New England clam chowder, though it’s impossible to understand until you taste it for yourself. Down the coastline, towards Seabrook, NH and Salisbury, Massachusetts, you can find Brown’s and Markey’s. They’re competing seafood restaurants across the street from one another, equally busy on any summer night. One of the most famous ice cream places in New England, The Beach Plum, actually serves award-winning lobster rolls! Seafood is done right in New England. It’s not wasted with fancy silverware and expensive appetizers, but instead served buttery and delicious on paper plates.
Free Images : american lobster, dish, new england clam bake ...pxhere.com
After a seafood meal, ice cream is an absolute requirement. New England summers bring forth one of the world’s greatest rivalries: Lagos versus The Beach Plum. There’s limited inside seating inside both of these places, as ice cream should be eaten and enjoyed outside. The Beach Plum is generally enjoyed during the day, located directly across from North Hampton Beach. As children, we can all remember begging our parents to let us run and grab ice cream before going home. At Lago’s, we get the most refreshing taste of an old-fashioned ice cream shop. The ice cream scoopers record all orders and prices by hand, and add them up with their pencils (no calculators allowed!). It’s incredible how quickly and efficiently this is done. It’s normal to get Lago’s more than once a week, sometimes even more than once a day...the best summer days end with salty skin and sticky ice cream fingers.
vanilla flavor ice cream with chocolate syrup
Photo by Anna Bratiychuk on Unsplash
1A cruises have to be mentioned specifically and separately from everything else, as they are their own New England specialty. Whether you are home for the entire summer, or home for just one week, 1A cruises are a must. Route 1A, or Ocean Boulevard, runs all along the New England coastline. We drive down the road staring at the ocean and the mansions across from it. “Which house would you choose?” was one of my favorite games to play with my family during our drives to the beach. No one knows what the actual speed limit is on route 1A because it always driven slowly, designed as a scenic route. You can start in Rye, NH and end in Massachusetts or just drive along for a couple or minutes—it doesn’t get less impressive. Some of my most treasured memories are those spent listening to country music and gossiping with friends on our “1A cruises.”
File:Celebrity Silhouette (ship, 2011) 002.jpg - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.org
While there are beautiful places all throughout the United States, I, along with many others, can agree that New England, undoubtedly, is the best place to be in the summer.
Want to know more about summer destinations?
New England isn't the only place with great summers. Our community has you covered on these hot vacation spots:
- 7 Reasons Why SoCal Summers Reign Supreme: Southern California believes it has the best summers and these are some reasons why
- Best Summer Road Trips for Students: Whether you're on a budget or not, these are the places you need to visit
- Top 5 Places for a Summer Vacation: These are outstanding destinations for some fun in the sun
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