This past weekend, Isla Vista and its guests experienced the annual all-you-can-drink fest that is Deltopia, formerly known as Floatopia, whose humble origins can be traced back to the year 2004, much like my friends and I.
While painting this table for our Deltopia festivities, my friends enjoyed a large pizza pie and tons of water, for reasons that the article below will clue you into.
Deltopia is our personal Coachella, where the entry is (mostly) free and the performers are your friends who, despite normal appearances, now suddenly demonstrate stupendous feats of acrobatics and super strength (don’t ask me how many broken shoe racks, bike racks and roof shingles I’ve seen).
As you can surmise, it takes a whole lot of alcohol to get the day started, with roosters being woken from slumber long before the crack of dawn by the clinking of bottles and strange social chirps unknown to their ears (“wooohooo”). But, even the most reckless drinker knows you shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach. I’ve heard many discussions surrounding “drunchies” and hangover cures, but what exactly should you eat before you even start drinking to avoid the litany of after-effects that may follow? If you’ve ever wondered this, wonder no more. I did my research, and here are some foods/drinks I’ve found that can protect your digestive system and equip you for a long day/night of drinking:
Do:
1.Eat your fatty foods (the healthy kind)
Your stomach works in less than mysterious ways: if there’s a base for the alcohol to go on, then its absorption will be slowed, and thereby have a less overwhelming effect on your digestive system. Fatty foods, particularly with healthy fats like omega-3, not only boost your health but also slow alcohol absorption into the blood. Therefore, it is recommended to consume healthy fats such as avocados, fish, eggs and others before copious drinking.
2. Strengthen/protect your liver with leafy greens, nuts and detoxifying fruits
Your liver is the primary digestive organ that processes ingested alcohol, so it makes sense that bolstering your liver would prepare you for alcohol consumption. More importantly, the liver’s detoxifying capabilities can be aided by consumption of fruits and vegetables known to be high in antioxidants, such as blueberries, blackberries, pecans and leafy greens like kale that are rich in vitamins as well (hint: sounds like quite a compelling salad — look through our section’s recipes, and you’ll be good to go!).
3. Water, water, water!
It’s no surprise that drinking water will help prepare you for the dehydration that is accompanied with alcohol consumption. If you’re well-hydrated beforehand, then the dehydration effects will be minimized. Plus, it’s important to not only drink a ton of water before you imbibe, but also to continue to have sips of water in between drinking. It’s recommended to carry around a bottle of water when engaging in drinking festivities, and on a hot day, it can protect you from heatstroke. If you want to boost your hydration, I recommend mixing in electrolytes (here are some popular ones), which is something that I do on a regular basis.
These are the general findings that my research yielded. However, speaking from colloquial wisdom passed around on campus, I’ve heard that carb-loading (to a certain extent) and greasy foods can aid in slowing alcohol digestion as well. I.V. is host to many wonderful local eateries that cater to just that goal, and I highly recommend eating at any of our local spots if cheffing something up on the spot is not for you. Either way, I hope that you keep this wisdom in mind before you drink next. Cheers!
A version of this article appeared on p. 14 of the April 10th, 2025 print edition of the Daily Nexus.
