But for me, drinking makes me feel less confident and uncomfortable.

但是對我來說，喝酒完全不是這麼一回事。

That's because thanks to my DNA, alcohol makes my skin turn red

這都要歸功於我的 DNA，酒精會讓我臉紅。

It's called the Asian Flush.

這種現象被稱為「東方潮紅」。

And it affects about 36% of North East Asians with higher rates among Asian Americans.

有大約 36% 的東北亞洲人深受其苦，而這現象在亞裔美國人中更常見。

I guess we should probably show you what it looks like.

我想我直接來示範給你們看好了。

For Science!

敬實驗精神！

If I know that I'm gonna need to take pictures that I'll drink less until these pictures are over and then I'll go back to normal pace.

每當我得拍照時，我一定會喝比較少的酒，直到拍完照之後我再回到我正常的喝酒速度。

People tend to assume that a red face means that we're drunk, but that's a myth.

人們總認為當你喝酒臉紅就代表你醉了，但是這一點事實根據都沒有。

These are completely separate processes.

臉紅與酒醉其實沒有什麼關聯。

Facial flushing whether from embarrassment, or exercise, or alcohol,

不論臉紅是因著尷尬、運動或是酒精。

it happens when the blood vessels under the surface of the skin dilate.

它是因為我們肌膚下的血管擴張而造成的反應。

And in the case of Asian flush, this is part of an immune response.

而「東方潮紅」則是免疫系統在作祟。

The body is detecting a threat.

我們的身體感受到了威脅。

The threat isn't the alcohol itself, but a substance that our livers produce while breaking down alcohol.

而這份威脅並非酒精本身，而是來自於肝釋出了一種能夠分解酒精的物質。

For me at least, the warmth starts in my chest and then it moves its way up.

我會感受到一股暖流從我的胸口向上蔓延。

My cheeks are warm, my ears are warm.

我的臉變熱了，我的耳朵也變熱了。

It's weird. It's like my eyes are almost puffy.

這種感覺很奇怪，像是我的眼睛會腫起來。

Ahh, I do feel like they got puffy.

啊！我也會感到雙眼腫脹。

When people drink ethanol, that's the chemical name for booze, the liver gets rid of it using two main enzymes.

當人們攝取乙醇，這是酒精的化學學名肝會透過兩種「酶」來排掉酒精。

The first reacts with the ethanol molecule to produce a substance called acetaldehyde.

第一種酶會和乙醇分子產生化學反應，進而生成「乙醛」。

And the second quickly turns acetaldehyde into acetate, which is similar to vinegar and easy for the body to eliminate.

而第二種酶此時會快速地將乙醛變成乙酸酯，乙酸酯的功能和醋很相似，可以輕易地從人體排出。

It's that second enzyme that really screws things up for people with Asian flush.

而惹人厭的「東方潮紅」便是於第二種酶作用時伴隨而來的反應。

If you look inside our DNA, you'll find that the gene providing the instructions for that enzyme was tweaked at some point in our history.

看看我們的 DNA，你會發現本該和第二種酶合作的基因在某段演化的進程中就這麼改變了。

And that gene mutation produces an inactive enzyme.

而這基因在變種之後所生成的酶變得不活躍。

So when we drink, our bodies accumulate acetaldehyde at a level about 6 times higher than normal people

所以當我們在喝酒時，我們身體裡所累積的乙醇比般人的正常值還要高出六倍。

If acetaldehyde sounds familiar that maybe because it's similar to formaldehyde.

你可能覺得乙醇似曾相識，那是因為他和甲醛一樣。

It's toxic.

它有毒。

That's why it triggers the immune responds.

這就是為什麼我們的免疫系統會產生反應。

And the red face is really the least of it.

而臉紅其實還不算什麼。

After having that one beer, I didn't feel tipsy at all, but my heart rate doubled.

只不過是喝了一杯啤酒，儘管我一點都不覺得暈，我的心跳加速了。

My eyes were bloodshot, and within half hour, I had a headache.

我的眼睛脹紅，而不到一個小時我會頭痛。

Even worse, acetaldehyde can cause cancer.

更慘的是，乙醛會導致癌症。

It's a problem because people can actually develop a tolerance to Asian flush, and that allows them to drink pretty heavily.

麻煩的是，人們可以逐漸地適應東方潮紅所帶來的不適，而這也導致他們喝得更多。

Studies have shown that heavy drinking raises the risk of esophageal cancer for everyone, but especially for people with Asian flush.

根據研究顯示，酗酒會提高罹患食道癌的風險，尤其是有著「東方潮紅」的人。

So it's potentially problematic that alcohol consumption in Asia has been increasing, especially in China.

所以亞洲人喝酒比例的上升隱含著淺在的風險，特別是在中國。

So if you have an Asian flush, be careful.

所以如果你有「東方潮紅」，你要小心。

Your body is freaking out for a reason.

你的身體其實是在發出警訊。

And if you don't flush, well, just don't expect us to keep up with you.

但是如果你沒有這個問題，那麽別太常揪我們去喝酒。

And also...

還有啊...

You don't have to bring it up every time...like, yes I know that I turn red.

你其實不需要每次都提到我喝酒會臉紅。

I know this, thanks, awesome.

我自己知道，謝囉。