Hangover Helpers that ACTUALLY work!
'Tis the season for social gatherings, food and drinks!
Are you feeling overwhelmed with having yet another party to attend, thinking "how am I going to avoid feeling like garbage tomorrow morning?" Wish you could prevent a hangover? While I may not be able to guarantee you’ll wake up bright eyed and bushy-tailed, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve:
Here are my top tips and tricks:
While it may seem obvious, drink in moderation or don't drink at all. Many times, we can feel pressured to drink because everyone else is. If you want to partake, feel free, but don't feel the need to go overboard just because everyone else is. You could offer to be the DD, or you could bring something aside from alcohol to sip on, like sparkling water or kombucha! There are so many great ways to make virgin drinks, so you still get to feel like you're part of the fun. (Pictured right, Tea of Life Kombucha (available here on tap and in 500ml bottles).
Stay Hydrated. Dehydration comes with its own list of hangover-like symptoms, so help prevent the double hangover by drinking a glass of water between drinks. If you know you'll be going out in the evening, plan ahead and aim to get at least 2L before you head out. You'll also want to plan on getting at least that amount the day after. I love my Big Bottle as it helps me track my water easily to make sure I get at least 2L every day.
Get Enough Sleep. A lot of those nasty hangover feelings can often come from simply going to bed too late. While going to bed at a reasonable hour may not alleviate all your symptoms, it may lessen the pain the next morning.
Stay away from sugary drinks and use stevia-sweetened sparkling drinks for your mix. Sugar will elevate blood sugar levels, meaning once these blood sugars crash, we may also start to feel some hangover-like effects that can leave us feeling like sh*t.
Make sure you have a full belly before you head out for a night on the town. Focus on getting good quality proteins and healthy fats as these will keep you fuller longer than carbohydrates will.
Speaking of healthy fats, Omega 3 fatty acids before and after alcohol consumption can help as well as they’ll up your stores of fatty acids that may be depleted from alcohol consumption. A depletion of these can leave us feeling a little fuzzy. Tip: Take these with food, or store them in the freezer to avoid "fishy burps" (just what your hungover self needs, right?).
Pick up some Party Smart tabs! “One Capsule for a Better Morning”. Take one capsule with water during alcohol consumption. Party Smart helps metabolize alcohol and detoxify for a better
morning after.
Electrolytes! Do your best to avoid the sugar-ladened electrolyte drinks, and drink one that’s natural. I like Roar Organic Electrolyte Infusions (they’re seriously delicious and so refreshing). I'm also huge on nuun electrolyte tabs, a healthy, hydrating beverage without all of the extra sugar and additives.
Milk Thistle! This is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect liver cells by blocking the entrance of harmful toxins and helping remove these toxins from the liver. It may not be an immediate miracle cure, but it will certainly help combined with electrolytes and hydration!
There you have it! Wishing you a healthy and safe holiday season!
*All items mentioned and pictured are available here. And remember that our natural market is open to everyone, not just our nutrition clients.
~ Mila