Hangovers

The pounding head, sandpaper tongue, desperate thirst, the self-loathing.  Sure signs that you overindulged the night before.  In this season of parties and get togethers here are a few tips to help you remain human the next day.

Food helps to slow down the absorption of alcohol, so it doesn’t enter the bloodstream directly.  Do not drink on an empty stomach.  

Choose white wine or vodka; the darker the alcohol, the worse the hangover. This is because of congeners, the toxic chemicals formed during fermentation.

Pace yourself and prevent dehydration by drinking a glass of water for every drink.  You can also choose to limit yourself to one drink an hour.

Before Falling Into Bed

Drink some fluid.  Water, juice, a sports drink, all will help replenish fluids that alcohol has leached out of your system.  Avoid caffeinated beverages which can tend to dehydrate.

Eat something.  Some peanut butter and banana on toast is a personal favourite.  Carbohydrates in the bread slow alcohol absorption, protein in the peanut butter decreases alcohol absorption, and potassium and electrolytes in the banana help to replace some of what you’ve lost through drinking.

DO NOT TAKE an aspirin or acetaminophen.  Aspirin aggravates the stomach and can make your symptoms worse.  Acetaminophen (ex:  Tylenol) mixed with alcohol is highly toxic to your liver.

So You Have a Hangover?

The only real hangover cure is time and rehydration.  So rehydrate with water, juice, sports drinks, green tea, or ginger ale (can help with nausea).

At some point you will feel hungry, maybe even ravenous.  The greasy breakfast is hard on your liver which has taken a bit of a beating the night before.  There are some foods that will be helpful however:

Eggs:  contain large amounts of cysteine, which breaks down toxins in the liver caused by drinking.

Bananas:  provide lost electrolytes and also replenish potassium.

Fruit Juice:  Fruit sugar naturally increases the body’s energy. It also increases the rate at which the body gets rid of toxins.

Hangover Helper Smoothie:

• 1 banana
• 6 large strawberries (frozen blueberries work well too)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1-2 cups milk (soy, almond, rice or dairy milk)
• ¼ tsp. salt
• sprinkle of powdered ginger

Blend all ingredients.  Consider doing this in advance.

When you are feeling a bit better a long shower run hot then cold and a walk in fresh air can help to process the remaining toxins in your system.