Holiday Hangover 101
It’s that time of year again! The holidays are here and so are all the feelings that go with them. So if you are human, the likelihood that you may find yourself taking comfort in a giant plate of Christmas cookies or one too many mulled wines is 100%. Add in a handful of family obligations, one office Christmas party, and a festivus or two with friends and you have the recipe for a bumpy and bloated end to 2019.
So how do we handle the moral and actual hangover from a night of holiday revelry? Well, first we forgive ourselves and remember that human connection and relationships are as equally important in the circle of life as superfoods and clean eating. In other words, give yourself a break and move forward. Maybe you made some unforgettable memories, let go of something that was holding you back, and even had a damn good time!
Next we take some serious action to help our swollen body and sometimes pounding heads find relief. If you are a total Type A like me, shop for supplements like milk thistle and vitamin-B 100 . Place them with a glass of water by your bed the night of your impending indulgence or if you don’t plan on coming home, put them in your purse or wallet.
Milk thistle enhances your body’s antioxidant activity and can regenerate liver cells which should help your poor organ function better in case you’ve been overserved. The Vitamin-B supplement, which you can double down on and take both during the party and the morning after is essential to help your body process alcohol. Otherwise you will end end up depleted in the essential nutrient a gnarly hangover the next morning is unavoidable.
If you’ve simply overeaten or overindulged on all the things, digestive enzymes can be your personal wellness warrior. Unlike antacids which actually stop essential stomach acids from breaking down food, these supplement superheroes help turn food into usable fuel preventing belly bloat and irritation. Take one with your meal.
Not a planner? No worries, there’s still a lot you can do to turn it around even when you’ve woken up unprepared.
Dehydration is the quintessential culprit when it comes to food and beverage hangovers. When you wake up the night after hitting the holiday goodies too hard or knocking a few back, grab your go to glass and fill her up with H20. But add some Alkalizing lemon for extra oomph.
Once you’ve absorbed your first dose of the free stuff it may be time to replenish some electrolytes with a coconut water based green smoothie. Add veggies high in sulfur like kale plus antioxidant-rich blueberries, a protein dense nut butter and soothing spice like turmeric to detoxify, lower blood sugar, and fight inflammation.
The other mineral miracle worker that you might want to add to your morning after mix is magnesium. Magnesium is the perfect “two-for” offering headache relief when digested and reducing swelling when added to a hot soaky tub bath. If you are on vacation at the beach like my friends and I were, a dip in the ocean will also provide similar benefits.
Still feeling puffy around the eyes or cheeks? Grab your jade roller and pop it into the freezer. Once cold use it to work your favorite face serum and then moisturizer into the face and neck. The cooling effect will not only bring you back to life, but help quench that thirsty skin.
Finally, if the none of the above beats the sodium bloat, the sudden dairy driven sinus irritation, or the old school hangover it’s time to retreat. You’ve tried your best and given it everything you’ve got. Lower the shades and find the sleeping mask tangled somewhere in your sheets. Cue up your favorite podcast or surrender to the soft sounds of Matthew McConaughey reading you a bedtime story on a popular sleep app. Tomorrow is a a great day to start fresh. Night night and happy holidays!
Abundantly,
BE.
August 26, 2019