The Morning After…Ordering In
My gal pals from New York were visiting me at my little slice of paradise by the beach for a long weekend. We started out with the best of intentions. Coffee and good girl talk while watching the waves roll in turned into a morning walk followed by a healthy homemade breakfast. We sunscreened up and toted our beach chairs and backpacks loaded with water, magazines, and yummy snacks. Setting up our sacred spot we were all so excited to spend the day relaxing on the sand until it was time to cool off in the crystal blue lake like waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Despite starting the day with the best of intentions, by the afternoon we had all managed to put wellness on the back burner. Cut to the pink skies of sunset and a few happy hour Casamigos margs later. My sun-soaked friends and I were Postmating pizza just as quickly as we were popping bottles of red.
Cue the early morning moans blaming stress for the tequila and pizza on its predecessor while whining over the wine and so on. But, why? I asked my girlfriends. We shouldn’t feel bad about “being bad”. We all need to give ourselves permission to relax, have fun, and be completely careless once in awhile.
So how do we handle the moral and actual hangover from a night of 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, set some milk thistle and a glass of water by your bed the night of your impending indulgence. 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.
If you’ve simply overeaten or overindulged on a special occasion like a holiday or even a date night, 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 ordering in or knocking a few back, grab your go to glass and fill her up. 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 sulfer 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 in your sheets. Cue up your favorite singing bowls mix 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!
Abundantly,
BE.