JOURNAL

Holiday season celebrations are in full swing and all fun and games until you get hit with the world’s worst hangover the morning after. You might be experiencing nausea, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, and be wondering, ‘can I die from a hangover?’ 

You can’t function properly thanks to reduced cognitive function, dry mouth from dehydration, fatigue, and cravings. Perhaps the night’s a little blurry and the anxiety has set in, or you’re furiously scrolling through the group chat worrying about things you said and did. (Did you say something you’ll regret? Did you text your ex?) While we can’t turn back the clock, we can share the all-natural hangover cures to help you recover a little faster, to get you back to your best self. 

Amp up the antioxidants

Firstly, let’s understand why we get
hangovers. “Many of the harmful side-effects of drinking are produced
by alcohol and its metabolite, acetaldehyde. It's toxic to our bodies so
we need to break it down and eliminate it, which is what our
detoxification system does,” says plant-based nutritionist Ellie Busby. 

When
we drink a little too much, our liver works hard to excrete the toxins
from our bodies. This is where antioxidants should become your best
friends. Antioxidants' role is to remove toxins from your body so that
it can function properly. If you know you’ve got some big night-outs
coming up, it’s worth amping up antioxidants in your diet to help your
body to detoxify and cleanse. And these are the keywords here: detoxify
and cleanse. We want to get as much alcohol out of the system as quickly
as possible to stop it from causing us to feel like we’ve been hit by a
bus! 

 And the number one rule? No reaching for the “hair of the
dog”! We can confirm that the Bloody Mary will make you feel a whole lot
worse in the long run. It will only delay your hangover. 

Sleep

Alcohol inhibits your sleep hormone (melatonin) so while you may have
thought you’ve gotten your recommended eight hours, it’s likely that the
sleep quality you got wasn’t great. A lack of sleepcan
cause all kinds of issues internally, and make you feel lethargic,
dizzy, and downright rotten since your body hasn’t had that restorative
sleep it needs to reset, so schedule an afternoon nap between your
Netflix binge.

Coconut water

While water is one of the best ways to detoxify and cleanse your body
(especially after drinking alcohol the night before), coconut water is
even better. When you drink alcohol, your electrolyte levels deplete
which is why you can get the shakes the day after. Electrolytes are
things like potassium, sodium, and magnesium – vital for healthy bodily
functions like producing energy and contracting muscles, and coconut
water contains a truckload of them including B-complex vitamins, vitamin
C amino acids, enzymes, and antioxidants, so you can feel less fatigued
and headachy. If you don’t have coconut water, reach for
electrolyte-rich food and supplements. 

Ginger, turmeric & lemon tonic

If you’re suffering from an upset stomach with nausea or vomiting, this zingy tonic
could be perfect. Ginger will settle your stomach, lemon will cleanse
and detox your body, and turmeric can reduce inflammation and pain –
ideal to rejuvenate you after a heavy night! If you don’t have the
ingredients in the cupboard, try a tummy-calming supplement and
probiotics.

Green smoothie

We know a green smoothie is the last thing you probably feel like
drinking right now, but trust us! If you can stomach it, you need to get
as much fresh fruit and veggies in your system as possible. 

Whizz
up spinach, kale, celery, banana, apple, filtered water or coconut
water, ginger, fresh turmeric, and the juice of a lemon. Feel free to
play around with what you have in the fridge. “Eating lots of leafy
greens helps the body to detox from the alcohol so this is important the
day after drinking,” says nutritional therapist Holly Zoccolan.  

Oh,
and beetroot can work wonders for liver health – needed after one too
many! (Be careful with this one – removing beet stains is not something
you want to be doing on a hangover – that could really tip you over the
edge!) And, don’t even think about starving yourself – your body will be
crying out for nourishing foods, vitamins, and minerals to restore your
body back to good health. “You also want to make sure you are eating
balanced meals containing lots of healthy fats, good quality
protein, fiber and greens too! Fiber is going to be important for the
body to flush out the alcohol so lots of vegetables and high-fiber foods
such as flax seeds and chia seeds will help with this,” says Zoccolan.

Cram in some chlorophyll

Apparently, Kylie Jenner and her friends swear by chlorophyll drops to
help prevent hangovers by dropping them in their h2o before they start
drinking alcohol, but it’s just as good after the main event!
Chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color, helps to detoxify the
body of toxins, creates a balancing alkalizing
effect on the body, provides oxygen to the blood, and increases
magnesium – a mineral that many of us are deficient in and can help more
than 300 biochemical reactions in the body! Up your intake with
chlorophyll drops or tablets.

Move & sweat!

While it’s easy to stay horizontal on the sofa all day watching Netflix,
getting outside for a brisk walk and some fresh air can work wonders.
If you can, get a sweat on to increase the detoxification process so you
can literally sweat the sins away! Just remember to keep chugging on
your water bottle to keep your hydration levels high. If you can’t face
the outside world, try a yoga flow to
get your body moving. You can even find online yoga classes
specifically for detoxing, cleansing and hangovers now! The endorphins
exercise releases are also super helpful to give you a natural high to
balance out your hormones when alcohol (as a depressant) means your mood
has taken a nosedive.

Have a hot (then cold) shower

While you might want to wrap yourself in a cocoon and shut off from the
world, grabbing a shower can make you feel a million times better. To
level up the detoxification process, take your normal warm shower and
bask in the freshness, then for the final 30 seconds, turn the
temperature to cold and breathe through it! This transition from hot to
cold enhances the detoxification process and can make you feel
invigorated with more energy! 

The morning after the night before

While curing a hangover is a bit of a waiting game, these natural
hangover remedies can help to speedupthe process, and if you want three
top tips for advice? Hydrate with as much good-for-you fluids as you
can, replace the vitamins and minerals you’ve lost with lots of
nourishing food and supplements and get some more sleep! See you on the
other side!