Heal Your Hangover the Healthy Way

How to heal a hangover

Big night out? Regretting that last final jager bomb? Scrap that… regretting all the jager bombs? We thought so. We’re not saying it is a good idea to knock back the booze this Christmas, but it is the season to be merry and getting drunk, for many, come part and parcel with the celebrations. So what do you do when you wake up feeling a bit worse for wear? We have a few ideas. Try the below tips to help you get through the holiday season unscathed…

Water / Coconut Water
We know you have heard it before, but we’ll say it again. A hangover is a result of being dehydrated. When you drink booze, it actually makes you pee out more than you take in and hence your body lacks in fluids when you wake up. The headache and dry mouth is a result of this. So drink a glass of water upon waking and continue to sip throughout the day. About half way through the day switch to coconut water as it is full of wonderful electrolytes and is brilliantly hydrating. The only reason we don’t suggest it first thing is that a lot of people can’t handle the taste when they first wake up.

Asparagus
A recent study revealed that eating asparagus after a night out was particularly effective in helping a hangover. This is because the vegetable contains enzymes that are brilliant in breaking down the alcohol in your body. The researchers at the Institute of Medical Science and Jeju National University in South Korea who analysed the effect of extracts of asparagus on human liver cells said that “cellular toxicities were significantly alleviated in response to treatment with the extracts of asparagus” in a news release from the Institute of Food Technologists. “These results provide evidence of how the biological functions of asparagus can help alleviate alcohol hangover and protect liver cells.” We suggest having eggs and asparagus for breakfast!

Yoga Twists
Many yogis believe that a good old yoga twist is essential to helping that hangover. The twists in particular massage and ‘rinse out’ the internal organs of the toxins. For a great yoga twist see yesterday’s elf4health advent calendar here.

Aromatherapy
The solution to one of the best hangover cures has been right under our nose all this time. It is thought that something as simple as aromatherapy can help ease a hangover symptoms such as headaches, nausea and that foggy feeling (you know what I am talking about!). Essential oils such as eucalyptus and lavender oil is said to help alleviate headaches and unblock the sinuses making everything feel a bit clearer, whilst peppermint oil is great for reducing nausea. Add to the bath or just to a bowl of boiling water.

Bananas
Just like the coconuts water, eating bananas the morning after the night before helps replace lost electrolytes in your body, which in turn  will help to get rid of that unwanted headache. It also replaces lost potassium (a result of alcohol’s diuretic effect). Kiwis are also potassium rich. For a super hangover healing smoothie recipe click here.