Hangover Helpers
If you’ve never had a hangover you’re lucky, but I’m sure you know someone who has. It’s the worst feeling in the world. Alcohol not only ages you, it also makes you feel like crap, do things you normally wouldn’t do, and then forget what you actually did do. When you drink in excess your body is not only filled with toxins, but drinking too much also puts you at risk for some cancers like cancer of the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver and breast cancer. It can also affect your immune system. If you drink every day, or almost every day, you might notice that you catch colds, flus, or other illnesses more frequently than people who don’t drink. Not to mention other risks which include weight gain, pancreatitis, heart problems, high blood pressure, and a damaged liver. And if you drink in excess, alcohol poisoning can be a serious, and sometimes fatal, consequence. Drinking too much, too quickly, can affect your breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and gag reflex, and potentially lead to a coma and death.
Moral of the story, drink responsibly!
I’m lucky enough to be one of those people that knows how to control my drinking. Trust me, it took serious work and removing myself from a lot of situations and PEOPLE. But even some people who don’t drink that much, or who drink the wrong thing or mix certain drinks together, can end up with a hangover. I know that I’ve been on vacations where in the morning I felt like, “wow that one glass of wine didn’t mix well with that shot or two of tequila.” Headache central.
When we finally get back to traveling, it’s likely that at some point we, or someone we know will indeed have a hangover. Here are some hangover helpers to the rescue! Try these and tag me if they help you!
-Gatorade or another electrolyte packed beverage
This will give your body a little surge and re-hydration. Pro-tip Mcdonald’s has it on tap so post mate it.
-Beauty Kitchen’s Collagen Eye Gels and Sheet Masks
I use these to soothe non-alcohol related headaches all the time, and it works like a charm. The cooling sensation will work like a cold compress while giving your skin a little TLC, win-win! Then when you’re back up and running again, you won’t look hungover.
-Advil Liqui-Gels
These work faster than any other pain relief for me, but Ibuprofen or Aspirin work too for those hangover headaches.
-Coconut Water
It has a big boost of potassium, electrolytes, and antioxidants that are sure to expedite anyone’s hangover recuperation.
-Bananas
Alcohol blocks the production of a hormone that helps your body hold on to water, leading to dehydration and the loss of electrolytes like potassium and sodium. Bananas are especially rich in potassium and can help replenish your body’s stores. One medium banana contains 12% of the daily value for this nutrient.
-Eggs
Drinking alcohol decreases the body’s stores of the antioxidant glutathione. Without it, your body has a hard time breaking down the toxic byproducts of alcohol metabolizing. Eggs are rich in cysteine, an amino acid that your body uses to produce glutathione. Eating cysteine-rich eggs is a great way to increase glutathione in your body and possibly improve hangover symptoms. Or you can take a shot of glutathione (I sometimes use this at home).
-Watermelon
Since the headache associated with a hangover is usually due to dehydration and decreased blood flow to the brain, eating watermelon may help. Watermelon is rich in L-citrulline, a nutrient that may increase blood flow. What’s more, its high-water content can also help you rehydrate.
-Pickles
Pickles are high in sodium, an electrolyte that is depleted during excessive drinking. Eating pickles or drinking their brine may help boost your sodium levels and overcome your hangover.
One dill pickle spear contains about 13% of the daily value for sodium. Even better, 2.5 ounces of pickle juice provides about 20% of the daily value.
-Crackers
Crackers contain fast-acting carbs that can increase your blood sugar during a hangover and improve related symptoms. When the liver is processing alcohol, it no longer focuses on regulating blood sugar. That’s why low blood sugar can result from excessive drinking, especially in people with diabetes. Eating carbs increases blood sugar. Five saltine crackers contain approximately 22 grams of carbs.
Whatever you choose to do, alcohol or no alcohol, the above helpers can also help you when you feel exhausted, have a migraine, or overdo it at the gym. Definitely some good tips to have handy, and very easy to implement. Hope they help you!