HolidayHangover

5 Tips to Cure that Holiday Hangover

I remember my first hangover like it was yesterday — New Year’s Day 1998.   I was sure that was the day I would die.  Vomiting profusely, curled in the fetal position, making promises to God declaring I would never sip another drop of alcohol again. We’ve all been there and will probably be there again, some of us sooner than later.

Just in case you happen to drink too much this New Year’s, here are five tips to help you knockout that New Year Nausea.

Drink Gatorade

…or any other sports drink of your choice.  “Holy Water” (as I like to call it) works wonders at combating a hangover.  All that talk about electrolytes is real.  We lose electrolytes when we consume massive amounts of alcohol and we become dehydrated. Sports drinks replenish the electrolytes in our body and help it stay calm and centered.  I suggest you buy a large Gatorade next time you are at the market and keep it in the back of your fridge just in case.

Drink Water

Gatorade is good at combating dehydrationbut water is always great for flushing out all the toxins in your body.  Gatorade and Water work best together in replenishing what you lost and getting rid of what you don’t need.  We should already be drinking 8 glasses a day anyway, so drink up!

Eat Carbs

Toast, crackers, or pasta are all good foods to help restore the blood sugar levels that dropped while you were taking back those shots.  Low blood sugar levels cause you to be tired and irritable all day, making your liver work overtime to metabolize that alcohol.  Give your liver a break and eat small portions of carbs in moderation to help calm that churning in your tummy.

Take Alka-Seltzer

Alka-Seltzer has been around for over 80 years, so they must be doing something right.  To some the taste may not appeal to your pallet, but little bubbles are good for you. Alka-Seltzer contains sodium bicarbonate and this ingredient helps to neutralize the stomach acid and calm the bad bubbles in your belly.

Shower. Shock. Sleep.

As hard as it may be to get out of the bed during a hangover, it’s best to shower and wake that body up.  Get those juices flowing. If you alternate the water temperature between hot and cold this helps shock your body into shape and jump starts the blood circulation that will help with  dehydration.  After your shower, get some sleep.  Let your body rest and naturally work on getting back to its natural state.

Don’t Drink More Alcohol

The worst thing you can do in the midst of a hangover is drink more alcohol.  The “Hair of the Dog that Bit You”  myth has been around a long time, but it has not been proven that drinking more alcohol is helpful to a hangover.  It may lessen the effects of a hangover…temporarily, but it will extend your symptoms in the long run.  If you must drink the morning after skip the Bloody Mary and go for a Virgin Mary (Mary minus the Vodka) the tomato juice and celery have restorative vitamins that will restore balance and flush out the toxins in your body.