5 Hangover Helpers
By Chris Newport and Sarah Heckler, The Endurance Edge Nutritionists
Hungover? Do you want the good news or the bad news first?
The bad news is that there’s no cure for a hangover except good old father time.
The good news is that good nutrition can at least make that hangover a little less painful and aid in your body’s detoxification processes.
Avoiding a hangover starts before you begin drinking. But that’s another blog. And you have a headache. And might be a tad nauseous. So how about we get to the nitty gritty, shall we?
Hydrate
First and foremost, hydrate. Your kidneys will appreciate the help.
Filtered water is always a good choice but if you’re dehydrated (has someone been worshiping the porcelain goddess?!?) broth or coconut water are great choices to replace fluid and electrolytes. Good old fashioned chicken noodle soup works well in addition to the Vietnamese noodle bowl Pho.
Low sugar “clean” sports drinks are good options too like Pedialyte (without dye), Camelbak Mantra, Gu electrolyte tablets, NUUN U Natural, Ultima Replenisher, or Vega Electrolyte Hydrator. Steer clear of excess amounts of caffeine. While it may temporarily relieve a headache, it will further dehydrate you. A little green tea boosts liver detoxification while contributing a small amount of caffeine. Add a little sliced fresh ginger to quell nausea and some lemon juice for vitamin C (which may help rid your body of alcohol faster) and you’ve got yourself a fabulous hangover tonic.
Avoid the Sugar Blues
Not only with excessive simple carbohydrates wreck havoc on your blood sugar, they’re often devoid of any nutrients, can inhibit the detoxification process and make that raging headache worse. So do your body a favor and steer clear of the bagels, cinnamon rolls, sodas, and sugary sports drinks.
Plus, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, some alcohol metabolism occurs in the pancreas (which releases insulin to keep your blood sugar in check), gastrointestinal tract and brain. Excess sugar doesn’t do any of those organs any favors, so keep them off your plate at least until you’re feeling perkier.
Focus on Protein
Stabilize your blood sugar with good quality protein like pastured eggs, pork and organic yogurt. Eggs contain cysteine, an amino acid which aids breakdown of toxic acetaldehyde (which is created in your liver thanks to ethanol–aka alcohol). Similarly, pork is high in thiamin (vitamin B1), which may do same thing. Yogurt has beneficial probiotics, which help your gut eliminate toxins (or at least keep them out of your gut in the first place).
Get Green
Leafy greens, especially those from the Brassicacae family, contain chemicals called glucosinolates, which breakdown into isothiocyanates, which aid your liver in its natural detoxification process. So try to incorporate kale, collards, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bok choy or cabbage on your plate. Lightly cooked is preferred to raw, but get them any way you can!
Try a Shooter
No, not the hair of the dog! Instead, try a 2oz shooter of pomegranate juice. It has 3x the antioxidant effect of green tea and improves the liver’s detox process. If tossing back a shot makes you queasy, dilute it in water or mix it in a smoothie.
What are your favorite hangover helpers or detox aids?
