Natural Cures For That "Had Too Much Fun Last Night" Mornings

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Did you party a little too hard last night? Say yes when you should have said no to that last round? Although I don’t make a habit of it, there is the occasional late night that I definitely regret the next morning…

 

Although I usually crave something greasy and cheesy and all together bad for me, beyond those first few minutes while I am eating it, it does not fix the hangover and often makes me feel worse. So instead of reaching for the burger and the pepto, try out these natural remedies:

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
 

I know we all know this one, but alcohol totally dehydrates us, which is part of why we feel so badly the next day. The best thing is to drink lots of water while you are drinking, but in lieu of that the key is to rehydrate afterwards. Water is great, but sometimes it’s just not the most appealing thing. I have found coconut water to be the ideal solution. It is slightly sweet (stick to the plain version so you are not adding unnecessary sugar), so tastier than plain water and it’s a good source of electrolytes, namely potassium which is necessary for proper hydration. I try to drink some before I go to bed if I anticipate a bad morning, but the key is to keep drinking it the next day. And the sugar will give you a little boost, as well.

Eggs

Although you may be craving a big plate of bacon and eggs with a massive side of coffee, just stick to the eggs (and remember coffee is dehydrating, so avoid it). Eggs are a great source of protein and key amino acids that are major hangover killers! Taurine supports liver function and Cysteine breaks down acetaldehyde, which is the byproduct produced when ethanol is broken down by the liver and is the cause of that nasty headache.

 

Boost Your Potassium
 

Eating foods high in potassium will counteract the effects of alcohol, which depletes the body of this key nutrient. As mentioned above, potassium is very important for maintaining hydration. Ideally eating some greens or a green juice would be fantastic, as they are high in potassium and also will help the body to rid itself of toxins. However, you are likely not craving a green smoothie when you are hungover….so opt for a banana instead! A single banana contains about 400 mg of potassium and that bit of natural sugar will definitely give you a boost. Additionally, bananas are very soothing to the stomach. If you can whip up a smoothie with some hidden spinach in it, then even better!

 

Sweat It Out

 

Ok so the idea of heading to the gym when you can barely get off the couch may not seem like a good idea, but if you can manage to get up and get moving you will feel better. No need to kill yourself by taking some crazy cardio kick boxing class, but if you can find a tolerable way to move and sweat out some of those toxins it will really make you feel better. You are not looking to further dehydrate yourself, but sweating will really release some of the toxins in your system while you continue to rehydrate. Get the nasty out and keep on adding in the good!

 

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is great for detoxing. It helps your body to flush out the toxins and also contains a large amount of selenium and allicin, which aid in liver cleansing.

 

*Note: Grapefruit counteracts some medications. It is usually indicated on the prescription bottle, however to be safe I generally do not eat grapefruit or drink the juice within a couple hours of taking any medication.

Miso Soup

This is a new discovery for me and boy does it work!  I often crave something salty and soup is always a welcomed food when I don’t feel well, regardless of the reason. Enter miso soup, which is totally delicious; the broth rehydrates you, replenishes your sodium levels and the fermented miso helps with digestion.

Given all the summer BBQs and parties ahead, next time you indulge a little too much give these a try!