How to avoid a hangover (naturally)

December 30, 2018

Happy New Years Eve! I don’t know about you, but I fully plan on ringing in the new year with a cocktail or two! The worst part of any celebration can be the feeling of a hangover you may experience the morning after. Below are some of my most tried and true methods for how to avoid a hangover! **please rage responsibly** 🙂

Hydrate – Everyone knows alcohol is a diuretic (makes you pee) but have you ever wondered why? Alcohol suppresses the production of a hormone called vasopressin, which tells your kidneys to reabsorb water rather than flush it out. When you aren’t producing vasopressin, your kidneys begin to send water straight to your bladder instead of reabsorbing it into your body! Make sure you drinking a ton of water before a big night out to stay hydrated. I like to make batches of detox waters (see my favorite recipes here) to sneak in extra nutrients. It’s also a good idea to drink a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage.
Milk Thistle– Milk Thistle contains antioxidants that protect the liver from toxins as well as help regenerate liver cells. I recommend taking this in threes, one before you start drinking, one before you go to bed, and one right when you wake up).
Electrolytes. Replenish electrolytes by drinking coconut water before bed. I also love this brand of electrolyte powder (I have the lemon-lime flavor!)
Ullo– Do you ever get a headache after drinking wine? There’s a good chance the sulfites (artificial preservatives) are to blame. This unique aerator, Ullo, purifies wine by removing sulfites and sediment (think of it like a super strength coffee filter for your wine). I literally don’t drink red wine without it.
Consume drinks with low amounts of congeners. Congeners are compounds that occur naturally in alcoholic beverages as a result of the distilling and fermenting processes. Studies have shown that the higher congener beverages (bourbon, brandy & whiskey) will result in a more severe hangover than lower congener drinks (vodka,white wine & gin).
Vitamin C– vitamin C can help speed up the metabolism of alcohol in the liver and also protect your liver against alcohol induced oxidative stress. If you don’t get plenty of vitamin C in your diet you can take a supplement before a night out!
Limit alcohol intake – I know, I know..but I do feel obligated to state the obvious. The best way to avoid a hangover is to limit alcohol consumption. Pace yourself, drink responsibly. & have FUN!