HEALING A HANGOVER

Sometimes celebrations get the best of us and we consume too much alcohol. Hopefully, the lesson is learned and we respect our body the next time we lift a glass to toast. Alcohol is a toxin; remember the warning label is not just there to add style to the bottle. Health and wellbeing are an accumulation of how we care for ourselves inside and out. Accumulation of stress is the main cause of disease in the body. Reduction of stress is the medicine for healing. Live and learn. So now what? There is a hangover to deal with:

Avoid consuming more alcohol. While drinking more alcohol may help a hangover “feel” better, it does not heal one. It merely puts off symptoms. In addition, it can make a hangover worse by adding more strain to the taxed liver possibly leading to alcohol toxicity, a serious medical condition. To learn more visit: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/819502-overview

Avoid caffeine. It is a diuretic and will add to the dehydration and mineral loss created by alcohol, making things worse, such as headache, body aches, dry mouth, and fatigue.   

Avoid aspirin and all other pain killers. The stomach and kidney are already weakened and strained by alcohol. Be cautious in asking the body to process and filter additional substances as this could potentially cause organ damage.

Here are some holistic suggestions:

Get plenty of sleep. Nothing is better for allowing the body time to repair.

Take a vigorous walk outside. Exercise stimulates circulation helping the body flush out toxins and fresh air is good for boosting energy.

Eat a meal of a couple cooked whole eggs, sprinkled with salt atop lightly burnt whole grain toast with a tall glass of orange juice and a banana. Sounds like a pre-race meal, but this can be very helpful after a few too many. Eggs contain amino acids which help the body detoxify, some are only found in the yolks so be sure to eat the whole egg. Salt helps retain hydration and is an essential mineral. Vitamin C from orange juice boosts the immune system. Charred toast provides carbon (the burnt part) which absorbs impurities and neutralizes acidic upset stomach, and whole grains provide complex B vitamins for energy and tissue repair. Banana provides potassium, an important mineral for muscle function that when depleted, as occurs with alcohol consumption, results in aches and cramping. Finally, fruit sugars offset low blood sugar levels caused by alcohol. If you don’t like bananas, a spoonful of raw honey is a great alternative.

Hydrate with plenty of water and 100% fruit juice.

I am wishing you all a safe, healthy, and fun-filled July 4^th weekend! Stay tuned for a new topic next week. Please “Subscribe” to receive RSS updates.