5 Tips for Avoiding Holiday Hangovers
I get it, even the fittest, healthiest & happiest people accidentally have one too many drinks. It happens. Especially during the holidays! The drinks are flowing, you’re enjoying yourself at work parties, Christmas gatherings, nights out with friends, having awkward conversations with family members, going to crazy New Years celebrations, etc. One drink turns into two or three or four, which turns into one rough morning after.
I’m getting a headache just thinking about it! There are a ton of myths and urban legends about hangover cures. Hair of the dog, a bagel & ginger ale, coffee, a smoothie with a raw egg blended in… so what exactly works and what’s just an old wives tale? Let’s talk hangovers and my top 5 tips for avoiding them!
Holiday Hangovers
What Causes a Hangover?
The first thing we need to talk about is what exactly causes a hangover. Hangover symptoms are a product of dehydration, hypoglycemia and the poisonous side effects from the toxins in the drinks we consume.
After doing a bit of research, here are a few factors that contribute to getting a hangover;
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Alcohol causes your body to produce more urine.
Sorry, gross I know. But, in turn, going to the bathroom more than usual can lead to dehydration — often making us thirsty, dizzy & lightheaded.
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Alcohol triggers an inflammatory response from your immune system.
Your immune system may trigger certain agents that commonly produce physical symptoms, such as an inability to concentrate, memory problems, etc.
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Alcohol irritates the lining of your stomach.
Alcohol increases the production of stomach acid and delays stomach emptying. Aka… abdominal pain, nausea or throwing up.
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Alcohol can make your blood sugar fall.
If your blood sugar dips too low, you can feel fatigued, weak and shaky.
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Alcohol causes your blood vessels to expand, which can cause headaches.
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Alcohol can make you tired.
It also prevents deeper stages of sleep and can make you wake up more frequently. This can leave you groggy and tired in the morning.
Simply put, hangovers are caused by drinking too much. A single drink is enough to trigger a hangover for some people, while others have higher or varying tolerances.
If you’ve ever had a hangover, you know the struggle. Or maybe you don’t! Because everyone’s symptoms and reactions vary. Some people don’t get hangovers at all. Some people get sick to their stomachs. Others get headaches. Or if you’re like me, you generally feel terrible all over.
First things first, the best way to avoid a hangover completely is not to consume alcohol. Plain and simple! The more you drink, the more likely you are to feel the consequences of your sips.
So how can you prevent or help prevent a nasty hangover?
5 Tips for Avoiding Holiday Hangovers
Before You Drink: Eat a Solid Meal
If you’re out at dinner and plan on having a few drinks or will be at a party (where drinks will be served), fuel up and fill your stomach. Obviously you don’t want to feel bloated in your fancy NYE dress, but eating a meal that contains carbs, protein and fat before you drink will help how you metabolize the alcohol. I recommend ordering something substantial like a burger. Lean proteins and vegetables are great because they are high in amino acids, which help your liver detox. Eating leafy greens or other foods high in Vitamin B help support your liver and pancreas. A lot of drinks have added sugar (think Vodka Cranberry or Jack & Coke), which make your pancreas work harder to pump insulin. A little extra Vitamin B before drinking will help support your pancreas!
My go to order is a burger with a side salad. That way I’m getting plenty of protein & carbs, as well as vitamin packed veggies!
Follow the 1 to 1 Drinking Ratio
Drinking water between drinks is always a good idea. I always follow the rule: at least one glass of water for every drink. Especially after a couple of drinks. The more you drink, the more water you should drink. So, if you’ve had 3-4 drinks, you should try to have at least 3 glasses of water before having any more alcohol.
Drinking water helps your body flush out the alcohol more efficiently, helping keep you energized and helping prevent headaches & grogginess the next morning. Plus, the more water you drink, the less alcohol you’ll most likely consume. Which in the long run is the best way to avoid a hangover!
Be PartySmart
When alcohol is consumed, it’s mainly converted into acetaldehyde by the liver. The buildup of acetaldehyde in the liver results in a “not so great” next morning. PartySmart is a single capsule you can throw into your purse that supports the liver and a better morning by speeding up the eradication of the acetaldehyde from the liver.
If you’re going to be out and about or at a fun holiday party, take a PartySmart before you start drinking. I really like that they’re plant-based, gluten-free, and contains no wheat, corn, soy or dairy. Meaning they’re great for people who are on restricted diets or have food allergies.
PartySmart has extracts of Chicory, Andrographis, Grape and Date Palm, helping give you a better next morning in a single pill, without a ton of confusing ingredients you’ve never heard of.
Even better, they come in single pack doses that you can throw in your purse or pocket and they cost less than a cup of coffee! You can order them from Amazon too! They’re available via Amazon Prime One-Day delivery, so you can stock quickly for a night out!
The Morning After
So you had a hearty meal, drank a ton of water & had a PartySmart. Protein and vitamin B are still key the next day. For breakfast I recommend a high-protein meal, like eggs, fruit (kiwis and bananas are great because they’re packed with Vitamin B). While tomato juice is a good choice (hello virgin Bloody Mary), it’s best to avoid orange juice (aka no mimosas). Alcohol and citrus are both irritants to the stomach lining, so orange juice after drinking is like a double whammy.
As much as you might want to pound a cup of coffee, it’s best to avoid it. Coffee is dehydrating. So it’s better to drink a few liters of water to refuel your body.
Avoid the Hair of the Dog
I know a ton of people recommend a little “hair of the dog”, aka a drink or two the following morning. Unfortunately, it’s not the smartest fix. Boozing it up the day after drinking only delays the inevitable hangover. Instead, pound some water. Ginger tea is also great for helping with an upset stomach. It will help settle your stomach and help combat nausea without further dehydrating you.
