Indulge a little to much at the party or think you might? You know you have a hangover when you have a headache, nausea, intestinal upset, and perhaps diarrhea, aches in the muscles and joints, and fatigue. Now let’s look at some prevention techniques and remedies. Hangovers are no fun, so you really need to know what to do!
Prevention Techniques
B Vitamins. Alcohol destroys your B vitamins…take a 100mg B-Complex before you go out, and another right before bed!
Women: Imbibe when the Time is Right! Women who drink right before menstruating when their estrogen level is low are more prone to get drunk and are more nauseated afterward than during the rest of their cycle.
Bifidus powder Put a teaspoon of bifidus powder in a glass of water and drink before going to bed. Bifidus is the “friendly” bacteria that detoxifies acetaldehyde, a digestive byproduct of alcohol that is a major cause of hangovers.
Evening primrose oil helps prevent hangovers. Take two teaspoons. It’s really because it is good fat…So watch what kind of fats you eat at that party. Eating a meal high in saturated fat causes the effects of alcohol to peak earlier and last longer than diets high in polyunsaturated fat. Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Sports drinks, high in electrolytes, will help replenish what the kidneys have excreted during drinking. The best have less sugar. Our favorite is Electrolyte Stamina Power Pak: One packet before the party and another before bedtime. And…good, old-fashioned Water. One of the best preventive measures is to drink 2-3 large glasses of water before you go to bed. Drinking alcohol is very dehydrating and hydrating your system helps counteract the effects of the alcohol.
Bananas One of the quickest ways to cure a hangover is to make a banana milkshake sweetened with honey. The banana helps calm the stomach, and with the honey, builds up the depleted blood sugar levels. The milk (we use coconut milk!!) soothes the stomach and rehydrates your system. Bananas are also rich in the important electrolytes, magnesium and potassium, which are severely depleted during heavy drinking.
If you forget all of the above, try a Willner staff fave–Hangover Formula by Source Naturals…multi-nutrient complex: 3 tablets after drinking, and three in the morning if you still feel a little “hung” in the morning.