New Year's Day: The Healthy Hangover

We have all been there.  The music, the people, the oodles of alcohol.  There is the first shot, followed soon after by the fourth, and then the why is everything [insert name here] says so funny?  Somewhere in the mix you think 'Wow I really *am* such a confident person...and quite frankly...a brilliant dancer!'

...

And then the next morning.

The dry mouth, the pounding headache, and the need for a cheeseburger and fries.

Before you reach for any heart attack food, here are a few healthy alternatives that are *so* much better for you than a happy meal and a quad americano.

Your liver has been working overtime - from right around when you were busting your awkward dance moves to your comatose sleep - to get rid of the alcohol in your blood.  So we will need to support your weary liver by doing the following:

Dr. S's Healthy Hangover Tips

1. B Vitamins.

Since you prolly forgot to take it before you went to sleep, take them as soon as you get up.  B Vitamins help with the carbohydrate metabolism of alcohol, and will help dilate your blood vessels.  You will especially need B 6 and B12: B6 will help you to rehydrate your body, and B12 will help give you energy, dilate the blood vessels, and even metabolize any alcohol you still may have in your system.

You can take this in a multivitamin, or as I posted about here -  EBOOST.

2. Cysteine-Rich Foods

Say what?  Ya it's a weird name, I know.

Cysteine sounds positively boring but it does help the body detoxify, it also helps protect cells against free-radical damage, and get rid of the gunk floating around in your body





Foods with loads of Cysteine:

• Egg whites 
• Lentils
• Soy Protein
• Sesame Seeds
• Seaweed
• Spirulina
• Oats
• Quinoa

You can also get good amounts of cysteine from most animal products as well.

3. Water to Rehydrate

Make like a fish an drink water!!  Alcohol is a natural diuretic, which makes you urinate.  Beer is especially dehydrating.  Resist the urge to grab a coffee the next day - that will further dehydrate you.  A glass of water (with a squeeze of lemon ) is the first thing to reach for.

4. Minerals, Dear

When we become dehydrated, it is not just the water we need to replenish, it is the electrolytes, and minerals lost as well.  Foods rich in potassium (like bananas) are amazing for this as they are rich in potassium. 

If you are feeling a bit queasy the next morning, a banana shake with some Vega and Almond milk might just do the trick:

1 Banana
1/2 Cup of Almond Milk
1 Tbsp Almond Butter
1 Scoops of Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer (I love this shake with Vanilla Chai)
Some good quality honey
Blend. Eat.

--
So, on your first day of the new year make a healthier choice by reaching for either the Banana Shake above, or bowl of oatmeal, with some scrambled egg whites (cooked in coconut oil).  You will feel so much better. Trust.

Hopefully you will ring in the New Year with the people you love and start your year off right with some wonderful memories.  If you happen to drink too much, you now know what to do nutritionally to start your year off right. I look forward to seeing you all in 2010.

Be Healthy. (And Happy New Year!)

Dr. Stephanie
xo