How To Avoid A Hangover As Told By A Naturopath

Despite seeming like the absolute pinnacle of healthiness next to godliness – we knew you were thinking it - even a Naturopath who works at Morlife is a human who enjoys a little glass of pinot noir from time to time. Alas this means that I have had my fair share of hangovers and realistically know that there is a great possibility that should I, like the rest of the Christmas celebrating population, decide to get silly over the up coming festive season (yes, Christmas spam is coming) might experience one again.

What I will say is that a hangover doesn’t have to be a total day killer anymore so say goodbye to the necessity of a 3am kebab run to coat that aching stomach. Here are some natural, simple ways to avoid those head-in-a-blender hangovers.

BE HYDRATED
This might seem obvious but you would be surprised as to how many people forget to hydrate themselves after the first gin ‘n’ tonic. Hydration means more than guzzling 2 litres of blue PowerAde in a last minute attempt to save yourself from the aftermath. Hydration must be prioritised before the big night, meaning that during the day of and leading up to you might like to challenge yourself to drinking at least 2-3 litres of fresh filtered water per day. You might even develop a healthy habit out of it. Furthermore, to ensure that you’re actually hydrating yourself and not just flushing out valuable electrolytes, adding a pinch of pink Himalayan or Celtic sea salt (nooo your water won't taste salty) with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to your water bottle will ensure you’re able to up take as much water as you need.

EAT YOUR GREENS 
So that the next morning you can see them all come up again..only kidding. In all seriousness, making sure you are including a multitude of leafy green vegetables (think broccoli, kale, spinach, swiss chard and Asian greens) into your diet in the lead up to a big night will definitely aid in keeping the headache away. The reason for this is simply due to their content of B vitamins which aid in the metabolism of alcohol. B vitamins and antioxidants help your liver to get rid of alcohol out of your system without letting it wreak too much havoc. BUT (and this is a big but) it is very important to try to have enough B vitamins to share around, so don’t skimp on your serves. As B vitamins are water-soluble, the body doesn’t store them for long and prefers to use them for normal functions like metabolising carbohydrates as opposed to saving your sorry backside from too many mystery cocktails. So eat your greens and be as generous as you are when shouting your friends that next round.

GET YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP
A night out often turns into a really really early morning out which means you would more than likely have been awake for 20+ hours. What if you knew that your body doesn’t forget the sleep you deprive it of? Sleep is essentially the only time our bodies get to just relax and deprivation can place stress on more than just the sagging skin under your eyes but also your immune system. In the lead up to a long night out it’s a good idea to make sure your immune system is at its peak functionality so that you don’t end up catching more than a nasty hangover the next day. So sleep-in on the days leading up to and take that cat nap before heading out to power you through to the wee hours.

Supplementation Finally If you want to take hangover avoidance to the next level – consider supplementing with liver supporting herbs and nutrients such as St Mary’s thistle, globe artichoke, vitamins B6, B9 and B12 on a regular basis. Or better yet get around our Liv'A Detox powder which contains all of these goodies and more to keep your liver loving you despite your drinking habits. Mixing it on coconut water is a favourite, as you’ll be sipping on electrolytes from the coconut water too. Otherwise you know the drill – eat a substantial meal prior to drinking. Don’t mix drinks, especially not tequila and remember jeggings are not appropriate leg wear for any occasion. Have a great night!

By Eliza Matas
Morlife Naturopath