Too many drinks last night? Feeling dehydrated and in need of a cure?
We all know that drinking with friends and celebrating the end of a stressful week, can not only be fun but good for the soul. However, this all comes at a cost to our body and for some, our minds once the hangover effects kick in. We wake up feeling sluggish, bloated, our head throbs, we try to sleep all day but the awful feeling in our body keeps us awake and we wish the day away.
So I'm all about prevention rather than cure and there's one sure way to avoid the dreaded hangover - don't drink! But realistically, this is not an option many of us look at. Despite living a clean healthy lifestyle 99% of the time, I also thoroughly enjoy a few sneaky vodka lime and sodas or an occasional night out dancing with my favourite people. So when this happens, I ensure that I eat a quality meal before I start drinking. I keep hydrated throughout the night and opt for healthier alcohol options with little to zero sugar.
So pressuring that you need another helping hand, let's look at ways to reduce the hangover effects and be kind to your body, after a not-so-kind night.
That awful sick feeling we experience from a night on the booze is a result of many imbalances going on in our body. Alcohol depletes our potassium levels, our blood sugars are on a rollercoaster, we are sleep deprived, our circadian rhythm is thrown in a spin and we have a pile of toxins building up. Gosh!
Here is a simple list of natural hangover remedies that you can have readily available at home for the day after.
Bananas: Will increase your potassium levels, which are often depleted when consuming your beloved alcohol.
Coconut water: Not only does it taste fresh and sweet, it aids in hydration and provides potassium and electrolytes that are imperative to good health.
Lemon juice: Helps to detox the body of those nasty toxins and kickstarts the digestive system to process and eliminate the alcohol. Sip on lemon water throughout the day and if you are craving some fizz, add it to mineral water instead.
Ginger: Has been used for thousands of years as a natural tummy settler and is an effective digestive aid.
BANANA & COCONUT SMOOTHIE
I put together this natural antioxidant and electrolyte smoothie, to help settle the tummy and rehydrate. A much better option than opting for those sugar-laden sports drinks full of artificial colours and flavours.
Place the following ingredients in a blender:
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Coconut water
- 2 tsp of freshly grated ginger
- Frozen banana
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- Ice cubes
Blitz ingredients together, pour into a tall glass and enjoy!
Remember to sip on lemon water during the day, add ginger to your meals and eat as healthily as possible to nourish your beautiful body. You may just need that extra one or (three) nanna naps today too.
Much love and health,
Bianca xx
(photo courtesy of Aspen Specialty Foods)