Food and supplement remedies for a hangover…

Food remedies for a hangover…

Eating a banana and some berries or raisins for breakfast is the fastest way to lift blood sugar, and provide necessary vitamins, potassium, other minerals, and antioxidants to support the liver, and calm the stomach. These can also provide healthy “sugar lifts” throughout the day. Choosing a bowl of chicken or bean and vegetable soup for lunch would be a great idea, preferably with some seaweed strips or dried sea veg thrown in. Edible seaweeds contain a perfect balance of electrolyte minerals/salts, which will need replenishing following dehydration. It is a good idea to eat small amounts every few hours, which will keep blood sugar levels up and help quell any feelings of nausea.

Easy to digest slow-release carbohydrate, such as brown rice, quinoa, squashes, and lots of other vegetables can make up the diet and meals during hangover recovery. All these foods are fibre-rich, which will help to detoxify and bind toxins in the bowel, improving their elimination. Dr Haas suggests drinking lemon water, with 2 tsp of olive oil, and teaspoon or capsule of cayenne pepper. This, he says, will help detoxify the liver! Cold-pressed olive oil, incidentally, is part of many natural liver and gallbladder therapies. Fresh parsley tea will assist the kidneys in filtering, and cleansing the blood of impurities. You can make your own simply by adding boiling water to plenty of chopped parsley. Add some chopped mint too to make a very refreshing rehydrator.

Taking extra nutrient support prior to, during and after drinking episodes can be very helpful in minimising the effects of alcohol. Flooding the bloodstream with substances that work to neutralise acetaldehyde (i.e. alcohol) toxicity is thought to minimise the effects of a hangover. Along with drinking plenty of water in between drinks, and before going to bed, taking extra nutrients may make the morning after a little brighter?

With regards to supplement protection for social drinkers, a good place to start is to take extra vitamin C and B vitamins, which are all water-soluble. A buffered ascorbate form of vitamin C is ideal when looking to take higher doses, which “saturates” the blood, providing consistent antioxidant protection. Try a ¼ tsp of powdered vitamin C ascorbate (1000mg) before, during and after drinking, along with a B complex tablet. Dr Haas recommends a B vitamin complex that supplies 50 mg each of B1, B2, and B3, 400 mcg of folic acid, and 100 mcg of B12. Most reputable brands supply these levels. He also suggests 15-30 mg of zinc, and 300-500 mg of magnesium should all be taken before drinking, along with some food.

Other nutrients that help in the detoxification and recovery from alcohol include pyroglutamic acid, n-acetyl cysteine, L-glutamine and alpha-lipoic acid. Liquid silica or pure aloe vera, can help to line the stomach before drinking, helping to absorb some of the alcohol impurities.

Pyroglutamic acid is a liver-supporting substance, and was found (via placebo-controlled human trials) to significantly decrease the half-life of ethanol in the blood. This simply means that alcohol was eliminated faster in subjects supplementing with pyroglutamic acid. Subjects also experienced a faster recovery after drinking. Try a dose of 1000mg before, during and after drinking.

The amino acid L-glutamine is one of the most effective gut-healing substances. This nutrient restores and repairs the gut lining, feeding the gut cells with the necessary fuel for fast cell turnover, regeneration and repair. L-glutamine can be taken in powder form (with your vitamin C) at a dose of 1000-2000mg or ¼-½ tsp. L-glutamine can also be used as a fuel when blood glucose levels is low, as well as boosting immune function, which is depressed following alcohol consumption.

Alcohol can certainly be a very acceptable part of enjoying life. There is in fact a large body of research highlighting the health benefits of moderate red wine consumption. You can read more about this is my post “Do you enjoy a glass of wine”. However, alcohol can be a problematic toxin to some, and in others it is also an annoying allergen, producing allergic-type symptoms. If you are someone who enjoys a drink regularly, it might be worth think about consistently supporting your body with some of the strategies described. Your body and liver will certainly thank you for it!

Share/Bookmark