Hangover Hacks: Your saving grace this party season
Nothing kills our festive spirit like a hangover - try as we might, we aren't 23 any more. The bad news? (Other than the fact that we aren't 23 any more) the champagne hits way harder the next morning. The good news? In our years of seasoning, we've picked up a few tricks to help handle the somewhat apocalyptic experience of having been "over served".
1. Avoid the greasy spoon...but don't ditch carbs all together.
Pancakes, fries, sugary snacks and crisps are all on the top of the list when it comes to hangover cravings, but overloading your already burdened body with excess starch and sugar will unfortunately delay your recovery. During a hangover the metabolism is impaired, so although you'll be craving carbs for energy your digestion and assimilation is not what it usually is. Try having smaller helpings of comforting carbs - a jacket potato (which will also boost serotonin) or brown rice stir fry will still help you tame your cravings but will be much easier to process.
2. Up your antioxidants
Glutathione is one of the key antioxidants that helps us process alcohol, but it's used up quickly when in high demand. Getting the building blocks of Glutathione can help your body replenish more quickly - think eggs, garlic, asparagus, spinach, avo, squash, and grapefruit. Not feeling that list? Try getting them in with a smoothie - we love spinach, grapefruit, avo, lemon, chia for fibre and aminos, and banana, which will also help replenish potassium. Easy to digest and high in targeted nutrients, getting this in early in the day can help give your body a head start.
3. Rehydrate — properly.
4. Get your blood flowing
Working out can be a double-edged sword, so if you're not feeling it the day after a big night, there are still some ways you can get your blood moving. Foam rolling (gently) your body will help move your circulation, lymphatic system and help relieve tension.
5. Take the plunge
Cold therapy is a quick, easy, and totally free way to improve your energy and re-energise the body the morning after a few too many. It has benefits that reach across multiple systems - from improving blood flow, nitric oxide release, and reducing inflammation to helping with appetite regulation, strengthening your nervous system and boosting mood. You may find them a little shocking at first, but once you give your body time to acclimatise, you'll be craving them à la Wim Hoff. First time trying a contrast shower? We recommend starting with short intervals, especially if you're feeling a little woozy - bring the temperature to cold for 15 seconds to start, and then gradually work your way up to longer intervals - aim for 45-60 seconds if you can handle it!
6. Cold Spoons
Yes, you read that right. Last but by no means least, the icy spoon trick has been a saving grace on more mornings than we'd like to admit, and is cheap, easy to do and most importantly, incredibly effective. Placing cold spoons under your eyes can help reduce puffiness because the cool temperature causes blood vessels to constrict, and the pressure against your skin enhances lymphatic drainage of any excess fluid. Plus, it feels amazing.
How to do it? Apply a thin serum or hyaluronic acid on clean skin. Place the spoon, base down just under the eye. Glide the spoon outwards (from bridge of. the nose towards the ear) using a gentle pressure. You can also do this from the eyebrow upwards. Make sure to use metal spoons and put them in the fridge before you go out. No worries if you forget - you can always put them in the freezer for 20+ minutes to get nice and icy.
