What to eat to beat the hangover
Let's start by saying that alcohol is bad for your health and that none of us should be having it. But we still do :) Including myself on occasions!
Last night was such an occasion and despite only having 2 drinks, the hangover this morning was REAL. I'm not sure if it's an age thing or whether my body becomes less and less tolerant the less I drink but the pain was pretty brutal.
Not exactly my fresh, healthy, happy self this morning.
One of the side effects of drinking is that it dehydrates us and depletes us of nutrients, especially potassium as well as the antioxidants that help break down alcohol. It weakens our immune system and it can cause damage to our digestive health and our central nervous system.
No need to repeat it, but in case this is news to you, drinking too much and too frequently can seriously damage your health.
So now that's out of the way, what can you do if like me, you've made the evil mistake of consuming 1 too many drinks?
First of all, hydrate as much as you can. The more you drink, the better you'll feel. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime or some fresh mint to your water if that helps.
Secondly, eat nutrient dense foods. I know this might be the opposite of what you crave, but the last thing your liver needs right now is junk food.
If you've had too much to drink your body will be screaming for help to get rid of the toxins so it's even more important than usual to eat SMART foods that are high in antioxidants and easy to digest.
My favorite way to replenish is with this HANGOVER SMOOTHIE!
It contains some of the most powerful anti inflammatory foods to help your body recover, namely:
GINGER
If there is one food that deserves the superfood status it's ginger! It contains powerful antioxidants that will help your body get rid of toxins, reduce inflammation, boost your immune system and get you back on your feet! Ginger also does wonders if you feel nauseous, hence why I add a big chunk of it to this smoothie :)
SPINACH
It's a great source of folate, sulfur and vitamin C which are essential vitamins and minerals for fighting a hangover. Vitamin C accelerates your liver's ability to detoxify, allowing the alcohol to get out of your system quicker. Spinach is also great for your body's circulatory system and brain, both of which take a hit when you drink.
CELERY
If you've followed the celery juice mania, you'll know that celery has many health benefits. It's a great source of vitamins and minerals and it supports digestion and reduces inflammation.
LEMON or LIME
Both are great sources of vitamin C which, as stated above, will support your liver's efforts to detoxify and strengthen your immune system.
I also add a small apple and a cucumber for the taste. It adds liquid and it gives the smoothie a nice flavor.
I prefer using a blender rather than a juicer because this way I retain all the fiber but if it makes it too thick for your taste, you can always add some water to make it more liquid!
INGREDIENTS:
1 celery stick
1 small apple
A handful of spinach
A teaspoon of fresh ginger
The juice of 1 lime or lemon
Half a cucumber
*The quantities are approximate so feel free to adjust each ingredient to make it taste the way you like!
If you're feeling hungry, the best hangover breakfast I've found is the one at Two Hands in Nolita (read more about my favorite places to dine in NYC here.)
Their combo of eggs with salmon, avocado and spinach with a side of baked sweet potato is filling and the perfect hangover cure and here's why:
EGGS
Eggs are rich in cysteine which is an amino acid your body uses to produce the antioxidant it uses to breakdown acetaldehyde, the root cause of hangovers. Essential minerals in eggs also help the body get rid of toxins that build up when drinking alcohol.
And be sure to eat the yolk. That's where all the goodness is. Each golden yolk houses a range of antioxidants, vitamins A, B12, D, riboflavin, folate and phosphorous, as well as skin-nourishing selenium, blood-enriching iron and Omega 3 and 6 fats, among others.
AVOCADO
Avocado is a great source of healthy fats that help reduce inflammation and it's also a great source of potassium which we tend to get depleted from when we drink.
SALMON
Besides being a great source of protein, wild salmon is a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation.
SWEET POTATOES
Full of fiber and antioxidants, these babies are filling, delicious and a great source of potassium as well!
If you feel like making breakfast at home, you'll find quick & simple recipes with powerful anti inflammatory ingredients in my online program. Use the code EATSMART for a 20% discount on your first month.
Feeling alive again :)
