Can you cure a hangover?  Ernest Hemingway recommended tomato juice and beer.  Kingsley Amis suggested mixing Bovril with vodka?!

The reality is that miracle cures for being hungover are generally a myth and the best way to avoid a hangover is not to drink!  However, we know it’s often too easy to overindulge so here are some tips for easing the symptoms …

1. Line your stomach

Every drop of alcohol you drink ends up in your system and your body breaks down that alcohol into a toxic chemical called acetyaldehyde.   Food doesn’t cancel it out, but eating a meal will slow the speed at which it gets into your body, giving your liver more of a chance to detoxify it.  Leafy greens in particular help protect your liver from these toxic chemicals or you could try my delicious and hearty Raspberry Power Smoothie!  It has a shot of fruity, sherbety baobab powder – a vitamin C rich fruit for some much needed energy.

Per serving:

• 1 banana
• 50g oats
• 1 large handful raspberries – fresh or frozen
• 1 teaspoon preferred sweetener (I love agave syrup or Sweet Freedom)
• 1/2 cup (125ml) vegan yoghurt
• 3/4 cup (175ml) plant milk
• 1-2 teaspoons baobab powder

Simply blend everything together until smooth

2. Hair of the dog / Not mixing drinks

Contrary to popular belief the type of drinks you choose and the order in which you drink them makes no difference in the likelihood of hangover.  No matter how it’s packaged, it’s the ethanol in drinks that delivers the poison, breaking down into the toxic by-products that induce the hangover.  And while Hair of the Dog might give temporary relief from a hangover, the body has to process the additional alcohol on top of what you drank the night before.  It’s the total amount of ethanol you consume that causes the problems.

3. Rehydrate

Although research suggests that dehydration is rarely the major cause of hangovers, opting for water every other ‘round’ helps slow down the intake of alcohol.  This also gives your body a bit of extra time to process the toxic by-products, avoiding a larger build up by morning.  Failing that, and the next morning your ‘bottom of a bird cage’ mouth is getting a bit much try refuelling and rehydrating with this delicious smoothie:

Rehydration Smoothie

INGREDIENTS FOR 1 SMOOTHIE:

• 1 banana – peeled
• 1 apple – core discarded
• 1/2 mango – peeled and diced
• 3 plums – stone removed
• 1/2 cup coconut yoghurt
• 2 tsp chia seeds
• 2 tsp maca powder
• 1 cup coconut water

DIRECTIONS:

Put everything into a blender and whizz until smooth.

4. Be an antioxidant king or queen

Magnesium is a nutrient that supports the enzyme that breaks down alcohol and eliminates it from the body as well as helping it maintain the right balance of rehydrating electrolytes.  Magnesium levels are depleted through alcohol – up the magnesium content of any delicious juice with a teaspoon of spirulina powder or try my delicious Antioxidant Smoothie.

5. Trust in pancakes 

Potassium is another of those wonderful electrolyte things that give balance in the body allowing it to effectively regulate hydration – that’ll help with the headaches and nausea.  A banana’s naturally high potassium content could help to minimise those hangover symptoms – try my scrummy Vegan Chocolate Pancakes for a tasty banana packed nutritional breakfast the morning after the night before!  The iron, potassium and protein in the cacao powder also gives an antioxidant boost.  Plus, ya know, chocolate.

6. Breathe

Oxygen increases the rate that our bodies break down the toxins from alcohol.  While you’re out there do a little gentle exercise – a brisk walk or jog – get the blood pumping and the oxygen moving quicker round the body!  And don’t forget the endorphins released from some exercise can help boost that grumpy morning after mood too!

Don’t Forget …

You can do most of these things BEFORE the night out!  Drink the juice, eat the pancakes, add the spirulina.   But most of all, be prepared and be SAFE!

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