Overdone it on the grog? While you may be tempted to reach for the junk
food to make yourself feel better, loading your overworked liver with
more toxins is actually the last thing it needs. Instead, try snacking
on one of these alternative foods to aid your recovery and start feeling
better in no time at all.
One reason many of us feel so bad
the morning after a drinking session is because alcohol depletes your
system of essential nutrients, including B vitamins. A lack of B
vitamins can cause anxiety and depression, so try munching on vegemite -
a rich source of the vitamin B complex - to lift your mood. As an added
benefit, vegemite has a high sodium content which can help replace the
salts lost through drinking alcohol. Try the savoury spread on toast for
an added fix of carbs.
Hangover food 2: Watermelon
Not only does alcohol deplete
your body of nutrients, it can also lead to low blood sugar levels,
which may leave you feeling weak and shaky. To counteract this, try
snacking on watermelon, which is not only high in fructose but is also
water-rich to boost hydration. On top of this, watermelon is high in
many essential nutrients, including vitamin C, B-vitamins and magnesium
Hangover food 3: Ginger
If too much alcohol has you
feeling queasy, ginger is the perfect food to help settle your stomach
and relieve nausea. While you may not feel much like chewing on the food
in its original form, you could try adding some grated ginger to hot
water for a ginger tea, blending into a fresh fruit or vegetable juice,
or snacking on ginger biscuits for a stomach-soothing treat.
Hangover food 4: Eggs
Scrambled, fried or boiled, eggs
are a popular hangover breakfast, and the good news is they are a great
choice for beating the nastiest of hangovers. Firstly, eggs are
extremely rich in protein, which helps raise mood-boosting serotonin
levels as well as helping to reduce nausea. Furthermore, eggs are rich
in an amino acid called cystine, which helps fight against the
alcohol-induced toxins that contribute to your hangover.
Hangover food 5: Bananas
Bananas are packed with
potassium and magnesium, two of the minerals often depleted in our
bodies when alcohol is consumed. A lack of potassium in the body can
lead to nausea, weakness and tiredness, so stocking up on bananas can
help reduce these classic hangover symptoms. As an added bonus, bananas
are natural antacids so great for reducing stomach acid, and are good
for providing a boost of energy if you have a busy day ahead.
Hangover food 6: Soup
One of the most important steps
for beating a hangover is getting your body rehydrated, and this can be
done through what you eat as much as what you drink. To up your fluids
and sodium levels and get a shot of nutrients all at once, try some
health-boosting vegetable or miso soup. As an added benefit, soup is
easy on the stomach so good if you're feeling a bit queasy.
Hangover food 7: Oats
Due to the diuretic effects of
alcohol, the body loses many essential minerals and vitamins during a
heavy drinking session. Luckily, oats can provide you with many of these
nutrients, including B vitamins (good for the liver and mood) and
essential minerals magnesium, calcium and iron. On top of this, oats can
help neutralise acidity levels in the body, cleanse the liver, absorb
toxins and slowly raise blood sugar levels, making a bowl of porridge
the perfect hangover breakfast.
Hangover food 8: Fruit juice
If you're feeling a bit queasy
at the thought of food, then this is the cure for you. While it's great
to line your stomach with food if you can, to replace lost vitamins,
raise blood sugar levels and rehydrate your body, you can't do much
better than a glass of fresh juice. Not only is juice good for immediate
relief, the fructose will also help speed up the removal of alcohol
from your blood.
Hangover food 9: Sardines
If you're craving something
savoury, sardines on toast could be the perfect morning-after breakfast.
A major cause of hangovers is an imbalance of electrolytes, and
sardines are rich in many of these vital minerals, including sodium,
chloride, potassium, magnesium and calcium. In addition to this,
sardines are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for protecting
the liver as well as lifting the mood.
Hangover food 10: Coconut water
Many hangover sufferers swear by
sports drinks as a way to hydrate the body and help rebalance
electrolytes. However, sports drinks are often carbonated, which can
irritate the stomach, and packed with refined sugars. For a natural
alternative to sports drinks, try sipping on some coconut water, which
contains essential electrolytes (including calcium, potassium and
magnesium) to boost hydration, and is also soothing for the stomach.
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