Sunday 15 December 2013

Hangover Cures! Just in time!!

 It’s no surprise that drinking takes a toll on your body.
Most of us have experienced this sluggish, head achy feeling or an intense bout of physical illness from a Holiday party, a night out on the town or a Spring break weekender- our bodies tell us when we’ve taken it one drink too far, and it’s a physical reaction to alcohol that we all call a hangover. Today I give you some natural cures!





Quinoa
Quinoa makes a great choice after a night of heavy imbibing because it’s rich in hangover-fighting minerals like protein and magnesium. Magnesium helps fight fatigue and loss of appetite, and also helps keep your heart healthy and nerve and muscle cells in good shape. Start the morning with Quinoa stuffing mix it into your eggs for a omelete or this Cornish game hen stuffed with Quinoa when fighting a hangover. 



Asparagus

When mom was mandating that you eat all of your vegetables, she was also giving you a little bit of drinking advice, unbeknownst to her.  Asparagus Buerre Blanc  or Asparagus fries are rich in amino acids and minerals that speed up the metabolism of alcohol and help protect your cells. The faster the toxins from alcohol exit your body the better you will feel, which is why asparagus — raw or cooked — is great to munch on the morning after a party. 



Tomatoes

Drinking can lead you to become vitamin-deficient because it impairs the body’s ability to absorb the vitamins you need. This Bacon, lettuce and tomato salad is high in vitamin C, B vitamins, and water. Tomatoes are great to eat when you're hungover because they’re hydrating and have a unique balance of vitamins that will replenish you after a night of drinking. 


Sauerkraut

Created through the fermentation process, sauerkraut has many appealing qualities for a hangover because it’s easy on the stomach and rich in probiotics that help protect the stomach. Along with its nausea-fighting qualities, sauerkraut is rich in vitamin C, electrolytes, sodium, and other enzymes that are lost during a long night of drinking. Along with having lots of sauerkraut in it, this Polish dish Bigos has sauerkraut and apples which is so comforting, making it a good choice for your hangover hunger. 


Chicken Soup

Soup in general is a great redeeming food for a hangover because it’s hydrating, restores your sodium levels, and is versatile enough to allow you to add things like vegetables and chicken to it. Vegetables contain phytonutrients and other micronutrients that help fight inflammation, a common side effect when drinking, and chicken contains cysteine, which, along with fighting headaches, helps support the liver after too much drinking. This Chicken Soup is sure to cure that hangover as well as a cold, according to my friend Richard!




Eggs
Craving an egg is something that comes naturally to us when we’re suffering from a hangover, which is good, because they’re a great choice. For starters, an egg's filling qualities are great for fighting nausea, and they also release a "feel-good" neurotransmitter called serotonin, so eating one automatically makes you happier. Along with the large amount of protein it supplies to help make your body strong, an egg is also rich in the amino acid cysteine, which helps break down a headache-causing chemical that's produced when the liver breaks down alcohol. That's why a bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwich sounds so delicious when you wake up with a hangover! Or make this Cheese tart, very quick and delicious!



Bananas
Two minerals that take a huge hit from drinking are magnesium and potassium, but fortunately for us, bananas are high in both of these things, so eating one the morning after a long night is a super hit to your body. Along with those two minerals, bananas are also high in fructose, a fruit sugar that will help restore your energy, so you’ll feel physically replenished and energetic. Bananas are also great for fighting nausea, and this Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie recipe is a drink that will accentuate a banana’s nausea-fighting qualities and has a booster of protein powder!

Apples 

Apples are a great choice for a hangover because they’re high in fructose, a fruit sugar that helps metabolize alcohol quickly, and have headache-fighting qualities. A Brown butter grilled cheese sandwich with sliced apples will help satiate your cravings and do away with some painful hangover symptoms.

 

 Prickly Pears 

Grown in the Southwest and California, prickly pears are a great fruit for fighting hangovers when eaten preventatively. There are studies that show by consuming prickly pear cactus extract before drinking, you can prevent key symptoms of a hangover like nausea, dry mouth, and loss of appetite, which probably makes a prickly pear margarita a good choice.


~Facts backed up from health expert Lori Shemek of DLS Healthworks.
~Please do not drink and drive, hire Uber, a cab, a driver or designate a driver!



3 comments:

  1. Great advice, tis the season, cheers
    ~ Steph

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    Replies
    1. I always wondered why I craved eggs when I had a drink too many!! Well, now we know!! Maybe a asparagus omelet! Thanks for commenting! Cheers! JJ

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    2. I agree, always a runny egg and a piece of toast!

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