Over indulgence in food or alcohol often leaves us feeling regretful and is not in alignment with vitality and thriving. That said, if you are doing to enjoy alcohol, be sure you have a few simple hacks to apply to minimise hangovers and give your body the reprieve of recovery if deserves.
Here are 5 simple tips to help you enjoy alcohol without harsh side effects.
Tip 1: Take vitamin C and MCT oil before each drink
Make sure you have a good quality vitamin C capsule and MCT Oil on hand. Take one vitamin C capsule and 1 teaspoon of high grade MCT oil, before consuming each drink. This will help to block the conversion of alcohol into aldehyde. Aldehyde is the metabolite that causes hangovers (and is also the cause to very fast aging and wrinkles!)
Tip 2: Be mindful of your drink selection
I am often asked “if I am going to drink alcohol, which alcohol is best?” The reality is that all alcohol causes dehydration as it is a diuretic. It also causes some level of inflammation in the system. But, the type of drink you choose can make a big difference in how you feel the next morning as some alcohols have a many more toxic by- products that result from the fermentation process, than others. Beer (sorry beer drinkers!) has the most toxins of any alcoholic beverage.
Try to select distilled spirits such as vodka, gin or whiskey. If you’re craving the late afternoon summer cocktail with some carbonation, why not try a tot of vodka or gin with some freshly squeezed lemon juice (great for our body’s alkalinity), some stevia (a lovely sweet ‘n sour tang!) and some carbonated water? Add ice and even a few springs of fresh mint for a delightful drink.
My colleague Dave Asprey at Bulletproof summarises the various types of alcohol on their toxicity scale.
Tip 3: One for me, one for water!
Because alcohol is a toxin to the body, it will try to eliminate the toxins. In order to do this, your body will be searching for water to dilute the toxins in so that they do not cause damage on the way out your system. This water will either come from your tissue (hence the dehydration when we don’t supplement with good ‘ol H2O) or from the water that we drink. So it is best to drink water to avoid cellular strain. I encourage you to drink 1 glass of water for every serving of alcohol you have. Don’t wait to glug all this water at the end of the evening. It is ideal to consume the water alongside your alcoholic drink or immediately after finishing your drink.
Tip 4: Activated charcoal
Consider taking 4 activated charcoal tablets after you have enjoyed your last drink. If however, your drink of choice is wine or beer, then take 1 tablet with each drink. Activated charcoal is a natural absorber of toxins and beer and wine have considerably more toxins from the fermentation process so this will help in giving your body the best opportunity for the excess alcohol to be absorbed.
Tip 4: Supplements
- B vitamins: Alcohol unfortunately depletes vitamin and mineral stores– but vitamin B is the most severely affected. Before you start drinking, be sure to take a good vitamin B complex supplement (look for one that has 3 to 4 grams of vitamin B1)
- Glutathione: Amongst other things, glutathione is the body’s king antioxidant that helps to support immunity and to detox the liver. It is important to consult your medical doctor to ensure that you are taking a very good quality glutathione supplement– one that uses a liposomal delivery system so that your body can absorb it. Take your glutathione just before going to bed if you have been drinking alcohol.
- Alpha lipoic acid: Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is another phenomenal antioxidant and actually assists the body to produce glutathione. Take ALA before you start drinking to support glutathione production.
- N-Acetyl Cysteine: N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is also a nutrient that is a precursor to glutathione. It helps with liver support to take NAC before you have your first drink as well as just before going to bed in the evening after you’ve consumed alcohol.
In summary
If you can only apply 2 of the above to your festivities, then I would recommend water water water and taking activated charcoal. If you’re able to follow all of these, be prepared to feel great the next morning!
Happy holidays!
