The parties will be coming thick and fast but the dreaded hangovers don’t have to
Between work drinks, festive events, and trying to see all your friends and fam before Christmas, calendars at this time of year can get really stacked. Hangovers aren’t ever ideal but even less so when you’ve RVSPed to a million and one invites, so we’re all for anything that can help minimise sore heads and tired bodies.
If you’re the organised type, there are pear juices and pre-alcohol supplements that you can take before you start popping bottles. If you’re not that prepared, you can still try and stave off the worst of it by hydrating with electrolytes before you roll into bed. If you forget to do both of those things, fear not, there’s still hope for your hangover – just make sure you’ve got coconut water and pickles in your fridge.
Korean Pear Juice
Koreans have known about the nutritional benefits of Shingo pears for centuries, and now we’re finally learning about this powerhouse ingredient in the UK. PrePear, made with 100% Korean pear juice and sugar or additives, is packed with antioxidants that help metabolise alcohol faster, making your morning after less painful. You just grab a pouch and drink it 20 minutes before you start on the beers or the cocktails, and then it gets to work. If you prefer a canned version, there’s Nashi Pear Juice. Founded by sisters Taya and Lucy Jackson, the drink contains 100% Korean pears and nothing else in the ideal 250ml serving.
Supplements
There are a number of supplements on the market that promise to help save your hangovers. Myrkl, formulated with L-cysteine and vitamin B12, the supplement, which you take before you start drinking, contains a number of alcohol-targeting probiotics that can help break down booze quicker. If you forget to pop your supplements before you go out, you can take them just before you get into bed instead – Happy Tuesdays contains nutrients and antioxidants designed to soothe muscles, support liver function, and promote calm.
Electrolytes
Drinking plenty of water post-party is key but for proper recovery you need to replace lost electrolytes, so you’ll wanna supercharge your glass with a sachet. The Hydrate Blend from Innermost, packed with electrolytes, vitamins and minerals, is five times more hydrating than water alone, meaning it can improve focus and aid recovery – whether that’s from a gym sesh or a pub sesh. Hydrate+ combines essential electrolytes with Cognizin® citicoline, which helps restore mental clarity as well as rehydrating your body. If you’re feeling sluggish, Vidrate does a Boost range where its pink lemonade, guava and mixed berry electrolyte sachets have added caffeine to provide an energy lift. And if you’re on the go and don’t have time to mix up a sachet, Tenzing natural energy drinks contain vitamin C, caffeine and electrolytes, and are all low-calorie. You can even give the gift of electrolytes this festive season with the O.R.S x GÅVA Festive Hydration Bauble – as well as being a decoration for the tree, the ten electrolytes tablets inside will help fight any silly season hangovers.
IV Drips
If you need hangover help and fast, an IV drip could be the way to go. Doctor-driven wellness biz Effect Doctors specialises in IV drips, offering drips to support everything from sleep aid to hangover recovery, with bespoke vitamin and mineral combinations also available. The clinic also does IM Boosters, which are vitamins like energy-boosting vitamin B12 delivered via intramuscular injection administered by a doctor, that are done even quicker.
Coconut Water
If you want a hydration hit that’s totally natural, reach for the coconut water. Vita Coco contains no artificial ingredients and is full of naturally occurring electrolytes, and Rebel Kitchen’s raw coconut water is made from 100% young green coconuts, and actually turns pink over time thanks to the antioxidants and electrolytes inside. Drink straight from the bottle or carton, or blend the coconut water into a smoothie for even more goodness.
Functional Wellness Drinks
Mainly marketed as ways to help improve cognitive performance and boost your mood, functional wellness drinks can also help ease your hangovers. Re:Focus from Goodrays is infused with lion’s mane and magnesium (twice the amount compared to other similar drinks out there) to help reduce fatigue and support memory and focus, with electrolytes adding hydration. If you’re familiar with all the mushroom-infused drinks already, here’s a new ingredient to try – sea moss. It’s one of the most nutrient dense superfoods in the world and you can get it in OMOSS, which contains 50% organic sea moss in each drink, with the tropical flavour also containing lion’s mane (for brain function) and the pomegranate flavour containing ashwaghanda (to help with hangxiety).
Fermented Food
While the temptation would be to reach for something carby and beige following a big night out, food that’s fermented will do you much better than a Maccies. As Dr. Sarah Schenker, consultant dietitian and nutritionist at Vadasz Pickles & Ferments explains, “fermented foods are easy to digest and the probiotics produced during fermentation can help restore the balance of friendly bacteria in your gut, which can be disrupted by too much alcohol. Combined with drinking plenty of water, you should be feeling back to normal in no time.” So put down the chips and pick up the pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha.
Prepared to think outside of the box to help your hangover? You could always try listening to a hypnotherapy recording – yes really – before you head out as a way to curb your drinking. Prevention is better than cure after all….
