Hangover Remedies

 
The only way to avoid a hangover, drink in moderation, or don't drink, But it's the Holidays!

It's been a long stressful year, or maybe we're just looking for Mr. or Miss. right. Smart money says, you're gonna tip a few over the next 12 day's of Christmas. Best advise, alternate your drinks with water or another nonalcoholic beverage, that can help you slow down and stay hydrated. Right, like that's gonna happen. So let's say for the sake of argument your 6-8 drinks into your celebration you've found Mr. or Miss. right now and your off to your castle. For some wine and wrestling lessons. In a taxi I can only hope. Assuming that you wind up with a hangover, you may be inclined to try one of the many supposedly tried-and-true remedies. However, traditional hangover remedies are often ineffective, and some of them may actually make you feel worse.

Hair of the Dog
This has always been my ace remedy. There is a reason Bloody Mary is the most popular vodka drink on the planet. Charles Cutler, MD, an internist in Norristown, Pa., and the chair of the American College of Physicians board of governors, claims a Virgin Mary is a much better choice the morning after. "The worst thing to do is to have another drink," says Cutler. The alcohol may temporarily help your symptoms but could hurt in the long run. Hangovers make you feel horrible because alcohol is toxic, and you need to give your body a chance to recover.

 Hangover pills
There are lots of hangover "cures" in a bottle. There are stacks of them at the register of any 7-11 or Circle K. Names like, Chaser, PreToxx, and RU 2 . There is very little, to no evidence to back up their claims. "Hangover pills that have been studied are not effective, or only help against a few complaints, or not all," says Joris C. Verster, PhD, an assistant professor of psychopharmacology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, who studies hangovers. A 2005 review article in the journal BMJ identified eight peer-reviewed, placebo-controlled studies of hangover remedies, and concluded that "no compelling evidence exists" to support their use. I suggest taking a multivitamin instead, to restore the nutrients your body has lost, from detox and excessive urination. Simple right?

Alka-Seltzer
Not one of my favorites, but I know many who swear by the little bubbles. All Alka-Seltzer varieties contain sodium bicarbonate also known as baking soda, which will help settle a queasy belly by neutralizing stomach acid. Still, other ingredients, notably aspirin and citric acid, may irritate your stomach after a night of heavy drinking.

Coffee 
If you drink coffee every morning, skipping Starbucks when you’re hung over may not be a good idea. Although it's acidic and might not sit well in your stomach, you may wind up layering a pounding caffeine withdrawal headache on top of your hangover woes when you miss your morning fix. That said, caffeine narrows your blood vessels and boosts blood pressure. Both of these may make the hangover worse. Go for the small skip the venti today.


 
Greasy Breakfast
There’s no scientific evidence that a heaping helping of bacon and eggs will ease hangover anguish, even though many people swear by it. Greasy food is just going to give you heartburn. After much trial and error I recommend sticking with easy-to-digest foods such as toast or cereal. "Eat light and stay hydrated" says John Brick, PhD, an alcohol research scientist and author of The Doctor’s Hangover Handbook. "No specific foods are recommended, although honey sandwiches are helpful to some people," Brick says.

Water and Sports Drinks
Replacing the fluid you've lost will likely help you feel a little less miserable. Juice, water, Gatorade, all those things they're going to make you feel better. Dehydration caused by heavy drinking is what makes you feel so sick the next day. My suggestion is don't throw a bunch of sugary drinks down the next day either. A little fresh squeezed juice or 10oz. of Gatorade goes a long way.

Take Pain Pelievers
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers can provide some relief. These include ibuprofen like Advil and similar drugs, naproxen like Aleve, or you can try over-the-counter remedies specifically aimed at PMS like Pamprin and Midol. These often combine some sort of pain reliever with caffeine.

In my opinion stay away from Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Vicodin, a popular, potent painkiller that contains a narcotic, and has either 500, 650, or 750 mg of acetaminophen, depending on the formulation. Your liver has had a rough night. The FDA says, taking more than the recommended amount can cause liver damage, ranging from abnormalities in liver function blood tests, to acute liver failure, and even death.

Exercise
A gentle workout could help you feel better, if you can manage it. That doesn't mean run out and pound out a hour long spin class or run 6 miles. You're dehydrated and probally undernourished. Chill, if you got lucky have a little morning, or afternoon sex! That's a sensable workout. If you weren't lucky, try a little yoga or meditation. If you've been drinking heavily, what you really need is a little activity to get your blood moving and your joints lubed, and rest. Get a good regular workout in, the next day after you've healed up a bit.

Sauna or Steam
If you think you can "sweat out" the alcohol and other toxins you may have consumed during a night of partying, Wrong. A sauna can cause potentially dangerous blood vessel and blood flow changes in your body. "The last thing you need is to disrupt the normal blood-flow patterns by extreme heat,"says Dr. Cutler chair of the American College of Physicians board of governors,  he says, "Excessive sweating can be harmful, and even deadly." Researchers from the Finnish State Alcohol Company's Research Laboratories, in Helsinki, also warn that sauna bathing while hung over carries "real health risks," including dangerous drops in blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms.

Sleep
Face it you're not going to sleep well after a night of drinking. Alcohol will put you to sleep quickly, but when it begins to wear off several hours later, the withdrawal your body feels can disrupt sleep and jolt you awake. Although sleep deprivation won't by itself cause a hangover, it definitely can make the symptoms feel worse. So try not to over-do it when you have to work the next day. Cause we all know what that feels like! If you have the luxury of "sleeping it off" the next day, do so. Your foggy brain and achy body will thank you. Your body has an amazing capacity to heal on its own.

Conditon Power
Conditon Power is another hangover cure drink that has been around since the 90's but has been recently upgraded. For some time, the buzz word in the "well-being" Korea-sphere has been heotgae, the Oriental Raisin Tree. The fruit, leaves, and branches of the tree are known to have properties that decompose alcohol with the fruit being most effective. Condition Power is mostly made from its fruit essence with other medicinal botanicals such as milk vetch root and lotus seeds.

So, the real best way to deal with a hangover is to re-hydrate the body. Caffeine helps a little in small amounts, but it also possesses diuretic characteristics, and will also further dehydrate the body. Drink water in order to deal with the dehydration of body. Protein rich meals will also help in dealing with hangovers. Eat yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese or meat. Not fast food. Stay away from sugar foods like sweet rolls, juice, donuts etc. Let the proteins participate in fixing the blood sugar levels. Spiking and decreasing sugar levels in the body is a major reason for headaches and nausea during a hangover. Sadly we all have to pay the bill for our good times, just don't run your bill up too high it may take a couple of days recovery to settle your debt. In the end, the only real treatment for a hangover is time. Good Luck... 

                 Have A Great Weekend !!

Partridge in a Pear-Tini

Makes 2

2½ ounces freshly juiced pear
2 ounces vodka
1½ ounces freshly juiced kiwi
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 ounce Star Anise-Infused Simple Syrup
Ice

To a cocktail shaker add ice. Next add all other ingredients and shake. Garnish with a floating star anise and a thin slice of pear. Imbibe!

Star Anise-Infused Simple Syrup
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
5-6 star anise pods

Combine water, sugar and star anise pods in a medium saucepan. Boil until sugar has dissolved, stirring frequently. Let sit for at least one hour. Let cool, strain and store in refrigerator.
Courtesy of fashionablybombed.com









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