Hungover on New Year’s Day? Try these 5 remedies to bounce back
There’s NOTHING worse than waking up after a fun night of drinking and feeling the absolute worst. Here are some of my favorite tips to help make that hangover disappear!
First, let’s break down what’s actually happening with a hangover…
Alcohol affects your pituitary gland, kidneys, and liver, which leads to symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, headaches, and more. While dehydration is often blamed, it’s just one factor at play.
When you drink, your pituitary gland produces less ADH (antidiuretic hormone), which decreases water retention and sends you running to the bathroom more often. As the alcohol wears off, ADH production increases, leading to fluid retention, a puffy face, swollen hands, and headaches as blood pressure rises.
Your kidneys also release more renin and aldosterone, which increase blood pressure and fluid retention. Hangovers also trigger cortisol production, raising blood sugar levels and stressing the pancreas and liver. High cortisol levels can cause muscle breakdown and redistribute fat to your belly.
When your body processes alcohol, it creates acetaldehyde and acetate, which produce thromboxanes that constrict blood vessels. This leads to symptoms like headaches, nausea, and even diarrhea.
Finally, the congeners in dark liquors (think whiskey, tequila, and brandy) increase free radicals and mess with your pH balance, worsening gastrointestinal issues, nausea, and chills.
1. The Morning-After Drink
This might not be the most delicious, but trust me, it works. It’s become my go-to for the past year:
• ½ tsp sea salt
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 tbsp blackstrap molasses
• 1 ½ cups water or coconut water
I know molasses might seem RANDOM, but its often considered a superfood due to its impressive mineral content and health benefits. Packed with iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, B6, copper, selenium, vitamin C, zinc, and chromium, molasses supports liver function and aids in detoxification.
2. Take a couple of activated charcoal capsules
Charcoal won’t absorb alcohol but it helps soak up toxins in the gut, so this can give your body a little detox boost.
3. Go for a nice long sunshine walk, sauna, and cold plunge
Do anything that gets you sweating. Bonus points if you can hit an infrared sauna for extra detox benefits. Follow it up with a cold plunge or shower. These three things reduce inflammation, improve circulation, boost endorphins, relieve headaches, fight fatigue, and promote detox. They work wonders.
4. Have a breakfast with eggs
Eggs are packed with choline, an essential nutrient that supports brain health and liver function—both of which are crucial for recovery after a night of drinking.
5. WATER, sleep, and more water
This is a given, but hydration is key. If you can’t get to the ‘morning after drink’, add sea salt to your water to replenish lost minerals. If you’re really hurting, get an IV for added hydration, and throw a little zofran in there too. Zofran is used to prevent nausea and it works WONDERS.
Give these tips a try next time you wake up feeling less than your best. Your body will thank you!