There’s nothing worse than waking up after a big night out popping the cork, with a thumping headache, a dodgy stomach and a craving for all the wrong types of food.
Alcohol can play havoc with our body – even one big night out can suppress our immune system, upset digestion and leave us feeling pretty ordinary the next day.
Alimentary’s Alison Wright says forget ‘the hair of the dog’, greasy fry-ups and fast food to ease your pain; the best thing to focus on the morning after the night before, is rehydrating and replenishing your body with easily digestible food and drink, packed with the vitamins and minerals which are depleted by alcohol.
Alcohol is a diuretic - this means fluids are removed from the blood at an increased rate - leading to dehydration and a high excretion of certain electrolytes and minerals, particularly magnesium.
It’s not surprising that depleted stores of this vital mineral are a major contributing factor to a hangover, as magnesium is involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body, including nerve and muscle function, energy creation and balancing blood sugar.
Try these food options to banish the pain and make you feel great again:
Coconut and bananas: the potassium will ease nausea and tiredness.
Ginger or peppermint tea: a cup of either will help reduce gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and speed up detoxification.
Tomato juice: tomatoes contain glutathione and vitamin C, which help your liver to remove toxins.
Beans on wholemeal toast: this dish contains complex carbohydrate, magnesium and protein to help your body repair.
Fresh fruit and vegetables: as always, they are packed full of antioxidants and phytonutrients to get up and about.
Poached, or scrambled eggs: these are easily digestible and contain essential amino acids to assist with detoxification.
Water, water, water: add some fresh limes and mint for extra nutrients and taste.
Sleep: a restorative nap can be a good bet to help your body recover.
Nuts, seeds, nut butters and beans: these foods are high in magnesium, which will help with headaches, tiredness and anxiety.
Try Ali’s Morning after the night before smoothie to get you back on track, if nothing else will! Packed full of antioxidants and powerful nutrients to balance blood sugar and reduce inflammation, it will rehydrate, soothe your aching head and ease your pain – until next time!
