How to Bounce Back From Holiday Hangovers & Food Comas

Hiya Gorgeous,

Holidays, celebrations and long weekends with old pals can jack you up with joy. But, along with the laughs and memories can come lots of boozy, noshy indulgences. And as you well know, too much merry-making sends your body into a tailspin of mood swings, depression, dehydration, a weakened immune system and weight gain that’s difficult to bounce back from.

No one likes to feel like crap in the days following these shindigs, which is why I want to help you prepare, repair and recover.

Now, when I need a reset from carousing, you can probably guess that I turn to a green juice or smoothie (even before my coffee!). I also get creative because certain ingredients are especially helpful when we’ve over-indulged.

But as we explore how to feel better, let’s stay real. There’s no place for punishment or negative self-talk around here. Though I’m a cancer thriver and a “well-known wellness blogger”, I’m no purist—believe me. Life is full of detours—some more frisky than others. What’s most important is that you don’t beat yourself up. Instead, get right back on track and take care of yourself. Got it? So, let’s dive into the belly of the par-tay beast and figure out how to feel better.

Why the heck do you get hangovers and fall into food comas?

For starters, alcohol burns up vitamins, minerals and electrolytes—vitamin B1 (thiamin) taking the biggest hit. B1 is mainly responsible for mental alertness, converting your food into fuel and strengthening your ability to respond to stress. That’s why one too many dirty martinis lead to headaches, mental fog, low energy, depression and increased anxiety.

Plus, alcohol is a diuretic. So, drinking more than one drink per hour can dehydrate your body, making many of the issues I just mentioned even worse. One last fun fact: Did you know that one night of heavy drinking weakens key defenses in your immune system for a full 24 hours, making you more likely to catch a cold or a bug after a big night out? Double-whammy.

Heavier holiday foods are often rich in calories, low in fiber, low in energizing vitamins and minerals, high in sodium and take a great deal more energy to digest. All this can lead to weight gain, constipation and fatigue. Even when you’re trying to nourish your body and know all the reasons you should limit certain foods or drinks, it’s easy to get swept up in the spirit. Cheers!

But, don’t distress, dear wild one. You’ll be able to bounce back swiftly—read on.

How to Bounce Back From the Ho-Ho-Holiday Hangover!

If you suspect you might have a full night of partying ahead, consider taking a multivitamin. There are also certain enzymes that can help ease the damage of histamine-releasing foods and drinks—alcohol being a prime example.

Also, drink plenty of water during the day so you’re heading into the evening with a full tank. And, drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink and another before bed. Glug, glug.

If you still feel crummy when you wake up, rest and nourish your body. A headache can mean you’re short on electrolytes and fluids so try hydrating with coconut water and sipping green juices full of potassium-rich ingredients, like spinach, Swiss chard and celery.

If nausea sets in, avoid citrus fruits and other acidic foods and sip ginger tea or Crazy Sexy Juice’s Ginger Aid juice to help settle your stomach.

Ginger Aid (Crazy Sexy Juice)

Makes 2 Servings (16 to 20 Ounces)

• 1 1/2 cups spinach
• 1 large cucumber
• 2 stalks celery
• 1 large pear, cored and seeded
• 1-inch piece ginger, peeled

1. Wash and prep all ingredients.

2. Juice all ingredients.

The biggest myths and mistakes people make when trying to speed up hangover recovery include drinking more alcohol (hair of the dog, no more!) and indulging in greasy food (sorry folks, pass on the home fries). Both of these moves will prolong your hangover and may even make you feel worse by further dehydrating your body and gumming up your digestion. I’ll take the green drink, thankyouverymuch.

How to Regain Balance After too Much Food (aka the Food Coma)

Since it takes your brain around eight minutes to feel full after you’ve eaten, it’s easy to go overboard. And once you feel full, you REALLY feel full. Now, what? Unbutton your skinny jeans? Well, that helps but so does more hydration. Sip some H2O (ginger or peppermint tea are great, too!) after to settle your stomach.

Popping a probiotic and a digestive enzyme can help, too—although they’re generally more effective if taken before meals. A post-meal walk around the block wouldn’t hurt either. And while a bloated belly can make you sleepy, waiting a few hours before dozing off will help with the middle-of-the-night heartburn.

Clean up your act, rock star…

The day after a big meal is a purrrfect time to go easy on your digestion, especially since it’s probably still working on last night’s delectable debauchery. Need a little guidance? The 3-day cleanse in Crazy Sexy Juice will get you back on track in no time.

Regardless of whether you’ve had one too many nogs or latkes, the sooner you get in the groove with these healthy habits, the sooner you’ll feel like the fabulous person you are.

Peace & libation cleanup,