Five ways to get back on track after a boozy day
THE festive season is well and truly upon us. It’s that time of year when our calendar fills up with social gatherings, and it generally means lots of food and, let’s face it, plenty of alcohol.
While we have a lot of fun on the day, it often leaves us feeling sorry for ourselves the day after.
Nutritionist Shahna Sarpi from 28 by Sam Wood explains how to get your health back on track in five simple steps.
1. Hydrate
This one is so simple, but I can’t emphasise it enough.
Water is not only essential for our detoxification process, but it’s also a vital part of our energy cycle. This means that it will help flush out the alcohol, while also supporting our energy levels. It’s one of the easiest things we can do to reset our bodies, so don’t underestimate its power.
2. Get back to eating balanced meals
After a day (or a few days) of eating at social gatherings, it’s good to get back to eating nutritionally balanced meals made up of real foods.
The closer these foods are to their natural source, the better. This means they’re more likely to contain plenty of fibre for our gut health and the nutrients we need to support our body as it performs all of its functions.
A balanced meal should be made up of lots of vegies, a source of quality protein, some complex carbohydrates and a serve of healthy fats.
The more vegies you can get in, the more you’ll be helping yourself (and your gut) get back on track.
3. Don’t be tempted by ‘hangover food’
A greasy burger, hot chips, mac and cheese, two-minute noodles … these are the comfort foods we’re more likely to reach for after a big night. You can’t not enjoy these types of foods after a big night; just go for a real food version of it.
Why not roast some potatoes or sweet potato instead of deep-fried chips, or make yourself a nice plate of pasta, noodle stir fry or homemade burger?
Our body, and especially our gut, loves real foods. The less refined versions of these are often more delicious and we get more from them nutritionally.
4. Eat foods with plenty of B vitamins
B vitamins are really important for our detoxification, as well as being some of the most important cofactors in our energy cycle. By eating foods rich in B vitamins, you’ll be supporting your liver and boosting your energy levels.
You can find the various B vitamins in wholegrains, meat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils and leafy greens – all of which you’ll be eating when following a real food diet.
5. Move your body
While we may want to stay in bed or on the couch feeling sorry for ourselves, exercise is one of the best things you can do to reboot your system and feel immediate benefits – hello endorphins!
Working up a sweat through exercise will support the detoxification process and give us that rush of energy that comes with a good workout. Just make sure you know your limits and don’t push yourself too hard if you’re particularly worse for wear or especially dehydrated. A nice walk or yoga session can suffice.