Your cart0
  • No products in the cart.

Subtotal: $0.00

View Cart Checkout

Caliber Fitness
Caliber Fitness
Personal Touch, Personal Training
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Personal Training
  • CORPORATE WELLNESS
  • Shop
    • Online Personal Training
    • Checkout
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • Supplements
  • Contact Us
Menu back  
 
December 24, 2015Alcohol, Hangover, Healthy LivingBy Michele Foley

No one ever wants to drink too much, but sometimes festivities happen. Keep this guide handy for preventing and dealing with the horrible hangover.

Preventing a Hangover

Know this: if you’re going to go out and toss back more than a few drinks, you’re going to pay the price; the body isn’t designed to binge on bad stuff and feel great the next day. But before you even get to the worst-case scenario, there are a few things that can help you prevent a hangover altogether – or at least make it a bit more manageable.

  • Don’t drink, or at least drink less: Instead of giving yourself unlimited access to the champagne bar, limit yourself to one or two cocktails. Drink slowly, and as a rule, don’t consume more than one drink per hour, which helps give the body time to metabolize the alcohol. Also, one drink does not mean a Long Island Tea. We’re talking a beer, a glass of wine, or roughly one ounce of hard liquor.
  • Drink water, and lots of it: Since alcohol dehydrates the body, begin and end your night of drinking with plenty of water, and for every alcoholic beverage you consume, match it with another glass of water. An easy trick is to alternate between a cocktail and a glass – or two! – of water while you are out for the night.
  • Don’t drink on an empty stomach: Having food in your stomach helps dilute the concentration of alcohol in your belly. Fill up on good-for-you foods with an emphasis on complex carbs.
  • Be choosy with what you drink: Whenever possible, stay away from sugary and carbonated drinks, since they speed up the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, and opt for choices that have a low alcohol content, like sake, soju, or low-cal vodka. Drink clear liquors over colored ones: darker alcohol like bourbon or red wine contain more congeners, a substance that help contribute to hangovers.

Too Late! What to Eat Once a Hangover Hits

If the old adage everything in moderation was tossed out the window, next-day food choices can be your saving grace. Even if a greasy breakfast sandwich is the only thing you’re craving, make sure to eat; food helps break down the alcohol in your system. Once you’ve eaten, ward off a headache with some OTC ibuprofen (avoid pain relievers containing acetaminophen, like Tylenol, because they may cause liver damage), and don’t skip that cup of coffee; aside from being a little pick-me-up, it’s been shown to help ward off a hangover-induced headache. If you had a few drinks too many and are suffering from specific symptoms, here’s which foods to reach for.

  • Dehydration: You need to hydrate. Your throat and mouth are dry due to dehydration, which is caused by the diuretic properties of alcohol. Dehydration also affects your muscles, making them feel weak. Drink plenty of water, and replace lost electrolytes with a low-sugar electrolyte-replacement drink or coconut water.
  • Upset stomach: Excessive alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach, causing nausea, digestive issues, or, in really bad cases, vomiting. Start with some Alka Seltzer, and eat bland and easily digested foods like bananas, saltine crackers, or broth.
  • Irritability and fatigue: Because the liver gets backed up trying to metabolize the alcohol, you might be experiencing low blood sugar, which can result in you feeling irritable and moody. While most any food can help spike up sugar levels in the body, in small studies, fructose has been shown to speed up the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol. Give yourself a tall glass of orange juice after a night of drinking, or press your hangover away with this fresh juice recipe.

The Best Exercise Remedies

Before you hit up that hour-long indoor cycling class, you may want to think twice. On its own, exercise is not an effective cure against a hangover, said Ruth C. Engs, RN, Ed.D., a professor at Indiana University who has done extensive research on the effects of drinking. While the endorphin rush can counteract the pain (albeit momentarily), the dehydration that comes along with an intense exercise session can worsen symptoms. Take into account how bad you’re feeling, and if you can’t bear to miss a workout, then opt for a light cardio session or restorative yoga class. But what your body probably needs right now is rest.

Alcohol does a number on sleep patterns; the pituitary gland becomes confused and releases the wrong amount of hormones that regulate sleep; the central nervous system also becomes overexcited, causing sensitivity to light, sound, and touch. All of the above means you do not get a good night of quality sleep. If your hangover is really bad, don’t feel guilty for taking the day off to relax and get some shut-eye.

Source: Pop Sugar

About the author

Michele Foley

Related posts
20 Perfect Picks For the Yoga-Lover in Your Life
November 17, 2017
Crush Your November Health and Fitness Goals With These Must-Have Products
November 17, 2017
50 of Our Favorite Smoothie Recipes
November 17, 2017
Here's What a Doctor Has to Say About All That Protein You're Eating
November 17, 2017
Healthy, Easy Lunches That Are Begging to Be Taken to Work
November 17, 2017
12 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes That Will Make You Forget Your Slow Cooker
November 17, 2017
Train With Us

Book Your Complimentary Training

What are the benefits of Caliber Fitness core strength training to the athlete? Greater efficiency of movement Improved body control and balance Increased power output from both the core musculature and peripheral muscles such as the shoulders, arms and legs Reduced risk of injury (the core muscles act as shock absorbers for jumps and rebounds etc.) Improved balance and stability Improved athletic performance!

CONTACT US

Charlotte, North Carolina

Call Now : (646) 867-5037

: (704) 325-9006

Email:
Jeff@caliberfit.com

TRAINING TIMES

MONDAY - FRIDAY

5:30AM - 7:30PM

SATURDAY - SUNDAY

7:00AM - 5:00PM

CORPORATE TRAINING
Please contact us for scheduling corporate training.
WE ARE ACTIVE ON
Facebook
Twitter
YOUTUBE
INSTAGRAM
Caliber Fitness