At last - lockdown is lifting... well, if that isn’t a cause for the greatest party since 1999, we don’t know what is!
Here at Edible Health, we are committed to helping you on your wellness journey. Typically, that might involve taking a healthy, more moderated approach to things - everything in balance. However, now and again, you just have to let your hair down big time, right? And we see coming out of lockdown as an epic reason to celebrate.
So, we’re party planning.
But, of course, there’s a catch. When the party’s over, we might be feeling a little, well, ropey the next day. Perhaps just a bit worse for wear? So we’ve reached into the furthest recesses of our minds to remember those days when socialising was an active verb rather than a longing. And we’ve pulled out some classic hangover cures and antidotes to, well, keep the party going into the next day! From possible hangover cure pills to hydration in unexpected ways, we’ve got you covered.
So, whilst you sit down to curate your cocktail list, here are some ideas to have back-of-mind for The Morning After the Night Before!
1/ Activated Charcoal tablets hangover cure
Charcoal for a hangover? Yes, indeed, this is an extremely popular approach to avoiding a hangover. So, what’s the theory? The process of activating charcoal by heating it to very high temperatures in a very special way creates a vast surface area of ‘pores’ that can bind and trap substances. As a result, activated charcoal is often the go-to tool in a party planning arsenal.
Visit our blog for everything to know about activated charcoal
Try taking four capsules at the start of your evening with a pint of water, then again at the end of your night and then once again in the morning (if that’s going to prove tricky, then just do this at the end of the night and in the morning). This should help you reap the rewards as those boozy toxins stick to the charcoal and not to your liver! Then, an hour after the morning serve, boost your recovery with our hangover cure smoothie below.
2/ Coldwater swim or ice bath
As one member of our team puts it, this is a sure-fire way to “get the devil out”, although we don’t recommend it on a headache if you’ve never done it before…! Remember to build in baby steps towards this kind of cold-shock immersion. The benefits of cold water immersions are vast, not least of all an opportunity to refresh and revive a tired body and mind.
Failing that, whilst showering the cobwebs away, you could always try a less extreme, at-home version….. Direct the shower water down to your feet whilst slowly switching the temperature from hot to cool and then cold. Once your feet have acclimatised, gradually bring the water up to your legs, then your lower body, then your upper body, then onto your arms and then finally onto your shoulders, face and head. Stay under this cold water for as long as possible, moving it back up and down your body, for at least two minutes ideally.
3/ Keep up the fluids
The non-alcoholic kind, obviously! Dehydration causes so many symptoms associated with a hangover. Try to lessen the blow by matching every alcoholic drink with one or two good-sized glasses of water.
4/ Listen to an old wive’s tale
It turns out folklore might be onto something when it comes to lessening the blow of a hangover. Inspired by an old Chinese belief, one study combining ginger with brown sugar and tangerine extract improved several hangover symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
5/ Hangover Hail Mary’s
Hair of the dog, without the hair?! Have you ever wondered about the origin of this odd saying? Apparently, “hair of the dog that bit you” comes from an old belief that to cure someone of a rabies-infected dog bite, you can save them by serving up a drink containing said dog’s hair. We, however, prefer a more modern-day approach…
We love to mix Edible Health Collagen into our Hail Mary’s - it gives us not just a great dose of fresh, vitamin C-rich tomatoes but also pure 100% natural collagen protein. It is the perfect way to boost the body after some overindulgence and is a much more palatable hangover solution than drinking dogs’ hairs!
6/ The raw food hangover antidote
Our Edible Health co-founder is a big fan of this all-natural first-aid response. The smoothie part tastes so good; why wait for a hangover?
Before your smoothie
Take a pint of water (ideally with the freshly squeezed juice of a whole lemon) plus four Edible Health activated charcoal capsules 45-60 minutes before enjoying the below smoothie:
Ingredients:
- 1 x banana
- 1 x raw organic egg (omit if vegan)
- 1 x whole peeled orange
- Half an avocado
- Handful of spinach
- Handful of blueberries
- A half handful of oats
- Coconut water
- Dash of honey (use agave or coconut nectar if vegan, or two-three pitted dates)
Method:
Grind up oats first in a blender, then add everything else and blend - enough to mix but not too much to cause the egg to foam. (Worst case scenario: oat milk can substitute the oats and water, or non-dairy milk can replace the coconut water.)
Alternatively, make some porridge by adding everything into a saucepan and stirring on a gentle heat, but adding the spinach right at the end (be sure to chop the spinach finely so that it stirs in evenly). If you don’t have coconut water, add some (pre-made) green tea, water or nut milk (don’t use dairy as it upsets tummy more).
If your head thinks this is too much ambition too soon after partying, then just grab a couple of teaspoons of spirulina and add to (ideally fresh) coconut water, mixing well. This can be a lifesaver! Or play it smart, pre-plan and pre-make the smoothie, so it’s ready in your fridge to hit that hangover!
6/ Creative carbohydrates
Alcohol lowers your blood sugar levels, which is why so many of us suffer from a severe case of the Next Day Munchies and crave some calories. If you’re going to order a full British Breakfast, go ahead, but consider some healthier and equally filling alternatives like okonomiyaki, a traditional nutrient-rich Japanese omelette that you can serve with Worcestershire Sauce and mayonnaise. Or, try eating some sort of slow-release carbs before retiring for the night. A couple of mouthfuls of pre-made reheated porridge with collagen is a quick and easy nightcap that will help to cap those “morning after the night before” vibes!
Is your tried and tested hangover cure missing from this list? If so, we’d love to hear about it, so contact us! Otherwise, we wish you the merriest, most fantastic celebration out of lockdown.
Cheers to good health and no hangovers!
Post edit:
Milkthistle and hangovers
Thanks for the tip from Edible Health family member Tanya, who writes in:
"I swear by milk thistle at the end of the night when I've had a drink. I often go for a soluble one. And a glass of water before bed is a good one, too!"
Thanks, Tanya. We are adding this to our arsenal. We hope you're looking forward to lockdown lifting!
The information we have provided herewith and all linked materials are not intended, nor should they be construed as medical advice. Moreover, the information herewith should not be used as a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions and consult your General Practitioner for advice specific for you.
