Preventions & Cures For That NYE Hangover

It’s the run up to New Year’s, you’ve gone slightly overboard and have (deservingly) had one too many mulled wines. You’re now faced with the inevitable festive hangover, but luckily we’ve looked long and hard for easy methods to get you feeling better faster than you can say one for the road.

So, the facts about hangovers:

·         Alcohol is a diuretic. So each drink not only dehydrates you, but along with the loss of water, you lose availability of the water soluble vitamins. That means that you suddenly end up short of, among others, vitamin B complex and vitamin C.

 ·         Particularly the Vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), folic acid, B6 and B12, help combat hangovers symptoms. Vitamin B12, plays an important role in the functioning of the brain and nervous system. Secondly, alcohol is a toxin and can directly impact on body tissues particularly the nervous system. This is at least in part through oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Neutralising these with glutathione, antioxidants such as Vit C and zinc, alpha lipoic acid and others will theoretically help reduce the damage.

 ·         Your nervous system and cell walls are very reliant on building blocks of proteins and special fats known as phospholipids. Supplementation with these may also help reduce the sensations of a hangover and perhaps the damage.

To ring in 2017 with style, Nosh Detox is offering customers a special treat in the form of its Nosh Detox’s Best Hangover Cure Infusion-Detox. Originally priced at £147, Nosh Detox’s Best Hangover Cure Infusion-Detox is now available at Nosh Detox’s infusion clinic at Harvey Nichols Beauty Lounge ((Harvey Nichols – Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RJ) at the special price of £118. It includes: Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Sodium, Potassium and Magnesium.

We’ve worked with Nosh Detox founder Geeta Sidhu-Robb to put together some additional top tips to help cure your New Year hangover, and maybe even prevent it altogether!

1. Never drink on an empty stomach: Drinking on an empty stomach can lead to the rate of alcohol absorption being as equivalent to receiving it intravenously. Protein rich foods are the safest option as they take longer to digest, which then slows down how fast your blood alcohol level increases.
2. Avoid drinks with congeners: Drinks containing congeners increase the intensity of hangovers and common spirits with include the deadly ingredient are Tequila and Whiskey. Colourless spirits are low in congener, and typically leave a less severe hangover so bring on the vodka tonics!
3. Avoid Champagne! Bad news. It is scientifically proven that the bubbles in Champagne actually accelerate the absorption of alcohol, hence the saying ‘the bubbles have gone to my head’. Consuming bubbly alcoholic drinks will result in you getting more drunk more quickly which then leads to terrible hangovers.
4. Avoid more alcohol: The oldest myth in the book! Avoid drinking more alcohol as this will only prolong the inevitable and is more likely to make your hangover worse. Although the booze may provide a temporary numbing effect its best to avoid it completely and cut the risk of alcohol dependency.
5. Ditch diet mixers: Avoid the diet drink myth! Diet mixers such as diet lemonade and diet coke contain no calories or sugar, which leads to alcohol entering directly into the bloodstream. Juices are a better alternative as they are not carbonated and decrease the speed of alcohol absorption, meaning you can celebrate more during the festive period.

We all know sometimes even with the best intentions it’s hard to avoid a hangover altogether, so what should we do if we wake up on January 1st with a thumping head and mouth as dry as a desert? Well….

1. Hydrate: Dehydration is the main cause of a hangover, so drinking a large glass of water before you go to sleep and once you’ve woken up will have you feeling better in the morning.A rehydration sachet is essential as it will also help you replace lost electrolytes as well as rehydrate you.
2. Take vitamins: Just as it is wise to take vitamin supplements before a night of drinking, you should also take supplements the day after. This will help replenish any vitamins that were used during the metabolism of alcohol the night before.
3. Have a protein breakfast: Whether scrambled, poached or fried; eggs are full of amino acids which boost liver function and help breakdown acetaldehyde which is the headache causing chemical that is left over after the liver breaks down ethanol. Proof that the Full English really is the ultimate hangover cure!
4. Avoid caffeine: You may be desperate for a caffeine boost but do not make the mistake of overloading your body with it. Too much caffeine will irritate your hydration levels and leave you feeling worse for wear. Be sure to drink just as much water in order to balance out your water levels.
5. Ginger and peppermint tea: Studies show that peppermint tea is an effective cure of morning sickness with pregnant women and may be the trick when it comes to ridding yourself of stomach pains and nausea. Ginger can also cure queasiness. Best consumed with hot water to rid yourself of that hangover.

• To find out more about Nosh Detox’s Best Hangover Cure Infusion-Detox Click here