How to cure your festive hangover

Want to know how to cure your festive hangover? Listen up!

As the party season emerges, hangovers become a little more frequent. There are office parties, Christmas events, spontaneous nights out that see you dashing from desk to dance floor and, of course, New Year’s Eve. And while we all enjoy a glass, nothing’s worse than waking up the next morning feeling a little (a lot) worse for wear. So, we decided to talk to the experts to find out their top tips in curing the dreaded hangover. In summary: there’s hope. You can thank us later…

Try a gel

‘I recommend using an absorbent gel such as Enterosgel to cleanse alcohol from the gut. By taking just three or four teaspoons before eating or drinking, it can help increase your body’s resistance to the effects of alcohol and help prevent indigestion. Take two to three tablespoons afterward a drinking session to help you recover more quickly and avoid a hangover the next morning.’

– Julie Silver, qualified nutritional therapist

Eat porridge

‘The best thing to eat for a hangover is not (contrary to popular belief) a big fry-up. Instead, be kind to your already irritated stomach, and eat a nice steamy bowlful of porridge. Porridge has lots of essential nutrients like B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and iron. It also helps to neutralise stomach acid and boost your energy levels. Help it down with some raspberry or cranberry juice.’

– Dr Tatiana Lapa, Harley Street GP

Go to yoga
‘The movement from the likes of yoga and Pilates will help to increase blood flow to all parts of your body, but to your liver most importantly. The more blood that passes through, the quicker your liver is able to detoxify the alcohol. Sweating will also help to eliminate the toxins through your skin, but be aware that perspiring can make the problem of dehydration worse, so ensure that you drink plenty of water at the same time.’

– Shona Wilkinson, qualified nutritionist

Have something – and not more alcohol!
‘Eat something. Bananas and kiwis are a good source of potassium, a mineral you lose when you drink because of the diuretic effect of alcohol. A good meal not only helps to soak up the alcohol, it tops up the salt and minerals your body loses while drinking. If you really need it, take a painkiller and an antacid to settle your stomach. Avoid ‘hair of the dog’ at all costs, this is a myth and only delays your hangover.’
– Professor Paul Wallace, chief medical adviser to alcohol education charity Drinkaware

Replace lost sugars
‘Apart from dehydration, which is that major trigger for a hangover the morning after, a low blood-sugar level can also make matters worse and cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and poor coordination. An oral rehydration drink is good to take before bed to help raise blood-sugar levels back to normal and help replace lost fluids, salts and minerals, which the alcohol removes from the body.’
– Dr Roger Henderson, senior partner GP and media medic

Embrace good bacteria
‘Alcohol can cause inflammation in the stomach, which creates a delay in your body emptying the stomach’s contents. Take two live bacteria probiotic capsules and a digestive enzyme tablet before your ‘recovery’ breakfast to help support digestion and replenish the levels of ‘friendly’ bacteria in your gut, which will have been depleted by excess alcohol.’
– Linda Booth, digestive health and gut disorder specialist at justfortummies.co.uk

Take milk thistle

‘While it has a contentious history, milk thistle is one of the richest natural sources of the antioxidant glutathione and has been shown to help repair the liver regardless of the cause. It is worth noting that if you have not previously taken milk thistle it might induce a rapid detoxification response, which, while speeding up the detoxification of alcohol and other substances, could paradoxically leave you feeling worse before you feel better.’
– Peter Cox, clinical nutritionist at omniya.co.uk