Happy Holidays to you all! As I flip on the radio each December, I hear a few songs that claim this <Winter> is “the most wonderful time of the year”. I agree that celebrating is extra special when the nights are long, days are short, and colder temps fill the air. These holiday traditions indeed make the transition from Winter to Spring easier. During the holidays, it can be easy to overindulge in food and libations. Alcohol and processed foods/sugar can be inflammatory to the body so it’s best to truly enjoy these in moderation. But, if you are indulging in a glass (or two) of your favorite spirits, I have given a few pointers to get you through the holidays (or any special occasion) feeling your best.

First let me tell you the scientific equation for that hangover you might experience. Hangovers = Dehydration + VItamin/Mineral/Nutrient Loss. The liver is an amazing organ in our body. It  tries to filter out the toxins from our blood as efficiently as possible, but when our liver is overworked and taxed from alcohol, it can have a harder time filtering and breaking down toxins in the body. This is typically where people start feeling the negative effects of alcohol.

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Here are pointers to help get you through before, during, and after a night of consuming alcohol:

1. Keep Hydrated:  Have a glass of water in between every alcoholic beverage consumed. This will give your liver more time to process and remove toxins.  Grab some coconut water (natural electrolyte booster without all the sugars and chemicals that most electrolyte sugar drinks contain), and drink this just before going to bed to help hydrate cells.
2. Eat a Meal with Healthy Fat: Fat can help slow down absorption of alcohol in the body. A meal cooked with coconut oil or olive oil, fatty fish, organic tree nuts (not peanuts), and avocados are some great ideas to help get good fats into your body.
3. Choose Alcohol Carefully: Choosing a liquor that is lighter in color and higher quality can be the best route to go when picking your drink. Alcohol has particles (called congeners if we want to get technical) that are impurities if not filtered out. Usually the high sugared alcohol or the alcohol with color contains a lot of these particles which overburdens the bodies ability to cleanse and increases overall inflammation in the body.
4. The Morning After: After a night indulging in alcohol, make an omelet with organic eggs. Eggs contain an amino acid called cysteine, which helps create antioxidants in the body and helps the liver function better. Eggs can also help stabilize blood sugar in the body, making you feel better overall.  For the vegan options: Use legumes, sunflower seeds, and whole grains like quinoa, teff or couscous to help replenish the cystine in the body.
5. For those stubborn hangovers: The dreadful lingering headaches that can be coupled with the winter seasonal illnesses, can be cured faster by taking supplements like a good quality B-Complex Multivitamin + Vitamin C. For the fastest recovery, get an IV “Revive Infusion” to quickly help you hydrate and receive powerful amounts of multiple B vitamins, Minerals and Vitamin C directly into your veins to nourish your cells. You can find IV infusions at Vive IV Therapy right here in Dubuque!

I hope everyone has an amazing Holiday Season! The Winter Solstice was celebrated and now the nights are turning shorter and the sun is hanging around longer. This could really be the most wonderful time of the year! Cheers to a happy and healthy 2019!