The Loop Guide to Clubbing, Drinking, plus West Essex and East London living.

Christmas is the time for over indulging. As well as popping too many Cadbury’s Roses in our mouths, drinking alcohol is all part and glassed wrapped parcel of the season’s festivities.

Having a few cheeky glasses of wine is fine, however what happens when a few glasses turns into a few too many! The mother of all hangovers is waiting for you. After stumbling home (if you can remember?!) and passing out. You wake up with a fur coated tongue, gasping for a drink, you are struggling to remember last night and because the vice like grip that has taken hold of your head is more than you can bear, you lay slumped in your pit all day. If like me sickness plays a big part in your hangover then you really do need to act fast as soon as you wake up, if not the symptoms can last all day. These tips from the former “hangover queen” really do work! Help is on hand…

Before a big night out, be savvy, be prepared!

Eat

For years, I was always of the thought, ooh I can’t eat a big meal before a night out, my stomach will look too big. Try a simple tuna sandwich on wholemeal bread and a glass of milk, half an hour before you start drinking. The complex carbs in the bread provide steady energy, tuna contains protein and the liver booster taurine to stabilize energy levels and the fat in the milk is perfect for a stomach liner.

Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle is one of the most effective herbs known for relieving liver disorders. Many herbalists and medical practitioners believe that Milk Thistle can protect the liver from damage caused by alcohol, chemicals, drugs, diseases, and toxic plants. Milk Thistle contains a chemical substance, silymarin, which is purported to protect liver cells in the following ways: Silymarin has anti-inflammatory effects, which keeps the liver cells from swelling in response to injury (i.e. over indulging). Silymarin seems to encourage liver cell growth. By changing the outside layer of liver cells, it also prevents certain toxins from getting into liver cells. Available at Holland and Barrett, Loughton & Epping.

Pace Yourself

Easily said than done, but you will be chuffed with yourself on the way home on the train (or “vomit commit” a friend recently called it!). Every other drink, have a lemonade or sparking water, make sure you order it when it’s your turn to go to the bar and no one will know!

When you get home… if you can manage it!

Water

One of the best preventive measures is to drink 2-3 large glasses of water before you go to bed. Drinking alcohol is very dehydrating and hydrating your system helps counteract
the effects of the alcohol.

Sports Drinks

High in electrolytes, will help replenish what the kidneys have excreted during drinking. Take before bedtime.

It’s too late now - the hangover is here!!

When you wake up, jump straight into a cold shower, harsh, but it will get the blood rushing around your body again. Once dressed, step outside into the garden and take in some fresh air.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

Available at Holland and Barrett, Loughton & Epping. NAC is known for its mucolytic (mucous breaking) and antiinflammatory effects. NAC acts as a potent antioxidant (free radical quencher). When used for its approved indications, NAC is considered non-toxic. Inflammation of the mouth, nausea, vomiting and fever have been reported infrequently.

Ginger Beer

Ginger helps settle your stomach and calms nausea

Virgin Bloody Mary

If the churning is past the point of no return, a Virgin Bloody Mary can still help. If you are throwing up, your body is low on potassium, calcium and sodium – all of these are found in tomato juice. It’s the lack of these minerals that leaves you feeling sick and exhausted.

Banana

These are easy for an unsettled stomach to digest and contain fructose, which helps speed the metabolism of alcohol.

Drinks contain the most toxins:

1. Brandy
2. Port
3. Red Wine
4. Rum
5. Whiskey
6. Lager
7. Bitter
8. White Wine
9. Gin
10. Vodka

Here’s to hangover free party season. Have fun, drink responsibly, be happy and always get into a licensed cab!