Alcohol: It makes conversation easier, but the next day can become challenging depending upon how much you have inevitably consumed. Hey, life's about experiences and making memories, and sometimes leads to negative physical symptoms but also psychological symptoms otherwise known as 'hangxiety' - with searches for ‘hangxiety remedy’ up by 88% recently.
The bad news is that there's no magic pill or mystery herb that can retroactively erase your consumption. The good news? We speak with wellness expert and founder of TRIP, Olivia Ferdi, where she lets us into her highly rated tips to rid your weekend of 'hangxiety' & how to unwind limiting a hangover the next day.
CBD
Some of the main benefits that CBD provides coincide with many of the symptoms produced by hangovers. Unpleasant side effects like trouble sleeping, nausea, heightened anxiety, headaches and sore muscles are common for hangovers, and are known ailments that CBD can help relieve.
CBD oil is a plant-powered way to help you unwind and relax, all you need to do is take a few drops under your tongue and hold for 1 minute before bed. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found in hemp plants but unlike its well-known counterpart THC, CBD won’t get you high.
CBD interacts with our body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS), a network of cells and receptors that helps the body achieve optimal balance. Our ECS plays a crucial role in regulating a number of functions including stress, anxiety and sleep. When your ECS is balanced, it can help you to feel relaxed and more you again.
Chamomile to Reduce Anxiety (or Hangxiety)
For some, hangover-induced anxiety, or hangxiety, can be as taxing emotionally as some of the physical symptoms of a hangover. If this doesn’t sound familiar, it might be because hangxiety affects us all differently.
Researchers have discovered that shy people have greater anxiety levels the day after drinking alcohol. Therefore chamomile tea can be used to soother and calm any emotionally overwhelming feelings brought on by drinking. Double bonus: Chamomile can help you sleep more soundly and relieve an upset stomach.
Electrolytes & Vitamins
As you drink, you lose important electrolytes and many hangover symptoms result from nutrient deficiencies, particularly potassium and salt, but also chloride, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, phosphate, and sulfate. Vitamin B is particularly affected by alcohol use, according to a study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which is why if you restore energy with vitamin B and protect immunity with vitamin C, you can cover many bases when it comes to a safe hangover recovery.
The morning after a night out, consider taking the appropriate supplements and chase it down with this, (or a similar) tasty drink, to not only rehydrate, but also replenish electrolytes and nutrients you lost while drinking.
You’ll need to mix together:
1/2 Cup pineapple juice, preferably fresh
1/4 Cup fresh lemon juice
2 Cups coconut water
2 Tbsp organic raw honey
1/2 Tsp grated fresh ginger or ginger powder
Sprinkle of Celtic salt
One of the most effective natural ways to prevent that nasty drinking migraine is to take magnesium as you begin drinking. Combine your magnesium with zinc, an essential mineral for liver health that also aids your body in absorbing other essential nutrients, for a natural and effective hangover cure.
You could also try taking ZBiotics before you start drinking alcohol. Alcohol produces acetaldehyde, a byproduct that wreaks havoc on your next day, but ZBiotics claim to be the first and only product engineered to break down acetaldehyde. Their mission is to produce products that improve ever6day living in ways people can experience for themselves. So you can confidently enjoy drinking, because ZBiotics was invented with science — not just supplements.
Research has shown that Red Ginseng also helps your body metabolise alcohol more quickly, making for a less severe hangover, and helps soothe upset stomachs.
Milk Thistle is a potent natural liver cleanser, protector, and detoxifier, whilst Turmeric is known as a super-spice due to reducing the production of acetaldehyde (the primary hangover-causing toxin), increasing serotonin levels, and is an anti-inflammatory that can help prevent gastro-intestinal issues caused by drinking.
Drip Hydration
If you’re someone who suffers badly from hangovers, there’s a good chance you’ve been trying and testing all different methods to reduce some of the discomfort, which is why a quick and effective IV drip is probably the most legit way to combat a hangover, by restoring nutrients and cleansing your system. After all, "what do you get in the hospital when severely dehydrated? An IV“.
IVs deliver vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream and counteract dehydration and its effects more quickly than other methods, therefore an IV can significantly decrease hangover symptoms and how long your hangover lasts, but those fancy med-spa treatments aren't cheap.
Play Your Favourite Music
Studies have found that listening to music can help calm your nervous system and lower cortisol levels, both of which can help to reduce stress. Tuning into good music can also induce endorphins in our brain helping us to cope with symptoms of anxiety - not to mention, distract our mind from negative thoughts. It goes without saying, tune into upbeat songs, sounds of nature or instrumental music with an upbeat tempo particularly as you head into the office the next morning.
Fuel Your Body
Managing your physical needs can help calm your mental state, as the mind and body are intrinsically linked. Alcohol is dehydrating so it goes without saying, keep up your fluids throughout the night and the following day.
Avoid the high-fat and salty foods that are hard to digest and can make you feel even more dehydrated and sluggish. Instead, fuel your body with nutrients such as potassium (found in bananas) which helps restore all cells' normal functioning. At the same time, magnesium-rich foods (such as spinach) help muscle, metabolism and nervous system functions.
Food is wonderful, but many of us can empathise with a lack of appetite for food the morning after drinking, but eating is vital with alcohol consumption hitting your blood glucose levels hard. Cliché would dictate that you tuck into the greasiest full English available, but research warns against this – ditch the morning-after fried breakfast and tuck into something a little healthier.
Load up on vitamin C with fruits and vegetables like broccoli. Also reach for oranges, red bell peppers, kiwis, and strawberries. Bananas deliver potassium, an electrolyte you lose when you sweat or pee. So if you hit the dance floor super hard, the fruit may help! Avocado, eggs and salmon are a brekkie winner in order to replace missing vitamin B, C and D.
Any liquid can be helpful for hydration, but coconut water gets extra credit since, unlike water, it contains electrolytes. Replacing the sodium and potassium you lost last night helps your body perform cellular functions that bring you back to baseline.