This year BYOB has a new meaning: To help you and your digestive system survive holiday season overindulgence

For most of us the holidays mean throwing caution to the wind when it comes to our diets; after all, ‘tis the season to eat drink and be merry’! But what happens when merry turns into weary due to a wretched hangover even if you didn’t even overdo the booze.

Most people associate hangovers solely with alcohol, but the more common form of overindulgence actually has to do with food: eating too much fatty, fried, salty, spicy, sugary or starchy food, or simply overstuffing yourself, can wreak havoc on your digestive system. Symptoms may include: bloating, sluggishness, abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea or gas, topped off by an overwhelming feeling of regret.

While your first instinct may be to reach for quick fix over the counter remedies, these drugs may have side effects and most cannot be taken long term. However, there are natural alternatives to help ease the onset of symptoms and even prevent hangovers from food or alcohol.

The healing power of 4 herbs in 1
Bold-o-cynara helps to:
Flush it out with lots of water
Walk it off
Cut back for a few days
Get back on track with a healthy breakfast
References

The healing power of 4 herbs in 1

A.Vogel’s Digestive Aid Complex – Boldocynara is a clinically proven natural remedy that combines fresh ingredients from four of the most powerful and renowned herbs used to prevent and treat digestive upsets; Artichoke, Milk Thistle, Boldocynara and Dandelion.

Bold-o-cynara helps to:

Facilitate the digestion of fats
Improve overall digestion by increasing bile secretion
Help the gradual regeneration of the liver with milk thistle
Reduce symptoms linked to overindulgence of food and/or drinks
Support the elimination of toxins

Overdid it? Two before bed is all you need to ensure a better tomorrow.

Flush it out with lots of water

Considering over half of our body is composed of water, H₂O is our literal lifeblood. Therefore, it’s no surprise that it’s the #1 recommendation to treat the most miserable of hangover symptoms, whether it’s alcohol-induced or after a heavy night of consuming too much salt, fat and sugar.

Even though you may wake up craving an extra-large cup of Joe, try to stay away from caffeine as it can dehydrate you further. Instead, opt for a large warm glass of water with lemon. This will act as a liver tonic, restore your alkalinity and kick-start your metabolism, which in turn will help you digest fat and boosts your energy levels. Continue to flush out toxins throughout the day with at least 10 glasses of water.

Walk it off

While you might feel like sinking into the couch and surrendering to your hangover until it passes, getting your blood flowing, muscles engaged and breathing in some fresh air can do wonders; plus it helps burn a few of those extra calories from the night before.

Try walking at a good pace for 15 minutes after a meal to get your digestion going and reduce bloating and feelings of fatigue or heaviness that often follow meals.

Gentle yoga postures can also help. For step-step examples of yoga stretches, download our comprehensive Natural Health Digestion Guide (Pages 21-25 provide step-step examples)

Cut back for a few days

If you’ve had too much to eat or drink for the past week, or two, or six, try reining it in for a few days. Don’t starve yourself -- that’s definitely not the answer, but do try to get back to a regular eating routine with healthy, balanced and portion smart meals based on your daily required caloric intake. Your body and waistline will thank you.

Get back on track with a healthy breakfast

While your body might be fighting the idea of food with every fiber of its being, you need the nutrients to jump start your likely sluggish metabolism. Be sure to start off light though to avoid a relapse. Here are some of my top picks:

Berries, Greek yogurt and a touch of raw honey

Yogurt contains beneficial lactobacillus bacteria that can help keep you regular and also help reduce gut inflammation triggered by sugary foods and alcohol. Berries and raw honey are superfoods filled with antioxidants, which can help prevent cell damage and headaches induced by too much junk.

Egg white and veggie omelet

Egg whites are packed with protein and contain the amino acid cysteine, which helps to breakdown toxins and facilitate their elimination through urine. Meanwhile, fiber-rich veggies like spinach and tomatoes will help you beat the bloat and enhance the functioning of your digestive system. Skip the cheese and side of bacon though. If you want to add fat to your breakfast, opt for an avocado; they are the best food when it comes to repairing a tired or damaged liver.

Power up with potassium

If you really overdid it on alcohol or salty foods the night before then your body is definitely in dehydration mode, which has likely resulted in the loss of vital minerals like potassium. To restore your body’s balance and reduce the effects of bloating or fatigue, fuel your body with K rich foods such as bananas, coconut water or potatoes.