Christmas, New Year celebrations, and summer in general aren’t called the silly season for nothing.
We may be invited to multiple parties each week or be out all night for several consecutive nights if we’re on holiday or have visitors. Unfortunately – and especially if you haven’t let your hair down in a while – this means hangovers! The fatigue, nausea, headaches, and cognitive dysfunction they bring are always unwelcome, and can ruin even the most well-planned holiday season.
Here, we’ll look at ways to quickly relieve hangovers, including through support from SOUL IV.
1. Staying Hydrated
Dehydration can quickly sneak up on you during summer, amplifying hangover severity. It’s not just the heat and sweat, either. Alcohol reduces the effects of antidiuretic hormone, which is why you may find yourself urinating disproportionately more than what you’re actually drinking. This could contribute to an even higher relative increase in blood alcohol volume. Additionally, it reduces water availability for flushing out the metabolic wastes of alcohol detoxification.
When we say to stay hydrated, we mean to watch water and electrolyte intake. These essential mineral salts – sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium – help to regulate brain cell function and muscle contraction alongside general fluid balance in the body. Losing electrolytes can increase symptoms such as brain fog or headache, which is why SOUL IV preparations for hangovers include them in sufficient amounts.
2. Increasing B Vitamin Intake
B vitamins are absolutely essential for alcohol detoxification, neurotransmitter production, and the generation of cellular energy. As these are water soluble, they’re also easily lost with alcohol’s diuretic properties. Just two weeks of moderate alcohol consumption starts to deplete your stores of vitamin B12 and folate (B9) and raises levels of the inflammatory substance homocysteine.
One of the most important B vitamins is vitamin B3, made into NAD+, a key player in energy production and alcohol clearance. The main pathway of alcohol metabolism uses NAD+ for two of its three steps, but this may deplete it and cause fatigue. To resolve this, you can take a high-quality B complex supplement or include B vitamins or NAD+ in your SOUL IV formulation. We recommend a B vitamin infusion if your predominant hangover issues centre around fatigue and brain fog.
3. Boosting Your Antioxidant Status
Excessive alcohol consumption increases oxidative stress, and this may increase the severity of hangover symptoms. On the other hand, antioxidants are required to help remove alcohol from the body and reduce its toxicity. Both lab and human studies fortunately show that a number of antioxidants can speed up alcohol clearance, including ginger, thyme, mango, and Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng).
At SOUL IV, we use potent antioxidants in our infusions as needed. These include glutathione, the “master” antioxidant with poor bioavailability as an oral supplement. Research on high doses of cysteine, an amino acid that your body requires to make its own glutathione, shows that it can help to relieve hangover symptoms in combination with other antioxidants and at the right amounts.
4. Eat a Protein-Rich Breakfast
The stereotypical idea of bacon and eggs being “hangover food” is partly true. While they’re not necessarily the healthiest sources, they are protein-rich foods, and their amino acids can replenish vital antioxidants and neurotransmitters. These amino acids include cysteine, which we mentioned above, alongside the glutamine, tyrosine, and tryptophan used to make neurotransmitters that benefit mood and cognition. Protein is also required for everyday cell and tissue repair, including in your liver cells.
5. Pace Yourself
The “best” solution to hangovers is simply to drink less. Sticking to one standard drink every hour or two or alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks if you’ll be out all day and night can significantly reduce or even prevent hangover symptoms. Perhaps even better, this solution will help you remember the previous night and avoid embarrassing moments. The last thing you want is a gap where memories should have been made, or even worse, an injury.
There are many ways to enjoy your silly season without it becoming a blur or a week (or two) in bed. From simple lifestyle adjustments to a session with SOUL IV, the holidays can feel relatively stress-free.
Click here to contact us if you’d like more information about how we may help with your needs.
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To learn more about how vitamin infusions might help you, contact SOUL IV’s Customer Experience team at 1300 GO SOUL or click here.
References:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10836917/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8945215/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6274469/
- https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/55/6/660/5893464
- https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/44/2/128/184655
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Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only. Please consult a physician before beginning any therapy program or making any adjustments in your healthcare, diet, and/or lifestyle. Do not remove yourself from any prescribed medications or therapies without consulting your doctor. Any and all dietary supplements or nutritional products discussed on this website are not TGA-approved and are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. The information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied.
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