We've all been there. You just couldn't resist that one (or four) delicious looking apple-tinis? Here are some tips that may make your morning a little brighter.
Hair of the Dog
What about the “hair of the dog that bit you” – drinking more of the previous night’s poison? Some claim this popular antidote is a sure-fire way to feel better. But others say it only delays the inevitable and will make you feel worse, no matter how much better you feel in the short term. If starting the morning with a drink triggers a gag reflex, try a Virgin Mary. The tomato juice in this vodka-free Bloody Mary is high in fructose, which will help your body metabolize the alcohol in last night’s cocktails more efficiently.
Have Sex
With your beer goggles gone, he might not look as hot as he did last night. However, the best help for your hangover could be lying right next to you. Sex releases endorphins, which reduce hangover symptoms. Plus you’ll burn off a few of last night’s liquid calories. Skeptical? Try it anyway!
Sweat It Out
If your body can handle it, drag yourself out of bed, lace up your sneakers and go for a run (or walk). Exercise increases circulation and ushers those toxins out of your body. But don’t push yourself too hard. Strenuous exercise is apt to dehydrate you further and make you feel worse. However, a brief, brisk walk can get your blood going and speed the removal of toxic wastes from cells and tissues. You’ll probably feel more like lying on the couch all day, but you’ll be stuck there a long time if you don’t try to get moving.
Take Your Vitamins
Alcohol reacts chemically in your body to deplete your stores of vitamins A, B (especially B6) and C, which can intensify hangover symptoms. Look to B vitamins (especially B6) to help your body metabolize and get rid of alcohol that’s hanging around and causing problems. Prickly pear extract, found at health-supplement stores, may relieve dry mouth and nausea by reducing inflammation caused by cogeners (impurities found in low-quality alcohol).
Painkillers, Please!
You’ll be tempted to pop pills to ease the pain, but be careful what you take. Avoid acetaminophen, found in over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol. When taken with alcohol or to nurse a hangover, it can cause liver damage. Ibuprofen doesn’t mix well with alcohol either. It can cause stomach irritation and bleeding, especially when you continually use it to treat hangovers or take more than the recommended dosage. So, what can you take? Try aspirin for your headache, but only if you’re not too queasy!
When describing the perfect day, images of sparkling blue surf and soft white sand come to mind. And there’s no better way to enjoy both than lounging around sipping a cool, sweet, and refreshing cocktail. Shaken or stirred, these amazing cocktails are heavenly cool—perfect for gatherings no matter how intimate.
