Despite this year seeming upside-down in many ways, the silly season is officially upon us. With restrictions relaxing in many states around Australia, there’s extra reason to celebrate. We know you don’t want to miss out on the festivities, but obviously you don’t want to impact your health! That’s why we have put together our top tips to party proof your body:

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

It goes without saying, if you’re planning on drinking alcohol & eating lots of (delicious) food, water is going to be your best friend. Lack of hydration can be a big cause of the dreaded hangover. To try and counter these effects, drink a glass of water in between every beverage. This just gives your body a little support a long the way, trust us, you will appreciate it.

Drinking enough water (around 2 litres a day) will also help keep your gut healthy and encourage healthy bowl motions to assist detoxification.

Protect your liver

Giving your liver some extra support is a smart move during the silly season. The liver is the main organ responsible for detoxification of toxins from diet, lifestyle, and environment. My personal favourite herb for those needing some liver support is Milk Thistle, which contains silymarin, a powerful antioxidant that targets the liver and improves detoxification.

Another great herb is Dandelion root. It’s bitter, choleretic and cholagogue properties stimulate the liver and gallbladder to decrease inflammation, and improve digestion and metabolism, as well as provide gentle detoxification.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) has also been making headway as the new superfood, as it is a potent antioxidant and precursor to glutathione (i.e. the mother of all antioxidants). Studies have found that NAC can heal the liver and prevent damage from excessive alcohol intake.

Once the party is over, considering assisting your body with a B Vitamin Supplement. B vitamins are easily depleted through alcohol consumption, and they play a vital role in multiple pathways of the body, so it’s important to get your levels back to normal after a few beverages.

Routine – start and end your day right

Start your day with a glass of warm water with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. ACV will assist in kick starting metabolism, alkalising the body, and improving detoxification pathways. This will be particularly useful if your Christmas usually involves lots of rich foods.

Try to keep up with a routine that includes some exercise & some form of a destress activity. Exercise can help improve detoxification and also makes us feel good. Holidays are undoubtedly a time of great fun but they can cause stress for some (especially those last minute shopping trips!), so make sure you’re taking some time to de-stress, even if it’s just a small breathing exercise once you’ve woken up.

Try including foods throughout the day that help with liver support: broccoli, Brussel sprouts, beetroot, bitter greens (rocket, swiss chard), prebiotic foods (kombucha, sauerkraut), sulphur rich foods (garlic, onion, leeks).

Always end your day with a biggggggg glass of water! As mentioned above, water is super important.

At Gr8 Health, we believe a healthy body starts with a healthy mindset. Moderation is key in almost everything we do. As much as we don’t wish to encourage alcohol drinking, we hope to assist you in recovering & minimising damage for those who do wish to partake. Now you know how to party proof your body! If you need any advice on detox’s or cleanse, send a message to our naturopaths who will be able to assist.