Whether you're donning a cowboy hat and big buckle during your commute to work this week, or you're avoiding it completely and have left the city, chances are no matter which route you've taken the lure of cold summer drinks will get you at some point. Hey, how can we not? We enjoy our short summers as Canadians, cold bevvies included! So here are my three most important steps when dealing with a hangover. 24-hours later and you'll be 90% of the way back to awesome.
#3 - Get out of bed and move.
Sounds simple, but sometimes when you open your eyes all you want to do is pull the covers back up over your head and pretend the sun isn't up yet. From experience, laying around all day makes me feel way worse, and the hangover doesn't subside at all. I'm not saying you need to go for a run or hit the weights today, but move. Baby steps. Give yourself extra time and slow things down, but do them. Grocery shop, walk your dog (who didn't go out drinking and has no idea why you smell bad and still really needs a walk!), do yourself a favour and wash the clothes you were in last night, maybe clean off the bottom of your cowboy boots. Whatever, just move a little, and then a little more. Less aches than laying on the couch for 12 hours straight guaranteed.
#2 - Eat good food.
If you want to shut this window now because you're saying, "No WAY am I giving up my greasy McDonald's breakfast/lunch combo for a small family!!" just hear me out. You feel like crap because you drank (and probably ate) a whole bunch of crap last night. More crap won't actually help your body heal. Yes, I get it, you're craving grease and sugar and everything else bad for you under the sun. But that is just your body saying, "HEY!! Can someone PLEASE give me some nourishment?! I'm dying over here!" I'm not saying it's kale salad and chicken breast today. Have bacon and eggs for breakfast. Grab a roast chicken from the grocery store and devour it for lunch. Quench your thirst mid-afternoon with a giant homemade smoothie of banana, peanut-butter, milk/almond milk and strawberries (it's practically a Peter's shake). For dinner, grill up a meaty steak and throw a sweet potato and some peppers and mushrooms on the grill while you're at it. Don't add to your booze hangover by adding on a food hangover. And if you're at all concerned about your mid-line, let's just say that last night's drinks probably doesn't leave a whole lot of wiggle room in your calorie intake for the rest of the week, so do you think maybe it's best not to double the damage with a fast-food filled day on top of that? Food for thought. Literally.
#1 - Drink this amazing elixir.
First off, drink water until you're full. When you wake up. When you brush your teeth. When you drink your coffee. Before your first nap. After your nap. Now, here's my little hangover secret for you... kombucha. If you haven't had it before, I HIGHLY recommend adding it to your hangover remedy. It's health benefits are great reasons to incorporate it every day, and by swapping it for your ultra sized pop on hangover day your guts in particular will surely thank you.
Wondering where to get this magical elixir? Two great friends started True Buch just last year, and thanks to the entrepreneurial spirits of Louisa and Conrad, Calgary has locally brewed organic kombucha available on tap at several locations which you can find here. Here's the low down on this fizzy good-for-you delicious brew:
- What is it? Kombucha is fermented tea. True Buch explains it best as, "kombucha is to tea what yogurt is to milk."
- Why's it good for me? It contains probiotics, active enzymes, and amino acids, all of which are great for gut health. Aka you feel better - who doesn't want more of that!
- How do I get it? For on draft locations check here. Most locations allow you to either purchase an individual glass, or purchase a glass jug available in two sizes that you only pay the refill on for future purchases. I recommend the big jug - it stays fresh for up to 3 months in your fridge, if you can resist drinking it that long.
- More neat facts you'll appreciate once you're not hungover anymore: Cane sugar is required for the fermentation process, but once through fermentation there is no additional sugar added. Much of the sugar and caffeine are used up during fermentation, and with less than 0.5% alcohol, it's a great drink suitable for anyone, anytime.
And just in case you're wondering, no, I am not sponsored by True Buch, I just really believe in the stuff. If every child and adult swapped their soda for buch, about 95%* of the world's health problems would go away. [*Totally made up. But I actually wouldn't doubt it].
So, get off your couch, walk or drive to the nearest True Buch location and start healing that hangover. And grab a roast chicken and bacon while you're at it:D