How to Avoid a Hangover: From Lori Kenyon Farley – Certified Nutritional Consultant, Fitness Expert and co-founder of Ritual Wellness
Photographer: Megan Welker – Stylist: Beijos Events
Be Sensible: Stick with one type of alcohol. Mixing drinks can be a big cause of a hangover, since different alcohols contain different additives, flavorings, and sugars. Mixed drinks can be particularly troublesome if you use sugary mixers like soda or prepared mixers, like “margarita mix.” Much better to choose a clear alcohol like vodka or tequila and combine with fresh juiced or muddled fruit with a high water content like watermelon or cucumber, or a freshly juiced citrus fruit, such as grapefruit, lemon, lime or orange.
Hydrate: One of the causes of a hangover is dehydration. Drink a big glass of water before your first alcoholic beverage and then be sure to consume at least one glass of water for every drink you consume. This will help to slow down your drinking, and to keep you hydrated. You can also dilute your drink with coconut water or soda water, to reduce your alcohol consumption while adding hang over-combatting hydration.
Vitamins: Your body uses a lot of enzymes and vitamins to metabolize alcohol, while the booze itself destroys essential B vitamins. To help your liver do its job (and diminish the chance of a hangover), take a vitamin B supplement, or have a shot of E3Live® which is blue green algae that is super high in B vitamins. Raw fruits, veggies and juices contain live enzymes and vitamins that can help combat the effects of alcohol. Consume these foods for your meal before you plan to drink, while you are drinking, and/or the morning after. Mixing raw juices with your alcohol will be the best option, as you will be pairing the enzymes and vitamins with the alcohol, giving your body the tools it needs to break down and process the alcohol.
If you’re not in the mood to “bartend,” pick up a bottle or two of raw, organic, cold pressed Ritual Mixers (www.ritualwellness.com/ritual-mixers.) Choose between Rio Mojito, Sol Margarita, and Calcutta Lemon Drop. Each bottle will create 8 drinks when mixed with an alcohol of your choice, like vodka, tequila, or rum. Your friends who don’t partake will also be thrilled to find the juices are equally delicious served “virgin” style over ice.
If you’re feeling crafty, here are a couple of easy recipes to make yourself. Either way, you will be the hit of the party if you show up with these tasty juices!
Wine Spritzer
Ingredients:
1 bottle white or rose wine
3 cups sparking water
12 ice cubes
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a pitcher. Stir and serve over ice.
Cucumber Watermelon Mixer
Photographer: Megan Welker – Stylist: Beijos Events
Ingredients:
2 cups cubed watermelon
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
½ lime
2 Tbsp. agave nectar
Directions: Juice the lime using a manual citrus juicer. Juice the cucumber and watermelon in a juicer, or blend until smooth in a blender. Combine all juices with agave and serve with rum, vodka or tequila over ice.
Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
Ingredients:
· 1 cup of frozen pineapple
· 1 cup of coconut water
· ½ cup of coconut milk
· ½ cup of ice
· Splash of rum
Directions: Combine and blend all ingredients until smooth in a blender.
