3 Fixes for the Occasional Holiday Hangover
Alcohol is often a part of holiday festivities, and a glass of wine or other approved spirit can certainly be enjoyed on Phases 2 and 3 of the South Beach Diet. (Remember, there is no alcohol on Phase 1.) And if you stick with our alcohol guidelines — women should limit their intake to one alcoholic beverage a day, and men to one or two a day — it's unlikely you'll wake up feeling the effects of a night of yuletide cheer. However, if a couple of drinks somehow lead to more, here are a few do-it-yourself methods for minimizing the effects of a hangover:
Drink lots of fluids. Alcohol saps your body of fluids — so you need to replenish to hydrate your body sufficiently. Water is the obvious choice, but vegetable-juice cocktail, clear broth, and even sugar-free soda can help you rehydrate.
Sleep it off. Alcohol disrupts your sleeping pattern, so chances are a night of revelry will leave you feeling less than cheerful in the morning. Try to schedule time for a quick nap during the day — at the very least, make sure you get adequate rest the following night.
Ease an aching head. Last but not least, to combat a morning-after headache, try an over-the-counter painkiller, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Of course, to avoid such a problem, it's best to prevent a hangover in the first place. If you find yourself drinking more than you should, try to pace yourself and drink plenty of water throughout the event, in addition to following the tips above
Alcohol is often a part of holiday festivities, and a glass of wine or other approved spirit can certainly be enjoyed on Phases 2 and 3 of the South Beach Diet. (Remember, there is no alcohol on Phase 1.) And if you stick with our alcohol guidelines — women should limit their intake to one alcoholic beverage a day, and men to one or two a day — it's unlikely you'll wake up feeling the effects of a night of yuletide cheer. However, if a couple of drinks somehow lead to more, here are a few do-it-yourself methods for minimizing the effects of a hangover:
Drink lots of fluids. Alcohol saps your body of fluids — so you need to replenish to hydrate your body sufficiently. Water is the obvious choice, but vegetable-juice cocktail, clear broth, and even sugar-free soda can help you rehydrate.
Sleep it off. Alcohol disrupts your sleeping pattern, so chances are a night of revelry will leave you feeling less than cheerful in the morning. Try to schedule time for a quick nap during the day — at the very least, make sure you get adequate rest the following night.
Ease an aching head. Last but not least, to combat a morning-after headache, try an over-the-counter painkiller, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Of course, to avoid such a problem, it's best to prevent a hangover in the first place. If you find yourself drinking more than you should, try to pace yourself and drink plenty of water throughout the event, in addition to following the tips above