Halt hangovers for good with this easy healthy smoothie. You’re welcome…
Yep, I know what you’re thinking: is a personal trainer actually advocating the consumption of alcohol?! And not only the consumption of alcohol, but what to do if the consumption of alcohol ends up causing a hangover?!
Actually that’s not the case. As a personal trainer, who happens to also be teetotal (not for healthier-than-thou reasons, I simply don’t like the taste!) part of my job is to keep it real. It’s a fact that these days that a lot of the population drinks; sometimes too much. Punishing working hours, day-to-day un-managed stress and the need for a “blowout” come the weekend often mean excessive alcohol gets consumed.
This brings with it a whole host of health problems (other than a hangover…) which don’t just hinder weight-loss efforts drastically, but for a person’s long-term health and well-being. Especially if one reaches for foods laden with trans fats and salt, in order to ease the pain the next morning…
My personal training clients have found reducing their overall alcohol intake has done wonders for not only their fat-loss, but all aspects of their health. When your body is properly nourished and hydrated, as well as an overall healthier and more balanced environment, the ‘need’ to have a drink becomes far less intense.
However, what we need to remember is we don’t always get it right! One might occasionally end up drinking more than planned, resulting in a dehydrated brain the next morning. Welcome to hangover town and it ain’t a nice place to be!
Before we learn about the hangover cure smoothie (unless you’ve scrolled down to it already…) I’m not going to tell you how much to drink or how often you should or shouldn’t drink, as everybody is different and there is no one size fits all!
All I propose you ask yourself is WHY is it that you drinking in the first place. Peer pressure? Stress? Boredom? Habit? Celebration?
Whatever the reason, it may be an idea to have a look at your schedule throughout the week and notice if you see any patterns emerging. If you believe you are unable to drink just a small amount, without it turning into a booze binge, perhaps have a think about whether this is serving you.
If you have an up and coming celebration, which you know may involve vast quantities of alcohol (not that you’ll be expected to drink that amount) it’s something that can be balanced with the rest of your week. Keep an eye on your sugar and carb consumption so you don’t end up cancelling out all your healthy efforts that took place all week.
Anyhoo, onto the hangover cure! And yes IT WORKS. Because everyone goes a little overboard from time to time and forgets to hydrate while consuming alcohol (the best hangover prevention method there is!) I threw it together to help some friends in need who were staying with us and in dire need of help, following a rather big night out. Not only did it work in minutes, they couldn’t believe how human they felt, having expected to be suffering for the entire day!
This is by no means a safety net that advocates excessive alcohol consumption in any way, but merely a tried and tested (also by my husband and nephew) means to minimise your symptoms, restoring you to a more balanced state, in order to get back on track a lot quicker, and avoid making unhealthy food choices the next day that will prolong your agony.
Who wants to end up spending the entire next day in recovery, anyway?!
The Magic Ingredients
Banana
After a heavy sesh, your body is crying out for B vitamins! As alcohol also increases urine production, this can result in dehydration, headache, fatigue and dryness of the mouth and eyes especially if fluids are not replaced. Many essential nutrients are also drained out of you, including potassium – so of course the mighty banana is featured here. Natural coconut water is also a fantastic source of potassium.
Avocado
These bad boys are not only fibre-rich but contain B6, carotenoids and ‘useful’ fats your body can utilise. Depleted potassium levels can also cause muscle spasms and dizziness. Avocados can counteract this, enabling proper neuromuscular and heart function.
Maca
This magical powder, featured in many of our Nourish at Home workshop recipes nourishes the adrenal, pituitary and thyroid glands thus balancing the depleted hormones. It’s also energising and boosts the immune system. If it’s good enough for the Inca warriors (who used it for strength and endurance) then it’s good enough to get you feeling human again. And it will 🙂
So enjoy and please ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY!
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1 ripe organic banana
- 1/4 ripe organic avocado
- 1-2 tbspns organic yellow maca powder
- Pour the almond milk into your blender (works best with something high-powered, I use the Enpee Prestige model http://enpee.co.uk/prestige )
- Add the other ingredients and blend until smooth.
- Enjoy and make sure you also keep your water intake extra high
- Optional: add some ice-cubes if you'd like it extra cold
