Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rumchata. Raise your hand if you plan to knock back a few cocktails this holiday season, because 2020 amirite? Who are we kidding, every holiday deserves a festive libation or three but this year things may feel a little more “extra” than usual.  

Whether you’re playing it safe this year and drinking alone, (suddenly feeling seen over here) or spending time at a socially distanced soiree with family or a few close friends (wearing masks, obviously), overdoing the adult beverages can cause a nasty hangover. Nobody wants to do the walk of shame to the sofa with a migraine after a long night of drinks so here’s a few ideas to make sure you are feeling fairly close to 100 the day after. 

Pregame with Pear Juice

We’re going old school with this one.  Korean pear (Asian pear) juice is thought to work with your body chemistry to help break down alcohol faster. Drink about 8 ounces of Korean pear juice before the party and it could make your hangover less intense. 

One study found subjects who consumed around one cup of Korean pear juice before drinking alcohol had fewer and/or diminished hangover symptoms the following day. Of all the hangover symptoms, the greatest improvement was seen in the subjects’ ability to concentrate. Aye! Focus is a good thing. Korean pear juice also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to relieve the headache aspect of a hangover. It contains enzymes that are necessary for speeding up alcohol metabolism and slightly inhibiting alcohol absorption. Sounds like a winner and it could also be a good mixer with vodka or tequila. Just a thought. 

Others suggest some form of fat to keep alcohol from penetrating as fast –  Coconut oil in a bulletproof coffee or whipped cream may do the trick!

The 1 for 1 Rule 

Booze is a diuretic, so when you drink, your body gets dehydrated. Dehydration brings on all sorts of nasty side effects like nausea, headaches, dry mouth, fatigue, and cramps just to name a few. None of that sounds like a good time, so let’s try to avoid it, mmmkay? 

As unsexy as it may sound, chugging a glass of water in between each drink can really make a difference in the likelihood of having a hangover. It can also help to extend your evening fun making you the life of the party. Everyone will be wondering where you got your energy from. You can blame it on the rush of a “second wind” but we will know it’s because you’re hydrating like a boss.  

For the overachievers among us, a good rule of thumb is to drink one more big glass of water before going to bed to make sure you’re topping the evening’s merrimaking with another boost of hydration. When you wake up, have another glass of water and then start your day with pep in your step.

Lemon + Ginger to The Rescue

Home remedies like ginger tea and lemon water are great to help settle your stomach after a long night of celebrations and libations. Ginger can help diminish symptoms of nausea, dizziness, pain, and all-around ickiness. I’ll have some of that, thank you very much!

Lemon can help flush the body of toxins, so a cup of warm lemon water in the morning is a great way to start cleaning out your system. It can help reduce the effects of a hangover. 

Want extra credit? Combine the two and make yourself a piping hot cup of lemon ginger tea and sip it first thing after a night of holiday debauchery. Just combine 1 in. fresh grated ginger root, 20 oz. boiling water and the juice of 1/2 lemon. Drink it warm or chill it in the fridge for a cold beverage. 

Get Groovy with Patchouli

You may think of Patchouli as a hippy perfume from the 60s, but the stuff takes away hangovers. It’s also used for damp summer heat, which generally makes you feel like you’re hungover. Surprisingly enough, it goes down easily – so easily that many take it for vomiting, or, with modifications, for the flu.  It is a popular over the counter formula. If you make patchouli or Anis Hyssop as a tea you may get some of the same benefits.

Aromatic spices and protection of your yin may also do the trick.  Kudzu flower, Magnolia Bark, Germinated Rice, Chinese Mint Leaf, Chrysanthemum Flower, Marshmallow Root, Gravel Root, Slippery Elm Bark, Gas Flower, Gastrodia Tuber, Cloves, Fennel or Anis Seeds are often combined as a secret hangover formula.

Permission to Eat Carbs!

Ever get cravings for a burger and fries in the middle of a night of drinking? Or better yet, a giant plate of spaghetti? Anybody? No? Maybe? If so, that could be because alcohol lowers your blood sugar and your body is asking you to fix the problem.

The carbs in a plate of pasta can help to counteract nausea and keep your blood sugar levels higher. Not into spaghetti? Have a couple of slices of wheat toast or a few whole-grain crackers to bring those blood sugar levels back up to normal. You’ll give yourself an energy boost, too. Hooray!

Get Some Beauty Rest

When all else fails, go back to bed. Even when you take all the necessary precautions to keep from ending up with a hangover, sometimes it just isn’t enough. Alcohol disrupts sleep or at least creates poor sleep quality. It’s tricky business. Drinking makes you sleepy, so you can fall asleep fast but waking up is just par to the course of over indulgence. 

A good thing about holiday breaks is that there’s plenty of time to enjoy a few naps. Take this down time as a chance to get rested especially after consuming alcohol.

Even though there’s no fool proof way to prevent a hangover other than moderation, these are some great ways to lessen the negative effects you feel the day after. Think of it as your recovery superpowers. So go ahead and eat, drink, be merry and have a wonderful holiday season.