Fewer Holiday Hangovers with these Health Tips!

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by Jeffrey Morrison
Fewer Holiday Hangovers with these Health Tips!

The holidays are in full swing and there’s a festive energy in the air! For many of us, this includes drinking alcohol — whether it’s a glass of wine with dinner, cocktails with colleagues, or a couple of holiday-themed mixed drinks that look so darn pretty and taste even better… you know the ones I’m talking about! Their effects can leave us feeling anything but festive the next day, yup, we’re referring to the dreaded hangover!

Hangovers happen and we’re here to help you live your healthiest and happiest life — we’re not going to shake our fingers at you for indulging… a hangover feels bad enough as it is! Instead, Dr. Morrison is excited to share some of his favorite supplements for supporting your liver and help with liver detox.

You work hard to live a healthy lifestyle throughout the year, and there’s no need to put this on hold through the holidays — instead, Dr. Morrison has a few suggestions on ways to help your body process the rich foods and alcohol you may choose to indulge in and help with hangover prevention.

What supplements support the liver and how are they helpful?

  • Vitamin C
  • Enzalase
  • Milk Thistle

 

 

Buffered Vitamin C

Before drinking alcohol: take 2 capsules with food

Vitamin C is one of the most well-known antioxidants and it helps your body process alcohol. It does this by neutralizing metabolites that cause oxidative damage and hangovers. Studies have shown that taking Vitamin C about 1 hour before enjoying a cocktail helps to remove alcohol from the bloodstream and may reduce the toxic effects on the liver. Taking Vitamin C is a great way to protect your liver by reducing the harmful effects of acetaldehyde and the body’s inflammatory response to alcohol.

This is something you may already have in your medicine cabinet, as it’s a key supplement to help boost your immune system during the cold and flu season. You may consider changing the time you take this supplement to better coincide with your cocktail party.

Buffered Vitamin C

Enzalase

Enzalase

Before drinking alcohol: take 2 capsules on an empty stomach.

This supplement aids in digestion and contains 12 plant-based enzymes that are known to assist in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, fibers, and proteins — meaning it helps with the absorption and utilization of more nutrients. Also, if that wasn’t helpful enough, it can also help to reduce bloating and gas after meals. However, Enzalase really shines when taken in between meals as a proteolytic enzyme, which can reduce some of the inflammatory processes caused by alcohol.

Milk Thistle Forte**

After drinking alcohol: take 2 tablets

Dr. Morrison is a fan of milk thistle because it’s well-known as a herb that supports your liver, making it beneficial to take post-celebration. Residual inflammation caused by alcohol by-products can lead to damage and scarring of the liver, while this herb supports healthy liver function and the detoxification process.

If you’re interested in learning about why we get hangovers, check out this article: Dr. Morrison and our two awesome nutritionists at The Morrison Center, Stephanie Mandel, and Robin Foroutan share the science behind why hangovers happen and a few hacks on how to prevent it!

(**Milk Thistle Forte is available online for TMC’s patients only. If you are not a TMC patient and interested in learning more about it, please call TMC office at 212-989-9828)

Milk Thistle Forte**

Also, Dr. Morrison has shared his favorite Holiday Detox suggestions, which are perfect for the days following prolonged celebration, when your body is telling you it needs a little extra healing.

By supporting your liver function, you’re helping this important organ to process the alcohol. You work so hard throughout the year to sustain your healthy lifestyle, and supporting your liver is just another way to do this during the holidays and into the new year!

We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!

**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.