It’s the first week of summer and the beginning of the Silly Season. For many of us, that means a lot of eating and drinking! Christmas parties, work break-up drinks, Christmas lunch, New Years Eve and everything in between.

Let’s be honest, we are going to over indulge. That’s ok. It’s what we do EVERY DAY that’s important, not what we do occasionally. So, let’s look at some ways we can minimize the effects of all the celebrating, dodge a few bullets and keep our health relatively on track over this busy period.

1. Lemon or Apple Cider Vinegar every morning

Start the day with the juice of half a lemon or 1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in water. It kick-starts your digestion, aids the liver and helps to alkalize your body.

2. Prioritize every day eating habits to offset the splurges

Ensure your meals in between the celebrating are well-balanced and nutritious by adding a handful (or two) of greens to every meal – spinach in a smoothie; kale with eggs; have a big salad at lunch; steam some mixed greens with dinner. Load up your plate us much as you can with a variety of different veggies.

Add in a green juice for that extra dose of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Drink 2L of water every day.

3. If you are going to a party, don’t rely on canapés/snack food as a meal.

Have a basic meal with some protein and veggies before you head out. Never go on an empty stomach!

4. Alternate every alcoholic drink with water

I know you’ve heard this one a thousand times but just start doing it! It really does make a difference to how you feel the next day without killing your boozy buzz!

5. Choose your poison wisely

Minimize sugary drinks and cocktails as this will make a hangover worse. If you enjoy wine or champagne, do the water thing as above (and just stick to the same type of wine, don’t chop and change!). If you drink spirits, go for the clear spirits like Vodka, Barcardi or Gin with soda water and fresh lime. These are much better for ze hangover compared to dark spirits.

6. Have a Hydrolyte sport whilst drinking

I learnt this trick from my brother-in-law! I gave this a crack at my Hen’s Party earlier in the year and I swear it worked wonders! Just dissolve in water and skull it down whilst your drinking.

7. Hydrodol capsules

Another little hack to try to minimize the effects of drinking. They are packed with nutrients that are depleted from drinking alcohol such as B group vitamins. Take four capsules whilst you’re drinking. You can buy them in most pharmacies.

8. Hangover smoothie

This smoothie provides your body with the nutrients it requires to recover from a big night. Anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory, soothing on the digestive and rehydrating.

INGREDIENTS

1 handful spinach

1 cup coconut water

½ thumb size piece of ginger

1 handful peppermint leaves

1 banana

1 cup ice

9. Start taking a daily Probiotic to keep your gut microbiome happy during the silly season

Alcohol and poor food choices will wreak havoc on your gut bacteria. Cover all bases with a high-quality probiotic capsule to minimize the damage. It will also keep your immune system in check as 80% of your immune system is located in your gut.

10. Schedule in exercise

Don’t fall off the bandwagon just because it’s Christmas. If you feel like rubbish, just get outside in the fresh air and sunshine and move. Go for a walk, have a swim in the ocean or do a hot yoga class and sweat it out.

Keep an eye out for my next post on 8 Ways To Detox AFTER Christmas.

Have an amazing time celebrating!

Christmas drinks at Captain Baxter, St Kilda