It’s simply not my style to request that you abstain from having a drink or two this holiday season. Yes, alcohol can be unhealthy if treated irresponsibly. You know that, I know that. Now what?
I enjoy a celebratory cocktail, especially around the holidays. Everyone handles alcohol differently, for me, I am okay having the occasional alcoholic beverage. I watch how much I drink because I am way too busy to spend an afternoon nursing a hangover! When I do indulge in a holiday cocktail or some wine with friends, I go for the healthier alcohol options and take every step possible to protect my body (and mind) from the potential negative effects. If you do’t feel like skipping a few drinks at the holiday party, here are some tried and true tips.
Order Innate Response Detox or Gaia Milk Thistle Seed ASAP
I never have a sip of alcohol if I do not have one of these supplements on hand for afterwards. Innate Response’s Detox is a whole food blend that provides detoxification support. It contains a combination of N-Acetyl, L-Cysteine, milk thistle seed, schizandra berry, turmeric root, and dandelion root –all which act to help support liver health. I love Innate Response’s supplements because they are food-based, which means your body can absorb the beneficial nutrients more easily. Since alcohol is technically a toxin, it is very helpful to take a detoxifier, like this one, whenever you are consuming it. I take this before bed whenever I am a little buzzed to help my body recover over night.
Gaia’s Milk Thistle Seed works in a similar way to detoxify the liver. Gaia has a very specific process for concentrating its Milk Thistle Seed extract in a way that ensures it preserves the important phytochemical Silymarin. This phytochemical promotes healthy liver cell production, which helps to make sure that the vital organ is working effectively to detoxify your body of harmful substances. Choose whichever of these supplements feels best for your body.
Pure Encapsulation’s Magnesium
I actually recommend that all of my clients take magnesium regardless of if they are drinkers or not. Practically no one is getting enough magnesium naturally these days. It used to be much more readily available in soil and would transfer to our fruits and veggies. However, since most land has been so over-farmed, that is just not the case anymore. Magnesium is integral to our bodies for many different reasons and one of them is sleep. In addition to its physical relaxation properties, magnesium is a precursor to GABA, which is a neurotransmitter that induces a state of relaxation in the brain. GABA is one of the only neurotransmitters that is an inhibitor. Without it, your brain is physiologically incapable of shutting down. I am sure you can see where I am going with this. When you drink alcohol, it is much more difficult to have a sound sleep – even if it seems like drinking knocks you out cold. That is why a high quality magnesium supplement is essential, especially after a holiday cocktail. I recommend taking the magnesium right before bed for the best results.
Activated Charcoal
Charcoal is super cool because it adsorbs most organic toxins, chemicals and poisons before they can harm your body. This means that it does the total opposite of absorbing them. Think about charcoal as a magnet for all of those unhealthy substances. It attracts them all before they can inflict damage on you – pretty cool, huh? In fact, activated charcoal is such an incredible detoxifier that some emergency rooms administer large doses of it for certain types of poisoning. Charcoal is really helpful in relieving digestive issues, gas and bloating by removing byproducts from the digestive tract. Can anyone else relate to post-wine bloating? Well, this will certainly help with that.
Ultima Replenisher Hydrating Powder
This hydrating powder is an absolute essential, even if you are having just one drink. Alcohol can be very dehydrating, which is why I also recommend mixing in at least one glass of water per alcoholic beverage. But, on top of that, it is extremely helpful to mix in Ultima’s Replenisher. It is a hydrating powder that you can easily add to your filtered water any time of the day. Utlima is made with all 6 electrolytes plus support minerals: Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Chloride, Calcium, Selenium, Phosphorus and Zinc ALL play roles in the amazing electrical dance that helps the brain communicate with muscles and for muscles to properly perform. All 6 electrolytes are present and balanced in Ultima. I recommend drinking Ultima to stay hydrated, especially when you are drinking alcohol.
Moderation
I know I have mentioned this a couple of times at this point, but the key to drinking alcohol is only drinking in moderation. The current recommendations provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggest it is safe to consume no more than one standard drink per day for women and two standard drinks per day for men. Other organizations add that the evidence suggests that that must include two alcohol-free days per week. However, I also encourage you to consider many of the cancer organizations from around the world’s position statement on alcohol, which says that if you have a family history of cancer, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, which is a very powerful statement to contemplate.
Cleanse when it makes sense!
I like to cleanse my body before and after periods of increased drinking, AKA, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cleansing does not mean deprivation, starvation, liquid diets, complicated eating schedules, and extreme measures. Cleansing is renewing, recharging, rejuvenating, and jump-starting to a healthier lifestyle. I recommend trying my 21-Day Cleanse before or after the holiday season (or both!) to help support your system in weeding out all of the toxins it will be faced with over the festive months. My cleanse incorporates wholesome meals, mindfulness journaling, and spiritual components to help you achieve detoxifying results – both mentally and physically.
Cheers to a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones!
