St. Patty’s Day is right around the corner. You know what that means? It’s time to have a good time (responsibly, of course). But with a good time, often comes a not so good morning after. We won’t ask you not to drink, but we will ask you to be prepared for drinking!
So how do you prepare for a good night, while working to prevent a morning hangover? We at IV Revival will tell you how. Hydration therapy!
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you lose hydration. In other words, it increases urination, and fluid loss.
Although dehydration is not considered to be a main cause of hangovers, it does contribute to symptoms like thirst, headache, fatigue and dry mouth. Fortunately, dehydration is easy to avoid — just make sure to drink enough water.
So how do you avoid this dehydration when you’re having a good night out?
A good rule is to drink a glass of water — or another non-alcoholic beverage — between drinks and to have at least one big glass of water before going to sleep. Or, pregame with IV hydration!
The best way to combat hangovers is by stocking up on hydration, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium), and vitamins. Our registered nurses will be right over to give you an IV of pH-balanced fluids, electrolytes, and vitamins to help you get back on your feet. All you have to do is open your door and answer a few questions before the IV is hooked up.
The whole procedure takes between 45-60 minutes on average, and you’ll start feeling better right away.
Then you’ll be more ready than ever to face the night of fun.
Anti-Inflammatories Can Help too!
Some hangover symptoms are caused by low-grade inflammation, so anti-inflammatories help! Why is that? Decreased blood sugar and secondary general inflammation from ethanol consumption may also play a role in hangover symptoms.
Hangovers tend to produce higher levels of cytokines in their blood. Cytokines are proteins that your immune system releases when it detects a threat. They’re a key part of the inflammation process, which sets your body’s defenses in motion.
They’re a key part of the inflammation process, which sets your body’s defenses in motion. Inflammation causes pain, swelling and redness around injuries and body aches and fevers when you have the flu. This is why anti-inflammatory supplements can help prevent hangovers, or at the very least, reduce symptoms of them!
Eat Appropriately Before You Drink
All foods, especially fatty ones, delay the body’s absorption of alcohol, which in term, can help prevent a hangover. An easy food to eat before going out that’s filled with healthy fats is avocado!
Or you can try eating foods that are high of fiber. Foods like brussels sprouts, lentils, and popcorn—break down alcohol and absorb it, keeping it from reaching the bloodstream as quickly. So eating the right foods can help!
Pace Yourself
Pace yourself while drinking. Just because you want to avoid a hangover, doesn’t mean you have to completely abstain. Try to limit yourself to one drink per hour.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2015–2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a single drink is considered to be:
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12oz of 5% alcohol by volume (ABV) beer
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8oz of 7% ABV malt liquor
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5 oz of a 12% ABV wine
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1.5 oz of a 40% ABV distilled spirit or liquor
Getting a Good Night’s Sleeps
Drinking a lot of alcohol and going to bed early do not necessarily go hand in hand. However, getting plenty of sleep can help reduce the effects of a hangover the following day.
Alcohol can have a negative impact on both the quality and duration of sleep. By getting a good night’s sleep, you can help their body to recover from the night before, so try lying in or going to bed early the next day.
Magnesium works wonders at helping you relax and fighting insomnia, so taking a little with your IV treatment from us can help you sleep better when the night is done.
How does it work? Magnesium acts as a natural calcium blocker to help muscles relax after a workout or stressful day. It can also help soothe contractions and spasms. Magnesium also helps you produce melatonin, which is a common sleep aid supplement.
B Vitamins
B vitamins are also known to help you sleep. Research suggests good levels of vitamins B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12 may help achieve good sleep. All of them help regulate your body’s levels of the amino acid tryptophan, which helps the body produce sleep-inducing melatonin.
Additionally, a lack of vitamin B5 may cause you to wake up repeatedly in the evenings, while B12 and folic acid (vitamin B9), are known to help fight insomnia.
You can receive all of this at IV Revival. Because B vitamins are water soluble and because you need so many different kinds, it’s easier to get them through an IV while you learn how to integrate them into your diet. Our mobile IV therapy service sends nurses directly to your home. They’ll administer the IV and treatments are all quick and easy.