It’s happened to the best of us. One minute you’re enjoying a lovely glass (or four) of Cabernet Sauvignon and feeling great… and the next, you’re waking up to fuzzy memories of singing “Sweet Caroline” and suffering a massive headache.
As we all know, the more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to have a hangover the next day. And it’s not fun.
Ironically, hangover symptoms typically begin when your blood alcohol content drops significantly – at or near zero. Symptoms may include:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Excessive thirst and dry mouth
- Headaches and muscle aches
- Nausea, vomiting or stomach pain
- Poor or decreased sleep
- Increased sensitivity to light and sound
- Dizziness or a sense of the room spinning
- Shakiness
- Decreased ability to concentrate
- Mood disturbances, such as depression, anxiety and irritability
While there’s no magic formula to completely prevent or cure a hangover once the wheels are set in motion, there are ways to boost your body’s defenses and increase your ability to better weather the storm, so to speak. (Btw, if you happen to be imbibing in California wine country, come visit our new downtown Napa Lounge!*)
B12 LOVE Founder & CEO, Dr. Shannon Wood Gallegos ND, shares her top 6 nutrient tips for fending off a hangover.
Get Hydrated Before You Indulge
Dr. Shannon emphasizes the benefits of being well-hydrated before you imbibe, especially as the summer weather approaches. “Pre-partying” with an IV vitamin drip will help you avoid any potential fatigue, nausea, and headaches the next day. Consider adding on extra hydration for the most protection (Pro-Tip: our ‘Hair of the Dog’ IV comes with extra hydration and anti-nausea medication). Of course, if you can’t squeeze in an IV beforehand, definitely get one afterward.
Detox with Glutathione
A master antioxidant and detoxifier that is naturally produced in the liver, glutathione helps neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress that can damage cells. In fact, studies show that the immune system works best if lymphoid cells have a balanced level of glutathione.
Not surprisingly, your body is constantly being depleted of glutathione, especially after a big day of drinking. Moreover, dietary glutathione is poorly absorbed by the human body and is very sensitive to cooking and/or storage conditions. Therefore, the most efficient way to get it is through an IV drip or IM injection.
Build Yourself Up with B-Complex
As the building blocks of a healthy body, B vitamins promote optimal energy levels, cognition, and proper nerve function – all of which may be temporarily compromised by alcohol. Additionally, B vitamins have a direct impact on the immune system. In one study, the authors suggest that “there is a need to highlight the importance of vitamin B (complex) because it plays a pivotal role in cell functioning, energy metabolism, and proper immune function.”
Sooth Your Muscles with Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a role in over 300 enzyme reactions in the human body. Specifically, magnesium helps with muscle and nerve function, regulating blood pressure, and supporting the immune system, amongst other benefits. It also gets easily depleted by alcohol, leaving you feeling achy and unstable. If you want to reduce aches and pains naturally, calm jittery nerves, and replenish your energy on a cellular level, magnesium is key to resiliency and recovery.
Feel 10 Years Younger with NAD+
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (aka, NAD+) is an essential cofactor that supports our mitochondria – the “powerhouse” of our cells, where energy is produced. As we bombard our bodies with toxins (and time), our mitochondrial NAD+ is depleted, leaving us with the hallmark signs of aging and age-related diseases. Research suggests that it may be possible to reverse mitochondrial decay and delay certain aspects of aging with NAD+ supplementation.
Whether you’re actively trying to reverse the clock or just want to feel amazing, a NAD+ injection or IV drip can help increase energy and focus, boost metabolism, promote detoxing, and improve cardiovascular health. B12 LOVE clients and staff have also reported sleeping more deeply at night after a dose of NAD+.
Boost Your Metabolism with Amino Blend
Amino acids are natural compounds that combine to form proteins in the body… they also offer a plethora of benefits, such as helping to boost metabolism and physical performance, as well as detoxifying the body and restoring balance. Our Amino blend is a generous combination of glutamine, arginine, ornithine, lysine, citrulline, and carnitine. It can be given via IM injection or IV drip.
Cheers and please drink responsibly!
*B12 LOVE Napa will open May 26, 2021 in the heart of downtown at 1428 2nd Street. It will be open Wed – Sat, 10am – 5pm. Clients can enjoy our full menu of vitamin injections and IV drips, as well as a selection of premium quality supplements for at-home support.
