HANGOVERS are as much as a festive staple as mince pies or tinsel this festive season.
And many people dread waking up with that throbbing headache and funny tummy after a night of boozing at the office Christmas party.
However, top doctor Daniel Fenton, Clinical Director and GP at the London Doctors Clinic, has revealed that you don't need a Christmas miracle to ease the symptoms.
Here, he has shared with us his top tips to make sure you feel meeting-ready in no time after office celebrations…
1.Take Rennie's before going to bed
Many people find they have an upset stomach the night after they've been out boozing.
Dr Fenton recommends taking antacids to reduce the nausea, heartburn and indigestion that drinking causes – as they neutralise the stomach acid.
He says: "These are an absolute lifesaver for reducing stomach acid and will help you to feel less nauseous the following morning."
2. Beware of "Hair of the Dog”
Many people claim that "hair of the dog" – or drinking more alcohol – is the best way to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of a hangover.
However, there has never been any scientific evidence to suggest this theory has any basis and Dr Fenton says it will just make things worse in the long time.
He says: "We've all heard of drinking through your hangover, and whilst this always sounds like a great idea and undoubtedly does kill the pain for a short time but in practice, it only makes things worse in a few hours.
It's better to rehydrate and top up with electrolyte rich sports drinks and tons of water to help you rehydrate
"It makes you more dehydrated, aggregates your stomach and worsens the headache. It also means you’ve very likely got a serious drinking problem.
"It's better to rehydrate and top up with electrolyte rich sports drinks and tons of water to help you rehydrate and replace the salts and sugars lost by the diuretic effect of alcohol."
3. Be careful if you’re going to go for a run
Fitness fanatics are often keen to tout going for a run as a cure for hangovers – believing you can sweat out the ill effects of alcohol.
And while this might give you a boost in the short term, it may make you feel worse by causing you to feel more dehydrated.
Dr Fenton says: "This may well make you feel better as it will certainly get the endorphins going and lift your mood but be a bit careful of this.
"If you’ve had a real bender your liver is already feeling pretty beaten up and over exercising can wreck it even more.
"Make sure you drink a lot of water. The fluid you lose in ‘sweating it out’ needs to be replaced and a lot more."
4. Watch what you eat
There are certain foods – some not so tasty – that you can include in your diet to help with the hangover, according to Dr Fenton.
"Raw eggs do contain some of the essential amino acids the liver uses to digest alcohol so it has a theoretical basis," he says.
Alcoholic drink swaps to boost weight loss during the festive period
Diet guru Terri-Ann Nunns shares her advice on how to enjoy alcoholic drinks without overindulging and the best swaps you can make this Christmas.
1. Swap eggnog for…sloe gin
A glass of eggnog could quite easily exceed 350kcals. Another drink that is equally enjoyable but for different reasons is sloe gin. You can have it warm or on ice but it is still a tasty treat – with much fewer calories.
2. Small glass of desert wine for…glass of sherry
Opting for a glass of Sherry (60 calories) would halve your calorie intake in comparison to a small glass of desert wine (118 calories).
3. Mulled wine made with sugar for…mulled wine made with sweetener
Adding the sugar obviously adds more calories but you can actually use sweetener instead of sugar to achieve that sweet taste without the calories.
4. Large glass of wine for…glass of prosecco
A glass of prosecco is likely to be less than half the calories of a large glass of wine. A large glass of wine is 250ml or a third of a bottle, whereas prosecco is served in smaller glasses, generally serving 125ml.
5. Pint of lager for…a bottle of beer
Swapping a pint of beer for a bottle significantly reduces the volume you will drink and therefore the calories, especially if you plan to have more than one.
6. Gin and tonic for…gin and slimline tonic
By changing your mixer to one that is sugar-free, you can make a significant reduction to your calorie intake.
7. Long Island Iced Tea for…Bloody Mary
If you want to go for a healthier cocktail, choosing something like a Bloody Mary would mean you would consume much fewer calories and you could even hit two of your five a day.
"Mixed with tomato juice, worcester sauce, vinegar, salt and pepper and chilli sauce raw eggs have been glugged by our transatlantic cousins for many years after a big night out.
"Who knows if it works. The thought of it puts me off drinking – so that may be something."
5. Stick with clear alcohol
Out of all the tipples you can have at your work Christmas party, Dr Fenton recommends steering clear of the red wine.
He says: "We've all experienced the red wine hangover!
"There are ingredients in many drinks called congeners which do contribute significantly to hangovers and red wine and fortified wines have a lot of them.
"You probably already know this from experience.
"Vodka, gin and white rum have less so you may get less of a hangover per unit of alcohol consumed.
"Think about it though. This is not necessarily a good thing."
6. Espresso Martinis are not your friend
Espresso Martinis are one of the worst culprits when it comes to hangovers.
This is because the combination of caffeine and alcohol will cause some serious dehydration.
Dr Fenton says: "The addition of caffeine acts as a stimulant and can make you feel really lively whilst at the Christmas party.
"However, one too many martinis will leave you feeling dry as a bone, as caffeine acts as a diuretic and causes you to make more frequent trips to the loo.
"Dehydration is one of the factors contributing to that morning hangover headache.
"So it may be better to keep it simple and have a drink without the caffeine infusion."
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