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With the holidays upon us, a glass on wine (or more!) may be part of your plans. I enjoy a glass of organic wine, sparkly, or fancy cocktail every now and then, and I have done lots of research into how to support the body so it has less of a negative impact. Even though there might be some benefits to red wine, alcohol has many downfalls when it comes to your health.
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Alcohol puts a strain on your liver, which is responsible for over 500 jobs in the body, including detoxification, manufacturing hormones, and metabolizing carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Alcohol also causes your blood sugar to fluctuate, so if you are someone who is prone to blood sugar dysregulation, like hypoglycemia and insulin resistance, you need to be especially careful and don’t drink on an empty stomach. Make sure to have some food with protein and fat before or during your drink so you slow down the absorption of the alcohol! (Ex. cashews and blueberries as a snack)
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Alcohol causes our body to lose important antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, as well as water, which is why you feel depleted after drinking. So when you do plan to drink, make sure to replenish what you are losing! This way you’ll enjoy healthier looking skin, happy hormones, and balanced weight.


To prevent free radical damage and a hangover from alcohol, follow these easy tips:

Step one – drink smart: 
  1. Don’t drink on an empty stomach! Have a snack before your drink, or with your meal. This will slow down the absorption of the alcohol and help prevent blood sugar issues.
  2. Add an extra glass of water with lemon in between drinks and after your drink.
  3. Pinot Noir is your best choice for the most antioxidant value – antioxidants will help to repair the free radical damage caused by alcohol. Pinot Noir is also one of the lowest sugar wines – bonus points!
  4. Choose organic and natural wines, which will have less added sulphites (which can cause headaches, hives, runny nose, etc) and pesticide residue.
  5. Decant your wine to remove more sulfites.
  6. If you’re not a wine drinker, choose low sugar options like vodka with soda + lime – not sugary drinks which will negatively affect your blood sugar and hormones further. If you like more sweetness, add monk fruit to your cocktail recipe – which won’t affect your blood sugar.
  7. Add antioxidant rich fruit and herbs to your drinks for flavour and detox support (ex. cranberries, pomegranate, frozen berries, rosemary, lemon, lime) Avoid drinks with grapefruit juice as it slows down your liver enzymes, making alcohol stay in your blood for longer.

Step two – after your drink: 

  1. Taking a B vitamin complex and 1000mg of vitamin C will help to clear the alcohol from the blood. Look for a B complex that has ‘activated’ or methylated forms of B vitamins (I like brands like Thorne and AOR for this) I like to take 1 of each before and after.
  2. Dandelion tea and Milk Thistle capsules are great herbal options for the next day for detoxification support. I make a herbal tea from dried leaves (1 Tbsp per cup). (Herbs are not for everyone, check with a healthcare practitioner prior to taking!)
  3. Add an extra dose of electrolytes and antioxidants the morning after to prevent and ease any hangover symptoms. A smoothie with coconut water, chia, greens and blueberries would be a good choice!
  4. Sweat it out! Saunas, hot yoga,  or a 20 minute cardio sweat will help you release the toxins so you feel better quicker.
Remember, it can take your body up to a week to recover from alcohol, so drink wisely!!
And if you want access to my protocol for reducing damage from alcohol, make sure to create your free account with my online dispensary below.
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Will you apply today’s nutrition tips? Head on over to my Instagram and send me a comment or DM, would love to hear from you!!

antioxidant rick cocktail

RECIPE:

Glow Under the Mistletoe Cocktail

Per cocktail:
1oz vodka
1/4 cup pomegranate juice
1oz sparkling water
1 Tbsp lime juice + 2-3 strips of zest
Garnish:
1 sprig rosemary
1 cinnamon stick
Ice
How to make:
Prepare a cocktail glass with ice and garnish. Add a few ice cubes to a martini shaker along with the rest of the ingredients. Shake and pour into glass.
Enjoy!
Photo cred: @madsthesedays