TEN FOODS TO HELP WITH YOUR HANGOVER

(SkinnyMom.com) Okay, so maybe you indulged just a little bit too much last night. The holidays are coming up, after all, and you may or may not have needed a tiny escape from the crazy relatives (read: in-laws). Well, who would we be to pretend we all haven't been there before? When you're hungover, your body needs to restock on fructose, vitamins, amino acids and minerals that can break down the toxins from alcohol and lessen your body's negative reaction to the chemicals in booze. Sounds easy enough, right? Try these ten foods to help get rid of that splitting headache or nauseous stomach ASAP and kick that hangover to the curb.

1. Water: Water should be your number one priority! It's a diuretic, which means it pushes liquids (and the remaining alcohol) out of your body. Plus, alcohol dehydrates your body, and when your body's water tank is low, it will pull from any available resource -- like your brain, which causes that killer migraine. Check out these detox water recipes to get hydrated again.

2. Sports drinks and coconut water: Sports drinks are usually a no-no because of all the sugars in them, but your body needs to replenish on fructose, and sports drinks like Gatorade contain electrolytes your body needs to get back to normal as well. An even better choice, coconut water contains six electrolytes your body needs after a night of drinking, whereas sports drinks only have two.

3. Ginger and peppermint tea: We know that teas are great detox options for the body, so why not sip on some when you're hungover? Even better, make it a ginger or peppermint tea. Ginger can reduce nausea and morning sickness, while peppermint eases stomach pain and decreases nausea as well. Check out these other tea-riffic teas to jumpstart your day.

4. Fruit juice: Fruit juices like apple and cranberry juice are loaded with fructose that gives your body an instant energy boost, and can even boost your metabolism to get rid of those lingering toxins. Fruit juice also has a ton of vitamins and water, which will rehydrate you. Pour yourself a tall glass and maybe pop an ibuprofen or two.

5. Fruit: While fruit juice is well and good, sometimes you just need to sink your teeth into something. Try fruits like bananas and kiwi, which contain loads of potassium, an electrolyte that is usually depleted after drinking, thanks to alcohol's diuretic effect. Toss those fruits into a blender, add some Greek yogurt, and make a delicious smoothie

6. Oatmeal: Oatmeal is one of our favorite superfoods here at Skinny Mom. Not only does it contain essential nutrients your body is depleted of like B vitamins, calcium, magnesium andiron, but it also stabilizes your blood sugar. Check out our complete oatmeal guide here, or skip it and make this delicious apple superfood oatmeal recipe.

7. Tomatoes: Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation in the body. It also contains that oh-so-valuable fructose and vitamin C, which gives your recovering liver a boost. Check out ten awesome ways to cook with tomatoes, or if you're feelin' a little hair of the dog, try our Skinny Bloody Mary recipe.

8. Eggs: Eggs are a great breakfast choice for every morning, but they are especially helpful when you're hungover. They're full of protein for an energy boost and they also are chock-full of amino acids that break down acetaldehyde, the gross chemical in alcohol that causes your headache.

9. Crackers and honey: Honey is a great hangover food because it contains antioxidants and concentrated fructose that will flush the remaining alcohol out of your system. The crackers are there if you don't want to eat plain honey first thing in the morning. Try this Roasted Honey and Cinnamon Peaches recipe for a calmer stomach.


10. Toast: Remember when your mom would give you toast on days you stayed home sick from school? She had the right idea. Except now, your ailment is a hangover, not the flu. After a night of drinking, your liver is busy metabolizing the alcohol, so it can't regulate your blood sugar like it's supposed to. The toast provides the carbs that your blood sugar needs to stabilize. Try whole-wheat toast and pair it with that egg from above.

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