A food guide to alcohol

Spring is coming and that means all the drinking events are right around the corner.

St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Break Vacays, Derby events… all we hear is, “Clink, clink! Time to drink!”

At Recover Well, our goal is for you to live the healthiest lives possible. Unfortunately, that means keeping alcohol intake to a minimum or abstaining completely. However, we also believe in balance and we live our lives mostly by the 80-20 rule: Eat healthy meals and do things to care for our bodies 80% of the time, and have more freedom with the other 20%.

Even during the “20% times” there are things we can do to mitigate the impact of some of our less healthy choices. When it comes to alcohol, we’ve found that there are foods you can eat to minimize your hangover, repair the damage that alcohol has done to your body and make you feel full throughout the night (or day) so you aren't running for a snack as soon as the buzz hits.

Here are a few of our favorites!

Fave Foods to Eat BEFORE We Drink:

Egg & Avo Sandwich - This meal literally has it all.

Eggs contain essential amino acids needed to help break down some of the alcohol.

Avocados are loaded with healthy fats, which are digested slowly and help slow down the absorption of alcohol.

Finally, alcohol changes your body's stores of glycogen, a quick energy source stored in the liver. The carbs in the toast help your glycogen levels stay full, as well as your stomach.

Avocado Topped Salmon - Here’s a great recipe!

Salmon has super-high levels of B-12, a vitamin that is greatly depleted by alcohol. Low levels of B-12 could be one of the reasons you feel fatigued after a night of drinking. Get your B-12 levels up before you drink with this delicious meal!

Salmon is also high in omega 3's which is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, which could keep you from waking up with a pounding headache the day after drinking.

Roasted Veggie Quinoa with Grilled Chicken - Here’s a great recipe!

Quinoa is higher in fiber than most grains and fiber slows the stomach's emptying time, which helps ensure that Alcohol's effects don't sneak up and surprise you!

Protein rich foods, like Chicken, also take longer to digest, slowing how fast that BAC level goes up!

Fave Foods to Eat AFTER We Drink:

Guess what? Some of the best foods to eat before you drink are also some of the best to eat after as well! Although you may be craving cheesy potatoes or biscuits and gravy, opt instead for something nutrient dense to save your body and the rest of your day!

Eggs are an amazing choice because they are rich in cysteine, an amino acid that your body uses to produce glutathione. Glutathione is an antioxidant that helps break down the alcohol byproducts in your bloods and some studies have shown to improve hangover symptoms.

Eggs not doing it for you? Here are a few other options...

Blueberry Smoothie - this might be the holy grail of hangover foods!

Blueberries are thought to be effective at increasing levels of several antioxidants in the liver, which could help protect against oxidative stress caused by alcohol consumption.

Coconut water contains lots of electrolytes! As a result, research has shown that coconut water is just as effective as traditional sports drinks for rehydration. Since hydration is such an important part of hangover recovery, drinking coconut water may facilitate getting over a hangover more quickly. So put down the Gatorade and grab some coconut water!

Most bartenders will tell you that peanut butter is the best cure for a hangover! We'll tell you that peanuts are rich in vitamin B3, which is used up when your body is metabolizing alcohol. So a tablespoon of the good stuff will help replenish your body's B3, an essential vitamin for overall function!

Top with Flax & Chia, antioxidants which will help your body fight the effects of alcohol!

Overnight Oats - Here’s one!

In addition to containing complex carbohydrates that provide a slow and steady release of sugar into the bloodstream that may help with hangover symptoms, several studies have found that Oats can benefit liver health by protecting against alcohol-induced liver damage and improving liver function.

Bananas are especially rich in potassium and can help replenish your body’s stores lost through dehydration and excess urination while drinking.

Water with Watermelon Chunks

You're dehydrated. Drink water. And throw in some watermelon because it's delicious and also contains the electrolytes your body is missing!

Have a hangover that food won’t fix? Come see us! Cryotherapy and Infrared Saunas are the perfect hangover cure!