Hangovers are almost as much part of the Christmas and New Year’s season as champagne and mulled wine, but planning ahead could put an end to the morning-after symptoms. Experts at Nutri Advanced specifically pinpointed one little-known vitamin that could help your body recover from a night on the town.
Milk Thistle, which the brand offers in 60 capsule bottles for £14.95 or 25p a pill, has been used for decades for its benefits, which studies have shown it helps balance hormones, treat acne, as well as boost cancer treatments and breast milk production. From a health perspective, the experts hailed the herb as the “perfect hangover cure” taken daily before you plan on drinking.
Milk thistle is commonly used for three main reasons: aiding digestion, treat stomach complaints and assisting the liver. All three of these major benefits can help to ease hangovers and the botanical extract hosts a large silymarin and silybin supply which can help protect the liver from the toxins ingested with excessive alcohol consumption.
However, it’s worth noting scientists are divided over the benefits of milk thistle for hangovers and its title as a “cure” is widely debated. Pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy Kiran Jones suggested a different supplement, vitamin B, but with some specific snacks.
Vitamin B, ideally alongside a magnesium supplement, taken after you’ve been drinking but before going to bed can replenish the vitamin B stores that the alcohol depleted, giving you more energy and brain functionality in the morning while magnesium acts as a muscle relaxant for better sleep and can reduce headaches.
However, it’s not just a few pills Kiran is suggesting but a full meal prepped for when you get home from the festivities. He explained that having a protein-rich meal after a night out, such as grilled chicken wings, can stabilise your blood sugar while washing it down with a large glass of coconut water refills your electrolytes, including sodium, potassium and magnesium, all of which help your body recover from drinking and ease hangover symptoms.
If you wake in the morning still feeling out of sorts, one thing all experts agree on is avoiding the “hair of the dog”. This common myth claims that drinking a bit more alcohol in the morning can help ease your hangover, but the only result this has proven to have is raising your blood alcohol levels once again, which can stir up a range of other symptoms or worsen your hangover.