Alcohol is often a part of holiday festivities, and a glass of wine, light beer, or other South Beach Diet-friendly spirits can certainly be enjoyed on Phases 2 and 3 of our eating plan. (Remember, there is no alcohol allowed on Phase 1.) And if you stick with our alcohol guidelines — women should limit their intake to one alcoholic beverage a day, and men to one or two a day — it's unlikely you'll wake up feeling the effects of a night of yuletide cheer. However, if a couple of drinks somehow lead to more, here are a few do-it-yourself methods for minimizing the effects of a hangover:
-
Drink
lots of fluids. Alcohol
saps your body of fluids, so you need to replenish to stay sufficiently
hydrated. Water is the obvious choice, but a low-sodium vegetable juice blend,
a reduced-sodium clear broth, and even sugar-free soda without caffeine can
help you rehydrate.
-
Sleep it
off. Alcohol disrupts your sleeping
pattern, so chances are a night of revelry will leave you feeling less than
cheerful in the morning. Try to schedule time for a quick nap during the day — at the very least, make sure you get adequate rest the
following night.
-
Ease an
aching head. Last but
not least, to combat a morning-after headache, try an over-the-counter
painkiller, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, or if you are sensitive to
these drugs, a cold compress on the forehead can help.
