If you’re reading this article, you are probably suffering from the most dreaded socially induced disease – the hangover! You know how it happened; you boogied until your muscles ached, drank about a MILLION tequila shots and then stumbled home at 03:30. Predictably, you woke up with a bad case cotton mouth, a terminal headache and a stomach that won’t stop rumbling. Overcome the dreaded hangover with the following recipes…

Toasty Banana Surprise

Food? A carbohydrate based breakfast is perfect to relieve tender tummies. Glug down a few glasses of water, slice up a yummy banana, toss it onto a piece of toast with some syrup and munch to your heart’s content!

Reason? Your brain consists of 70% water, so it’s only natural that its water reserve needs topping up every so often – especially when you drink (Alcohol dehydrates the body!). Bananas are excellent hangover food, because they are jam-packed with magnesium, potassium and B vitamins –all of which FLIES out of your body once you hit the booze bottle. Unless you’re wheat intolerant, toast is very unlikely to furthertrouble your tender tummy.

Very Berry milkshake

Food? A simple berry milkshake is fantastic for a swift health boost. Simply hurl a handful of strawberries and blue berries into a blender with a glass of milk and a few ice cubes – blend and enjoy!

Reason? Strawberries increase short-term memory; therefore these natural treats will help you remember the vague details of last night’s drunkenescapades. Chomping on 100g of blueberries will supply you with the same amount of antioxidants as five servings of vegetables and fruit. Topping up your antioxidants will replenish those lost brain cells.

Cheesy chilli omelette

Food? Omelettes are quick and easy to prepare, so if you have some eggs available, get cracking! Whisk a few  eggs in a bowl and add a smidgeon of salt and pepper. Slice up a third of a chilli and toss it in a frying pan, along with some sliced onion. Pour in the egg mixture, wait until it’s almost cooked and then add a lavish helping of cheese. Flip the omelette over a few times until it’s cooked and tuck in!

Reason? Eggs are a hangover’s worst enemy, because they are filled with a substance named cysteine. This amazing substance breaks down all the alcohol toxins that have built up in your system. Spicy food, like the chilli in the omelette, will make you sweat out any remaining alcohol.You’ll stink, but you’ll feel better!

Maple Syrup’ed Pancakes with Pecan

Food? Haul yourself out of bed and snatch a packet of pancakes from your localshop’s shelf. Warm a couple up in the microwave (or stop being such a sleaze, and bake a few fresh ones!) smother them with maple syrup and sprinkle some pecan nuts over the top.

Reason? Glugging down only 50ml (2 tequila shots worth for you guys who still can’t think straight…) maple syrup provides you with 45% of your daily manganese requirements. On the other hand, pecans contain over 18 minerals and vitamins in total. One of which is vitamin E, which helps protect your remaining liver cells from further damage after a booze binge.

Next time you decide to go punish your body using, keep these recipes in mind for the following morning. It won’t completely heal you, but it will certainly help you onto the road to recovery.

{April 12, 2012}