Party the smart way, this season

You know the drill. Late nights, a bottomless bar tab and food that makes your waistline cringe. Taking on the new year is hard enough, without the added mission of getting back into shape and piecing your routine back together, blurry memory in tow. You can have your fun and healthy living too, if you find a balance.

Eat well to drink well. Booze is unforgiving, so be prepared. Line your tummy with a healthy meal before a night of drinking. This will help your body absorb alcohol slowly. Healthy fats are your best options here, so include food like salmon, chicken and avocado. Snack on almonds, apples and oat cakes for energy.

Drink water. Not all drinking keeps you hydrated, especially not that fifth shot of tequila. Make sure you get plenty of water and herbal tea on the day you are planning to go out. Keeping your body hydrated will prevent a hangover and help keep you energised.

Chill out. Your body wasn’t built for partying 24/7, so let it rest. Getting enough sleep is always important and especially when you are planning on party-hopping. A late night now and then is fine, but don’t roll in and out of bed for days on end. Try to get at least six to eight hours of sleep a night and grab a nap if you are going to be out late.

Move it. Running from party to party is hardly exercise, especially as there’s probably food and nibbles at every stop. You might assume that exercising will tire you out too much before partying, but it’s quite the opposite. Sticking to your exercise routine will keep you energised throughout the season, so exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Exercise will also go a long way in stopping those booze calories from becoming a belly.

Fight the toxins. Think of antioxidants as Band-Aids for partying. Antioxidants help to get rid of the toxins that you take in when drinking or eating fatty or fried foods. Sip green tea and eat nuts, dark green veggies, sweet potatoes, orange vegetables and wholegrains to make sure that your body is pumped up with enough antioxidants to keep you going this season.

Fit with fibre. The excessive eating and drinking over the season can wreak havoc on your digestive system, so toss some fibre into your diet. Fibre helps to cleanse your bowels, which is needed to get rid of the alcohol and toxins from the rich food. Have a bowl of wholegrain cereal for breakfast, eat at least two apples a day and choose veggies like carrots and broccoli to keep your fibre levels at its peak. Snack on a yoghurt mix with nuts and raisins for an extra boost.

Brush it off. Before taking a shower, try dry brushing your body to move lymph (clear-to-white fluid made of white blood cells) around your body. This will help your body to detox before you start drinking.

Looking for a hang-over cure? Log on to the Hello Doctor app and speak to a Doctor about the best remedies.

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