Protect yourself from a rough Tuesday morning by drinking this one green super-drink before your first pint of Guinness
This weekend and into Monday is going to see floods of Guinness, green outfits, and ridiculous leprechaun hats. Which can only mean one thing- it’s St Patrick’s Day.
We Scots will be celebrating with our Irish brethren over the next few days, enjoying each other’s company, a good sing-song, and definitely quite a few drinks. But the looming threat of a hangover can ruin festivities, especially as the day after St Pat’s is a Tuesday.
But there’s one thing we should be lining our stomachs with to guarantee a less painful recovery, and it’s not just lots of carbs.
The secret to a hangover-free weekend is green tea and Richard Price, owner of British tea supplier, Britsuperstore, has explained why. Here’s everything you need to know about this magic green drink.
How does green tea prevent a hangover?
Richard says: “Green tea contains powerful antioxidants called catechins, which may help accelerate the liver’s ability to metabolise alcohol. These antioxidants reduce the oxidative stress caused by alcohol, helping to minimise the harmful effects it can have on your body.
“While drinking green tea won’t guarantee a completely hangover-free morning, it can certainly support your body’s natural detox process and potentially reduce common hangover symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and dehydration. Green tea also helps with hydration, a key element in post-drinking recovery.
“When you drink alcohol, your liver works overtime to break down and process the toxins. This can lead to an imbalance in your body’s systems, causing the dreaded hangover symptoms. Green tea’s antioxidants may help reduce liver inflammation, improve liver function, and even boost your body’s ability to flush out toxins faster.
“If you’re looking for a natural, soothing remedy to help get back on track, green tea might be one of the easiest ways to support your recovery.”
How to make green tea taste better
Despite its many health benefits, green tea is naturally slightly bitter. Here are Richard’s tips to help you turn it into a delicious drink:
- Don’t use boiling water as water that’s too hot can make green tea taste overly bitter. Instead, let it cool for a minute after boiling before pouring.
- Add a squeeze of lemon; not only does this enhance the flavour, but it also boosts the tea’s antioxidant absorption.
- Try a spoonful of honey to add natural sweetness.
Food and drinks to avoid this St Patrick’s Day
“Along with having a cup of green tea before going out this St Paddy’s Day, there are a few things to avoid lining your stomach with if you don’t want a deathly hangover”, explains Richard.
Coffee
“Avoid drinking coffee to power you through the night as this will dehydrate you even more, worsening your hangover symptoms the next day.”
Processed food
“Processed food with refined carbs and added sugar is also a bad idea. This is because sugary drinks and simple carbohydrate foods are consumed faster by the body and don’t have the shielding effects of other ingredients.”
Salty foods
“Foods with high salt content should also be avoided in your pre-celebration meal. While I agree they make for the best snack, they can dehydrate you which will make you reach for more drinks. These drinks, in turn, will dehydrate you further – as alcohol does. It’s a vicious cycle.”
