The sun is out, the weather is heating up (for us lucky folks in Denver!)….which means backyard BBQs, Sunday beer sessions, happy hours, parties and weddings are kicking into gear. Spring/summer is a time to be social, but sometimes being social translates into being over-served.

As fun as drinking can be, the body really takes a hit. After a big day/night out, you gotta give your body some love. No one likes to feel badly after having a good time so here are my top tips for enjoying a drink (or 10..) and not suffering (too much) the next day!

Eat before you drink

Drinking on an empty stomach sets you up for a wicked hangover the next morning. If you’re drinking at night, make sure to eat dinner before you start drinking or along with your first few.

Go Clear

Go for the clear and clean alcohols — vodka, gin, white wine — as darker booze contains more chemicals called congeners which inflame the body and intensify hangovers. Mix your liquor with plain or sparkling water + fresh lime. Sugary mixers (especially diet sodas!) make hangovers way worse.

Hydrate

This one is obvious, but I have to make sure you heard it loud and clear. Alcohol is a diuretic which means it makes you pee. Diuretics can lead to dehydration if you’re not hydrating with water while you drink. When you get home from a boozy night, slam a big glass of water before bed. The next morning, drink a large mug of warm water with lemon. Sip on water and coconut water throughout the day! Coconut water is loaded with potassium so it’s way better than Gatorade for replenishing electrolytes. Make a jug of my natural vitamin water (recipe below)!

Take your B Vitamins

Alcohol depletes vitamins in the body. If you’re not too sloppy when you get home, pop a B-complex vitamin before you go to bed….and then another one after breakfast the next morning.

Take Shots!…. of Apple Cider Vinegar

This wonderful elixir will balance your blood pH levels and increase deficient minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium and iron. Try 1 tablespoon of ACV in water with 1/2 tsp turmeric. Shot it back.

Eat a Good Breakfast

Unfortunately, being hungover does not give you a hall pass to head to McDonald’s or a greasy diner. Greasy, heavy food will really make you feel worse. I promise. Instead, opt for eggs and asparagus! Eggs contain a substance called cysteine which breaks down acetaldehyde (a hangover-causing toxin in alcohol). Asparagus assists with breaking down alcohol in your system so your hangover will be over quicker. Pair your eggs and asparagus with some gluten free toast + avocado for a well-rounded brekkie.

Sweat It Out

Exercise gets the blood flowing and stimulates the lymphatic system to excrete toxins. Do whatever exercise you love to do – walking, running, tennis, yoga, etc. If you don’t opt for a yoga class, add some twisting poses to your workout to help with wringing out the digestive system.

Love your Liver

Your liver is in overdrive after a boozy night. If you have a juicer, or a juice bar nearby, treat yourself to a big ole veggie juice which is a champ when it comes to liver detox. Add as many greens into your juice as you can stand and guzzle. Also, try to incorporate some brassica veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, Brussel sprouts) into your meals that day to support detoxification. Sip on roasted dandelion root tea.

Make a big batch of this refreshing and detoxifying natural vitamin water and drink over the course of the day. It’s pretty, and yummy, and sure to get you feeling good as gold in no time!

Natural Vitamin Water

Serves 4

• Four cups of cold coconut or mineral water
• 1 lemon
• a handful of mint leaves
• slice of fresh ginger root
• 1 small cucumber
• handful of frozen raspberries
• handful of frozen blueberries
• optional: 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar

Peel the cucumber into strips using a potato peeler. Slice the lemon into circles, the ginger into thin rounds and pull the mint leaves off their stalks.

Pour the water or coconut water into a jug and add the lemon, cucumber, mint leaves and berries. Add a dash of apple cider vinegar if you’re brave. Then let the water sit for about thirty minutes to allow the flavors to infuse into it.

Enjoy for a happy hangover!