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Hangovers – How to Avoid Them

February 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Who hasn’t had a hangover at least once? For some of us, one is all it takes, and we swear off alcohol for good. The rest of us learned to cope with, and prevent hangovers as best we can. So what causes a hangover anyway? As it turns out, no one knows for sure. There are of course, some very good theories on the matter.

Some experts think a hangover may be triggered or enhanced by the dehydrating effect of alcohol on the body. A hangover might even be a type of state of withdrawal your body has to go through after being exposed to large amounts of alcohol. Some experts think hangovers may arise due to chemical compounds in alcohol that get converted into formaldehyde by the liver. Dark alcohols like wine and whiskey have more of these so that might be why they tend to cause hangovers more so than clear liquids like gin or vodka.

Whatever the cause, the symptoms are all too familiar. If you have a hangover, you’ll know it. The symptoms you might experience include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, headache, trembling, diarrhea, and sensitivity to sound and light. Everyone has their own pet cure for a hangover from eating greasy fast food to drinking more alcohol.

1.) The best bet is to avoid a hangover altogether. You can still go out, drink, and have a good time. Just keep these tips in mind:

2.) Limit your alcoholic drinks. Alternate between alcohol and water or juice so you don’t drink to be excess.

3.) Eat first. A full stomach causes alcohol to be absorbed more slowly into your bloodstream.

4.) Avoid mixing alcoholic drinks. Stick with wine or rum but don’t go mixing them, or you have a greater chance of getting a hangover.

5.) Choose clear alcohol like vodka and avoid dark whiskey and rum.

6.) Avoid soda as a mixer since carbonated drinks and products with caffeine or sugar will speed the absorption of alcohol and contribute to a crash the next morning.

Do like the alcohol companies advise: Drink Responsibly!


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Sleeping in the Daytime, Working at Night

February 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Nowadays, our biological clocks are messed up. What with the workload (which may require you to be awake anytime), the party scenes, the internet pull, the television shows, and everything we want to do in between, our biological clock is definitely confused as to what constitutes day and night.

sleeping daytimeIn the past, it was as clear as, well, day. We work and play in the morning, and we go to sleep at night. Simple, straightforward, universal. Nowadays, this is very rarely true. A lot of people work during the night time, which will require them to sleep during the daytime.

However, since there are domestic errands they need to attend to, they will only sleep for a portion of the day, and wake up again in the afternoon to do the things they should have done in the morning. Because of all these activities, we may end up being tired all the time, with little energy to last us through the days. Just how can we fight the fatigue that is eating us, when we have so much to do?

The trick is – to trick your body into believing that what is abnormal is actually normal. Our bodies will always adapt to whatever routine we take, and as long as we establish a pattern of sleeping in the early morning to the late noon. We will find ourselves being sleepy when the rooster crows and waking up when the sun casts a straight, upright shadow.

You can also do some exercise, which not only will give you that extra boost of energy you need, but can also make you sleep better at night or during the day. In the end, we need to do what we need to do, and we just need to adjust our routines to cater to our needs.


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Filed Under: Health, Level Your Life, Reviews, Wellness | Tagged:

Eat Fat before your Meal?

February 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Do you think of dietary fat as being bad? Do you associate going on a diet with eliminating fat? At one time, low fat diets were very popular, but as time wore on, they proved to less effective than once thought, and maybe even unhealthy. Your body needs fat. Granted, it doesn’t need a lot of fat, and it needs the right kind of fat. If you eat “good” fat in the proper amounts, at the right time, they can help you lose weight and stay healthy.

Eating a small amount of fat about 20 minutes before your regular meal may be enough to quell your appetite so you eat less. Fat also slows absorption so you feel full longer. This helps end cravings and the urge to snack between meals. Fat is necessary for healthy body functions, so including good fats in your diet can improve the health of your brain, cardiovascular system, and nervous system. Fat helps in the absorption of omega 3 fatty acids and builds strong cell walls and bones. Good fats can actually help lower cholesterol and reduce inflammation in the body.

So what are good fats? These are found in nuts, olive oil, and even peanut butter. These are healthy fats, but being fat, they are also high in calories so if you need to lose weight, you want to control your portions. A small handful of nuts or celery stick with peanut butter eaten about 20 minutes before your evening meal is plenty.

Remember, not all fat is equal. Bad fats like those found in full fat dairy products, and meat are saturated, and should be strictly limited, because eating these to excess has been linked to an increase in health problems such as cardiovascular disease. So reach for the walnuts before your next meal, and not the ice cream!


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