Natural health: Hangover remedies and the Paleo diet – Irish Examiner

Q. I don’t seem to recover from drinking alcohol as well as I used to anymore.

I’m not talking about getting drunk or any type of binge drinking, just the regular few drinks seems to hit me harder the next day. 

Is there anything I can take to help with this?

A. We definitely have more trouble processing alcohol as we age. 

This is in part due to the state of our liver, the amount of sleep we get, and how healthy our bodies are in general — all of which add up to our bodies and minds not being able to cope as well with the effects of alcohol as they did in our youth.

NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) helps to reduce hangover-type symptoms by increasing glutathione levels and reducing acetaldehyde effects on the body. 

B vitamins are in shorter supply as we age, in part due to increased stress loads, and alcohol further depletes these precious vitamins. 

Vitamin B1 and NAC are thought to work synergistically, so take a quality B-complex together with 200mg of NAC about half an hour before you drink alcohol to help moderate any hangover type symptoms the next day.

Q. Is the Paleo diet worth considering for weight loss, or is it just another fad?

A. This depends on where you are coming from. 

If your diet is full of junk food and could use an overhaul, then eating the Paleo way will likely help to balance your weight. 

Since there is no place for processed and refined food in the Paleo movement, and all of your calories are coming from nutrient-dense whole foods, it is inevitable that people will eat less, have more energy, and lose weight.

Many people mistakenly believe that a Paleo lifestyle means eating loads of meat and fats, and very little else. 

While meats and healthy fats do form a part of the Paleo diet, it also includes fresh produce, eggs, and in some cases whole and fermented dairy products. 

Grains and legumes are typically excluded, although nuts and seeds are allowed.

It seems that this approach to eating certainly introduces healthier food choices in general, much of which stick long after the ‘fad’ aspect fades. 

The only concern, as with any strict regime or protocol around health and diet, is the risk of becoming too extreme or rigid in your approach.

For more information on the Paleo Diet, Robb Wolf is a good place to start ( www.robbwolf.com ).

Q. Is eating dessert bad for your health? I do love something sweet after a meal, and don’t necessarily eat dessert every night.

A. Your question is a good one, and is slightly more complex than a straight yes or no answer can provide. 

The first thing to consider is how healthy your diet is in general — all things in moderation applies particularly well in this situation. 

A small treat here and there is easily balanced out if you eat a diet rich in wholesome and unprocessed foods.

If, however, your diet is already laden with takeaway and ready-meals and you eat refined sugary snacks throughout the day, then sweet treats after dinner may well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

The answer to your question also depends largely on your definition of dessert. 

If dessert entails stewed fruits, fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, honey, dark chocolate and the like, then by all means carry on. 

It really is the processed aspect to desserts that trigger or exacerbate health conditions. 

Refined and bleached flour, sugar, and fats often form the foundation of after-dinner cakes and sweet creations, and this is a combination of ingredients that we should aim to avoid if we can.

The good news is that if you are making your own desserts at home, then it is relatively straight forward to either find healthy recipes or switch ingredients where possible in favour of healthier alternatives. 

It is also important to consider the added refined sugars you are typically getting from less obvious sources during the day — such as tomato ketchup, dressings and mayonnaise, jams and spreads etc.