Most of us would have experienced a hangover induced by a few too many drinks; a throbbing head, unsettled tummy, sensitivity to light…. but what about a little too much to eat? Yes a food hangover is what I am eluding to here! The symptoms are very similar to that of an alcohol hangover and sometimes worse.

If you are one who eats whole healthy unrefined foods, then you will notice the dreaded feeling of a food hangover far more if you over indulge in processed or fast food and the effects can last several days. For the other section of the community who constantly eat refined and fast foods, you tend to just get used to feeling pretty lousy. Apart from the heady symptoms of over indulging, the damage to one’s body is far reaching such as disruptions to your sleep pattern, a sluggish digestive system, impaired liver function and fluid retention. Over eating- particularly the ‘wrong’ foods over a long term can lead to more chronic illness.

Sure we all over indulge now and again, and a harmless little treat is often necessary, however, many of us eat too much and the ‘wrong’ foods – by wrong I am referring to highly processed, refined and fast foods. Top this off with sugary laden soft drinks and sweet treats you will be guaranteed to wake up in a groggy haze with low energy levels and crave sugar to ‘pick you up’ again!

It is only when you have experienced the clarity that comes with eating a ‘clean’ whole food diet; your skin and eyes shine and you feel awesome, the greater the contrast when toxic food enters your blood stream. I have analysed enough diets over the years to know that the majority of people make fairly poor food choices. I see people carrying too much weight and with the excess weight will nearly always come dry flaky skin and dull eyes. Most people tell me they feel tired, lazy, and sluggish and don’t sleep well. And this is NORMAL! Yikes…..I don’t think anyone really wants to feel this way and the great thing is we don’t have to! We do have a choice and it is important before whinging about feeling unwell after over indulging or making poor food choices, that we make more informed decisions about what we are going to put into our bodies and take responsibility for ourselves and our own well being rather than blaming everyone and everything else.

By eating an unbalanced diet you are not only at the risk of a constant ‘food hangover’ but also at the risk of your blood sugar levels becoming erratic, leading to energy slumps and imbalances of vital nutrients. Actually the list is endless and all result in that sluggish feeling I have been describing the whole time – the dreaded food hangover.

Do yourself and your body a huge favour….take care with not only on the grog, but also the food. Drink plenty of water and pace yourself. Make the majority of your food choices from unprocessed, natural whole foods and more importantly, make it a life time change. Instead of popping a pill to relieve the symptoms, don’t allow the symptoms to take hold. Plan ahead, go easy on the greasy and enjoy some healthy alternatives in moderation to avoid a hangover from food.