Happy St. Patrick's Day!
posted: Mar. 14, 2018.
St. Patrick's Day is generally considered a holiday of high alcohol consumption, whether you are Irish or not. The holiday has some dubious associations that include more DUIs and alcohol related highway fatalities than other holidays. On a less serious note, the alcohol consumed on St. Patrick's day can lead to the unpleasant ill feeling for the following day (or days for some) as well as creating quite a burden for the liver.
The function of the liver in our body is to clean and detoxify our blood; it is responsible for alcohol metabolism. Hepatitis, alcohol consumption or exposure to chemicals and toxins can damage the liver, slow it functions and promote suseptability to illness.
Assuming that recommendations to avoid alcohol on St. Patrick's Day will fall on deaf ears, your doctor's at Gallatin Valley Chiropactic would like to offer some suggestions to get you through St. Patrick's day and days to follow with grace.
Drink plenty of water. A small glass of water between each alcoholic beverage often prevents a hangover since a huge factor in that ill feeling is dehydration.
Take Milk Thistle supplement. With no real side effects or risks reported and some research evidence showing that milk thistle helps the liver process toxins and facilitates alcohol metabolism, it can be a good choice for a little added support.
B vitamins help the liver with alcohol metabolism and vitamins A,C, E and Beta-carotene help liver function. A high quality daily multi-vitamin could help.
A designated driver is always a solid suggestion if you know you will be out imbibing.
We recommend against “hair of the dog healing” on the 18th.
If you have questions about this or any other health related topic, feel free to as one of the doctors at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic. Call 406-551-2177 for an appointment or consultation.