The holiday season is a time of indulgences, and I love to help my readers navigate with THE savviest ways to have your cake and eat it too.
While I don’t recommend drinking alcohol due to the way it disrupts women’s hormones, holiday time is party time, I know. I often have clients asking me to help them get back on track after a night or two of over-indulging. I know that many people are going to drink, so why not enjoy every sip while making wise choices? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
When it comes to alcohol, I have a few tips to optimize your night out:
First, before you go out, eat a meal with protein (chicken, eggs, grass-fed beef, fish, etc). Protein helps slow the absorption of alcohol, so it doesn’t hit you too hard, too fast.
Next, according to my friend and Paleo expert, Caitlin Weeks (the Grass-Fed Girl), the best choices for alcohol are wine spritzers, vodka sodas with lime, NorCal margaritas, or gin martinis. These options have lower alcohol content and are relatively easier on your system. Also, be sure to drink a glass of water after each drink. This will keep you hydrated, and may reduce your total number of drinks.
Bonus: Drinks with bubbles help you feel fuller.
Lastly, savor and enjoy each sip! Fully take in the flavors with each of your senses: taste, smell, and sight.

Homeopathy 101:
Have a back-up plan in case of a hangover*
Google reports that January 1 is the most hung over day of the year, with searches for “hangover cure” being nearly 10 times higher than average. Homeopathy to the rescue!
Hangover Helpers
The following remedies can take the edge off if you have too much to eat or drink and are suffering from indigestion or hangover.
Nux vomica (Quaker buttons)
This is the classic remedy for hangovers, overeating, or food poisoning
- Physical symptoms: Bloating, gas, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after overindulging in alcohol, rich foods, or coffee. Headache with dizziness; unrefreshed sleep; and symptoms are worse upon waking.
Symptoms can also be from overworking or nervous exhaustion - Emotional symptoms: Sensitivity to noise and light, irritable, impatient
Carbo vegetabilis (Vegetable charcoal)
- Physical symptoms: Frequent burping with gas and bloating after eating rich, fatty foods. Carbonated drinks bring relief. May experience breathing difficulties from “incarcerated gas” (my favorite medical term!). Desires fresh air even if feeling chilly.
- Emotional symptoms: Apathy, indifference
As you can see, each of the 4,000 remedies available have a different profile that is individually matched to how each person experiences symptoms.
Directions for taking remedies: Choose the 30c potency at your health food store. Take 2 pellets, 3 times per day, or until your symptoms improve. If you do not find relief after two doses, switch to a different remedy. Do not take for more than 3 days.
Remember: For clients who are actively working with me and have an individualized remedy, do not take any of the remedies above. Your constitutional remedy works on every level – you do not need anything supplemental. If you are not feeling well, it is usually best to repeat a dose of your remedy before taking an “acute” remedy.
Homeopathy: Homeopathy is a 200-year-old holistic system of healing that uses natural substances to bring the body back into balance. Homeopathic remedies reset your internal healing mechanism and allow your body to restore balance from within.
Acute Remedies: For conditions that come on suddenly such as the flu, food poisoning, or motion sickness. The examples in this newsletter are readily available over-the-counter.
Constitutional Remedies: For chronic, long-standing symptoms that have lasted more than six months such as PMS, migraines, or endometriosis. A professional homeopath has the necessary training to act as a detective and select the best constitutional remedy for each person.
Food for Healing:
Sparkling Ginger Pomegranate Mocktail

Inspired by the Moscow Mule cocktail, this sparkling nonalcoholic drink features a ginger infused simple syrup, pomegranate juice, and ginger beer.
Yield: 3–4 drinks
For the ginger simple syrup
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons sliced fresh ginger
For the mocktails
3/4 cup ginger simple syrup (see below)
3/4 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice (Lakewood, Pom, Knudsen)
3/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1 1/2 cups ginger beer (I use Fever Tree)
Fresh mint or lime slices for garnish
For the ginger simple syrup
- Heat: In a small saucepan, stir together the sugar, water, and ginger; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved, 1-2 minutes. Turn off heat.
- Steep: Cover the saucepan and let steep for 15-20 minutes.
- Strain and chill: Using a slotted spoon, strain out the ginger pieces and discard. Chill the simple syrup until ready to use (see Notes). You should have about 3/4 cup simple syrup.
For the mocktails
- Stir: In a mixing glass, stir together the simple syrup, pomegranate juice, and lime juice.
- Serve: Divide the pomegranate mixture among 3-4 glasses and top each glass with the ginger beer. Garnish with fresh mint or limes slices and serve.
NOTES
To quickly chill the syrup, put the saucepan into a bowl of ice-water being careful not to get any water in the pan. Stir the syrup until it is cold.
**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The remedies mentioned in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations or relationship with your physician.