Photo by Borgy Angeles
Did you take it one step too far in the drinks department last night? I’d hazard a guess you aren’t the only one – not least because I’m also in the same boat. When things get a little too merry around Christmas, we all need a little helping hand so that we – and our livers – can start to feel better. And while rehydrating with water and electrolytes is obviously essential, I also recently discovered a little-known supplement that is the best I’ve found for treating a hangover.
I was told about (the perfectly named) De-liver-ance by medical scientist and nutritionist Dr Federica Amati, who said it’s one of the few liver-boosting supplements she rates and recommends. “It has a very, very high concentration of polyphenols, which are plant extracts,” she told me of the elixir that has since brought me and friends back to life on numerous occasions.
It isn’t just packed with polyphenols – which lower blood sugar and inflammation, boost brain power and decrease the risk of cancer, to name a few of the benefits – it also contains 90 times more antioxidants than blueberries, as well as healing and anti-inflammatory herbs like ginseng and astragalus.
“It’s brilliant because it reduces peak blood alcohol concentration, which is really helpful for our bodies to be able to lessen the negative effects of alcohol,” explains Dr Amati. “The high polyphenol concentration is thought to help liver cells function at their best by reducing oxidative stress.”
A dark brown liquid that doesn’t taste awful (but admittedly doesn’t taste that nice, either), it floods the liver with these polyphenols, which subsequently optimise cellular function in the regenerative organ. Given the liver’s role is to escort toxins out of the body, the better it functions, the quicker toxins in the blood will be removed. All of which can help with the hallmarks of a hangover, from the thudding headache to the fatigue.
Beyond taking it the morning after the night before, it’s also a good idea to take the supplement before a big night out in order to mitigate the impact of potential over-indulgence. While some of the best nights are fuelled by spontaneity – and so can’t be planned – if you keep a De-liver-ance tube with you at all times, you’re always prepared. So, the next time you’re suffering on the sofa, capable of doing nothing beyond staring into space, make the effort to place an order. You won’t regret it.
