Finish the Year Smartly...

Well, the world didn't end on the 21st and we're going to be celebrating New Year's Eve in two days.  For many people that means lots of eating and drinking before they attempt New Year's resolutions the next morning.  I'm not here to lecture anyone on their behavior, but you should stop to consider the consequences of drinking too much.  Although red wine may have antioxidants and beer may have "good carbs" (beer is better for you than pop or soda, but that's not saying much), the pros don't outweigh the cons, so don't give yourself an excuse to start drinking if you don't already.  But if you do choose to drink, follow these tips:

1. Eat before and/or during drinking.  Eating, especially foods that contain good fats and proteins, will help the body absorb the alcohol.  Drinking on an empty stomach will get you drunk faster and will increase your chances of a hangover.  Eating afterwards can help, too, if you didn't eat while you were drinking.
2. Stay hydrated.  Dehydration is one of the causes and symptoms of a hangover, and it's always good to be hydrated even if you're not drinking, so this one's a no-brainer.  Drink plenty of water before and after, and drink two glasses of water for every alcoholic drink.
3. Don't drink after a workout.  Going hand in hand with the first two, you'll get drunk much faster if you drink when you're not fully recovered from a workout.  Unfortunately I know this firsthand.  Your body will undoubtedly be tired and dehydrated, which is not a good combo for drinking.
4. Limit yourself to two or three drinks throughout the night.  Easier said than done for some people, but it will serve you well if you can keep to this limit.  People aren't kidding when they talk about a beer belly - liquid calories add up, especially if you're downing several drinks.  Sugar alcohols have more calories per gram than regular sugars, and some craft beers (think heavier and darker) can have upwards of 300 calories.
5. Olive oil and asparagus.  If you must drink a lot, your best bets to ward off a hangover are olive oil and asparagus.  Olive oil has healthy fats that have been shown to absorb the alcohol efficiently, and raw asparagus contains enzymes that break down alcohol.  Toughen up and sip a shot of olive oil and nibble on a shoot of raw asparagus.  If you just can't stomach it, saute the asparagus in the oil and still reap some of the benefits.

What you do is up to you - I'm just presenting some facts.  Whatever you do, please make smart decisions.  I've seen too many people jeopardize their season or career (or worse, others seasons/careers/lives) with dumb choices.

Happy New Year,
Jeff