Do you tend to get a little too wild at Halloween parties? Here is how to avoid looking like a zombie once the fun is over.
Written by Sarah Abbott, D.C. // October 26, 2012 // Uncategorized // Comments Off
With Halloween right around the corner, people everywhere are getting ready to transform into a better, scarier, funnier versions of themselves or someone else. Hopefully everyone is putting the finishing touches on their costumes this year and has stocked up on Halloween make up essentials. This is the time of year when little goblins and ghouls have lots of fun running from door to door to collect unfathomable amounts of candy. Adults of all sorts are sinking their teeth into devilishly good drinks and parties. Here are some tips to avoid scaring co-workers and friends after the Halloween partying ends.
Alcohol is a toxic substance to the body. In smaller amounts it can account for a great addition to a night. In massive quantities, it can land you in the hospital or create pre-mature aging and yellowing of the skin. The process of breaking down alcohol in the body requires a series of several steps. It’s just like shopping. Say you need one last critical item to complete your Halloween garb. Think of all the things you’ll need to make that purchase: transportation, the right store, the right size and fit, sales clerk, coupons in hand or on your smart phone, a form of payment. If any of these things are not present, arguably you cannot make a successful purchase. In the breakdown of alcohol, consider the liver as the shopping store. It is the place where all the action happens. Alcohol dehydrogenase is an enzyme that breaks alcohol down into Acetaldehyde. The sales clerk (alcohol dehydrogenase) picks out what items are within your needs and places them in a dressing room for you to try on. This is the first step. The sales clerk breaks down the layout of the store and has minimized the items to fit your needs (acetaldehyde). Acetaldehyde is still a toxic substance in the body. In this analogy, say the first few items you try on are not a good fit or way too expensive—toxic substances! This shopping experience needs to be broken down further. Another sales clerk (aldehyde dehydrogenase) reduces your selection to the perfect item you needed with the perfect price (Acetate). The only reason this second sales clerk was able to reduce the price of this item is with the addition of a coupon. In the breakdown of alcohol, Vitamin B is a coupon. It is necessary to make the second step occur.
Be Proactive
Halloween partying can take a toll on anyone’s skin, liver, or overall state of health. There are some important vitamins and nutrients that can help avoid becoming a victim of a post Halloween hangover.
Vitamin B: essential for the breakdown of alcohol and is most effective when taken in the pre-party state. There are several different B vitamins. Taking all the B’s together is recommended as they all play an integral role into the physiology of an individual. Vitamins made from food sources versus chemically made ones will be absorbed into your body quicker. Check your local health food store for a great whole food Vitamin B complex.
Tuna Oil: contains both DHA and EPA, which are essential fatty acids necessary to maintain healthy, well hydrated skin. These can also be found at the local health food store.
Food and Water: Eat a full meal and be hydrated prior to the event. The food will help slow absorption of alcohol through the stomach. A person should drink half of their body weight in ounces per day. For a 100 pound person, they should be drinking 50 ounces of water in total throughout the day.
During the event
Water: necessary element for the biochemical breakdown of an alternate alcohol pathway breakdown. It is easy on the wallet and can help manage a hefty bar tab.
Keep a count: Save the tops of beer cans or little umbrella’s to keep track of how many you’ve sipped throughout the night. The Center for Disease Control identifies binge drinking as more than 5 drinks for men and more than 4 drinks for women in a single occasion.
It’s not a race: women have a lower concentration of alcohol dehydrogenase genetically when compared to their male counterparts. Women take more time to biochemically break down alcohol than men.
After the event
Wash off all make up: Anyone who isn’t new to the world of make up knows this is the golden rule to keeping skin seem young and healthy throughout the years.
Use a toner and moisturize: Toning will clear any dirt or excess oil that resides on the skin after a good wash. Hydrating the skin will allow for skin to remain flexible and pliable after the layers of Halloween masking has been removed.
Keep cool cucumbers or cool tea bags to place over puffy eyes: The cool temperature will cause vasoconstriction of the delicate blood vessels around the eye. This will help decrease the swelling and redness in the area.
Halloween can be a spooky time, but with these practices a fashionista can wake up fresh-faced and ready to roll into November. Be sure to incorporate these tips as holiday party season quickly approaches.
