In an alternate universe, we’d swap our endless, negroni-drenched nights out for an 8pm bedtime complete with SLIP pillowcase, Remee Mask & that Sleep Cycle app everyone’s talking about. But realistically we’re never going to live in that universe.

So lately we’ve been pre-occupied with cheating an 8 hour sleep or that ‘glow-from-within’ without giving up that second round of Patrón.

The trick is, it’s all about the pre-game. Those preventative measures during the week to combat the weekends’ mis, um, adventures and all the joy they bring (sans hangover). Think of it in terms of the 80/20 rule. Load up on life-altering ingredients Monday-Friday that will help you bring your total A game during the week, and also help prevent any health hangovers from your, well, hangovers over the weekend.

We’ve put together 7 killer ingredients you can find at your local health food store with seriously magical, hair-of-the-dog type healing abilities.

Vitamin C Powder: Metagenics Ultra Potent Vitamin C

With some serious levels of Vitamin C, this super powder is best mixed in with water and taken straight, (no chasers) and supports healthy immune function which can get sluggish when you drink. You know that sniffly, fluey feeling you get the morning after a big night out? Regular doses of this bad boy during the week should help prevent that from happening.

Chia Seeds

Super rich in antioxidants, fiber, magnesium, iron, zinc and calcium, chia seeds give you a sustained energy boost, kinda like nature’s Berocca. Try a teaspoon in your smoothie everyday for optimum results.

Bone Broth

Okay, so hear us out on this one; Bone broth smoothies are the bomb. Sounds gross, we know but we promise, when done the right way, the bone broth flavour is gone. What’s left is high counts of collagen for healthy hair, skin and nails, and gelatin which helps with a problem tummy (or a booze belly). Get on board the broth bandwagon. Our skin has never looked better.

Acai Powder

Another antioxidant-high winner for smoothie enthusiasts. Just a casual superfood. Good for building immunity.

Maca Powder

Miranda Kerr swears by this powdered Peruvian root and if it’s good enough for her…

Good in smoothies, over oats and mixed into soups, just a tablespoon a day can help with a multi vitamin boost, energy, and mood balance. All things we definitely need after a night on the tiles.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Worried about Sunday morning break-outs? A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in hot water each day will help regulate the pH of your skin and is totally detoxifying. The best!

Coconut Oil

It’s a no-brainer that Coconut oil should be in your life. You can use it as a make-up remover, add a teaspoon to smoothies, and use it to replace your regular oil when you cook. The thing about coconut oil it is a major superfood, and one of the healthiest oils on earth. Extremely easy to digest, it can also boost your metabolism and increase energy because it’s more likely to be burned as fuel than stored as body fat.

Raw Green Powder

This is the lazy girls guide to getting in your five a day. Getting your greens boosts immunity, increases energy and aids in digestion which are all good things when you’ve been doing nothing but bad. Our favourites? Amazonian Raw Greens, Elle Macpherson’s Body Elixir and Vital Greens. Mix into a cold class of almond milk for a grown up version of Nesquick. Remember those?

 

By Divya Bala