How To Recover From A Sugar Hangover In 3 Easy Steps 

Have you ever consumed a few more pieces of chocolate than you typically would, leaving you with that dreaded sugar hangover?

You know what I'm talking about: fatigue, nausea, a headache, additional sugar cravings, an upset stomach, and maybe even a little anxiety. Sugar hangovers are real, and they do not feel good! The good news is that there are a few simple things can do to help yourself recover from the onslaught of sugar, carbs, and gluten that's likely to occur on this day of the year.

The blood-sugar-balancing benefits of exercise are WAY underrated and underappreciated. But exercise helps balance blood sugar in both the short and long term. In the short term, it helps increase insulin sensitivity1—which means your body can better take up glucose during and after physical activity—and encourages your muscles to contract, which makes them better able to take up glucose and use it for energy. In the long term, regular physical activity can lower your hemoglobin A1C.

We all have our favorite morning drinks. Maybe you're a coffee person, a matcha fanatic, an herbal tea enthusiast, or love experimenting with different mushroom tonics or golden milk recipes. Whatever your poison, adding cinnamon to your first beverage of the day is a great second step to recovering from your sugar hangover.

Why cinnamon, you ask? Cinnamon has long been used as a blood sugar stabilizer, with one study showing that patients taking 500 mg of cinnamon2 twice a day for 90 days experienced improved hemoglobin A1C levels. Other studies have suggested that consuming cinnamon is associated with decreased fasting glucose3, and cinnamon supplements could be a potential complementary treatment for type 2 diabetes to use along with other treatments like dietary changes and exercise.

After an evening of indulgence, it might be tempting to restrict calories or even skip a meal the next day. That could, however, put you at risk for "hanger," or blood sugar dips that make you feel legitimately sick. As an alternative, try starting the day with a nice meal chock-full of healthy fats, fiber, and protein. All three of these nutrients have blood-sugar-balancing properties and can help you feel satisfied. Fats, especially unsaturated fats, have been linked to improved insulin resistance4, fiber has been associated with a reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes (P.S.: It's great for your microbiome, too!), and protein tempers insulin secretion5.

My go-to breakfast is a bunch of sautéed spinach—which is full of the blood-sugar-balancing mineral magnesium—two eggs, and a cup of hot quinoa cereal.