5 Ways to Prevent Alcohol From Ruining Your Performance — The Soccer Mentor

Playing well vs having a fun night out involving alcohol. Sometimes we just can’t resist trying to do both….

Footballers are human beings, no matter what level of the game they play at. Of course, depending on what level you play at, football will play a different role in your life. Those who play for academies or turn professional will live their life around football.

For the amateur player, however, football exists around everyday life.

And part of having an ‘everyday’ life is going to the pub (when permitted, of course) and, simply, enjoying yourself. But a Saturday night out and an early morning Sunday League match is not a compatible pairing, as sad as that may be. So how can you recover from a hangover in time for a hypothetical 10am kick off on a Sunday morning?

First and foremost, it’s important to state that Sunday League or not, it’s never a good idea to drink heavily the night before a game. Firstly, it’s not safe for you or others to play football while still intoxicated, nor is it legal to drive yourself to a match under the influence.

But, if you’ve had one or two drinks and are in a fit state to play but feel a little heavy-headed the morning of the game, then read on.

Picture this: It’s 8 o’clock on a Sunday morning. You wake up, head banging, feeling drowsy and you just don’t want to get out of bed. But in 2 hours time, your match kicks off. What do you do?

Alcohol is a toxin. It’s not good for you, as is commonly known. But there’s nothing wrong with a beer or two every now and again.

The preparation for playing with a little alcohol in your system begins the night before. Ideally you should eat before you drink or have the drinks with a meal. This isn’t specific to playing football — it’s something that should be done anyway.

Eating will reduce the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the blood and therefore reduce the side effects. Try not to mix drinks, and always drink water before and after drinking alcohol.

But, if you haven’t successful restrained yourself by the morning, then try these five tips:

One — Drink coffee

Caffeine will first and foremost aid the drowsiness of a hangover by simply giving you an energy boost. One or two coffees are a sort of ‘fake it until you make it’ strategy to beat the pre-match hangover as they will temporarily alleviate the side effects of alcohol consumption.

Caffeine also acts as an anti-inflammatory which will help reduce the swelling of the blood vessels in the head — this is what brings on the headaches that come with hangovers. Caffeine can come from sports drinks, things such as Coca-Cola (although this may not be the best thing to drink before a match as the fizziness can cause upset stomachs), caffeine pills and, as mentioned, coffee.

However, if you are going to use caffeine to try and beat your hangover, try not to do so less than 60 minutes before kick-off.

Two — Asparagus

Although asparagus is not normally considered a ‘breakfast thing’, it has been proven to help alleviate the side effects of alcohol consumption. It contains chemicals that help break down toxins such as alcohol and could be worked into a healthy — and very tasty — breakfast dish.

Try frying the asparagus with butter. Add a small amount of chicken or fish to the dish alongside some rice or pasta. It may take a little more preparation than cereal and toast, but if you’re going to let your hair down the night before, you’ve got to do the work to help yourself in the morning!

Three — Try some herbal tea

Herbal teas can help the liver detoxify the alcohol in our systems. Normal amounts of alcohol can be dealt with by the liver, but when we overindulge (and get tipsy or drunk), the liver finds it difficult to cope, resulting in hangovers or, worse, alcohol poisoning.

Ginger tea is good for reducing the nausea that can come with a hangover. It gets the blood flowing and can also help settle an upset stomach. Turmeric tea has a direct effect on the liver, helping cells regenerate, and also acts as a painkiller. Mint tea is good for nausea or upset stomachs, like ginger, and also helps improve concentration.

Chlorella is a freshwater plant that can be taken in tea or as a capsule supplement. It’s a type of algae that acts as a vitamin and anti-toxin. These are two key things required when tackling a hangover. It’s also 50%-60% protein which will help with muscle regeneration.

However, chlorella may not be readily available in your local supermarket. These are often found in health stores or pharmacies.

Four — Oats and Blueberries

Oats are full of electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium. These are two of the electrolytes that leave the body when alcohol is consumed, and therefore it’s important to replenish them before you play football.

Blueberries have anti-inflammatory properties which will help tackle hangover headaches or muscle aches, for example. Oats and blueberries can easily be combined in a dish that we all know and love: porridge.

And Five — Paracetamol, when all else fails.

If you are really scrambling around for a hangover cure, then medicine can become the best option. It’s really best to try and cure the hangover naturally but giving your immune system a boost won’t hurt. Make sure you’re also drinking plenty of water when you get home the night before and on your way to the game.

Remember to always take the recommended amount of paracetamol only.

In summary, playing on a hangover is never ideal nor recommended. However, as we’ve said, it does happen and providing you’re not truly intoxicated, then it shouldn’t present a huge issue — apart from a struggle to keep up with the other side’s pacey winger. Unless you’re not going to drink or you’re going to pull a sicky, it’s worth giving some of the above tips a try. Let us know if they help!

Originally published at https://thesoccermentor.com on February 19, 2021.