Ooh and I think I saw a post about vitamin B.... and I haven't waxed lyrical about that for ages, so here goes.....
Alcohol depletes vitamin B from your system. It just does. So any of us who drink a little too much are likely to experience some of the consequences. Vitamin B is wonderful and sort of secret and magical, and it makes all kind of magical things in our bodies work well. Things like the synapses that make our brains and mental health function, or the secret ingredients that help to repair skin damage (and make our nails grow, our eyes sparkle and our hair look glossy). Vitamin B helps to give us our normal sex drive.
Is it any wonder that people who are drinking too much feel anxious or depressed, or that their skin is itchy, or spotty, or that their hair is flat and dull?
And with mental health in particular.... we feel a bit 'down' so we self medicate with a drug (alcohol) which has very temporary benefits, but which is ultimately a depressant - both physically and psychologically. And because we are down, we are prescribed anti depressants (which can't really work because we continue to drink alcohol which is a depressant. Not at all getting at anyone who co-use antidepressant and alcohol, just saying that they don't work to achieve the same thing.
So, if you're drinking and are vitamin B depleted, here's some info...
Vitamin B1 helps to metabolise sugar and starch to give you energy. Found in wholegrain cereals and bread.
Vitamin B2 repairs damaged proteins (muscle, skin) in your body and helps to grow hair and nails. Found in milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs.
Vitamin B3 required for sex hormones (might be the least of your problems today) and reduces redness, especially in your face. Found in chicken, turkey and fish.
Vitamin B6 important for the immune system (and possibly to relieve PMS). Found in wholegrain bread and cereals, also banana, avocado and pork.
Vitamin B12 important for production of bone marrow and red blood cells. Found in meat (especially liver and kidney) and eggs.
Folic acid important in preventing tiredness. Found in green vegetables (broccoli, spinach, peas etc) and oranges.
If you have a look at the information on a pack of cereal they will often show the information. e.g. Special K has about half the daily requirement of Vit B1 B2 B6 B12 and also folic acid. So Eating a bowl of cereal with milk, followed by a sandwich made with wholegrain bread and cheese, or an egg and some toast, or perhaps some vegetable soup will go a long way towards replacing and maintaining levels of vitamin B. Or all of the above plus a vitamin B supplement.
Not surprising that once we stop drinking and B vitamins are restored we feel as though we have more energy, our skin is better, less flushed, and out hair looks glossier. 