Beat The Party Puff With These 5 Holistic Hacks

“A puffy, blemish-prone complexion and body are telltale signs of a lazy lymph,” explains lymph expert Beata Aleksandrowicz. And when you improve lymph flow, you decrease puffiness. A big advocate of pressotherapy, Aleksandrowicz, who regularly treats famous clients – one of whom flies in pre-event to drain and coax out her contours – uses a light pressure and pumping motion (the lymph sits between muscle and skin) on lymph points behind the ears, clavicle bones, armpits and neck. This motion helps to guide fluid to the lymph, which, in turn, kick-starts circulation and draws any toxins to the kidneys. Pressing at night is particularly good for mobilizing excess water retention and stagnant blood.

Alcohol packs a surprising number of calories, particularly holiday favorites such as eggnog. “Keep it clear,” advises McKel (Hill) Kooienga MS, RDN, LDN, and founder of Nutrition Stripped. “Choosing vodka and sparkling water with fresh lime or sparkling rosé with a splash of sparkling water as a spritzer will instantly cut down on calories. Alternatively, skip the fizzy drinks altogether – carbonated beverages, like soda, are some of the worst culprits when it comes to bloating. And remember to sip your drink slowly and avoid drinking through a straw, which can also cause you to bloat.”

Get savvy with your party food and choose vegetable-rich canapés with quality proteins and healthy fats. Different types of foods take different amounts of time to digest and break down, meaning your assimilation of the nutrients will be impaired and your digestion will be compromised – causing bloating. “For example, animal foods take around four to five hours to leave the stomach, while starches (grains, bread) take around three to four hours. Pre-party, I also make sure I have a filling snack before arriving at a party to keep hunger hormones in check,” reveals Kooienga. Avoid excessive salt, too, especially the table salt commonly found in processed foods, which can cause severe bloating. Instead, opt for foods such as ginger, cayenne pepper, lemon and cinnamon.

Late nights + all-day eating + body weight in bubbles = puffy skin and serious bloating. “The party season puts your body under a lot of stress,” says Kooienga. “Hormones and digestion are linked, so your skin is a mirror of your gut.” Keep breakouts at bay and party puff in check by topping up on zinc, calcium, potassium and magnesium, which can all help undo the damage. “Potassium in particular helps to balance pH levels, maintain proper fluid levels, and monitor minerals like sodium, which can dry out your skin or make it look puffy,” Kooienga adds.

“As soon as the body is lacking in water – from exercise, alcohol, certain foods – it holds on to what it has, and then you get this spongy feel and puffiness,” says Flavia Morellato, a Brazilian-born, London-based body specialist. “You need to drink water to get rid of excess water; the rule is 35ml for each kilo you weigh. This keeps the water flushing through the body, so you have a better digestion, immune system, circulation and metabolism – and you feel lighter.” It’s also time to rethink how you drink water. “Don’t gulp water down in a single breath. Instead, sip warm or room-temperature water with a slice of ginger. Not only does this boost your immunity, but it can also help relieve bloating and kick-start your metabolism,” Morellato explains. “Also avoid ice-chilled water where possible, which is known to disturb the digestion,” she adds.

The key here is prevention, rather than cure. “The [more] hydrated [you are] before you drink alcohol or eat salty foods, the less the body will need to hold on to what fluid it has. Taking a rehydration or electrolyte powder or drink on the evening or morning after is a good idea, too,” Morellato concludes.

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