You know the drill of the holiday season – visits with family and friends, hearty meals and full glasses … and overindulgence. Perhaps, buoyed by the joy, you will not notice how a sense of fullness – and discomfort – creeps up until it knocks you indolent and drowsy. Worse that these feelings, though, is the actual strain the excess of calories exerts on the body. As it races into digestion, free radicals – the compounds that foster diseases like cancer and diabetes – form as by-products of cell activity on a rate faster than during normal metabolism.

To help you counter the molecular-level damage of holiday binge eating and to alleviate the feelings of queasiness and heaviness, Haute Beauty has assembled a list of simple yet effective drinks to flush out the maladies of feasting.

Water

A key to hydration, water is a salve after one-too-many alcoholic treats. Although some experts contend that mixing water with the stomach’s digestive liquids slows down food assimilation,  plain H2O helps flush out toxins and reduce gasses. Water-rich fruits – like watermelon, oranges and cantaloupe – act in a similar manner, not only  hydrate the organism but also deliver a dose of vital minerals and vitamins – potassium, magnesium, omega-3 fat, vitamins A, C and B among others.

Orange Juice

Orange juice is more than a bitter-sweet complement to your breakfast. Clocking at mere 39 calories per 86 grams, it contains citrus flavonoids – antioxidants that have been found to inhibit cancer-cell mutations, heart conditions and inflammations, while strengthening capillaries. Rich in vitamin C, orange juice flaunts a lengthy roster of health gains – lowering cholesterol, preventing kidney stones and improving blood circulation to say but a few. No wonder it allays the burden of fat-rich meals.

Tea

Another potion laced with antioxidants is green tea, which heals cells wear, steadies the body’s sugar level and quells cravings. These properties make green tea into a balm for sweets- and alcohol-induced splurges. If your stomach is upset and bloated, however, opt for ginger and peppermint tea. Relaxing the muscles of the digestive tract, it soothes the cramps and stabs of overeating. (Popping a peppermint candy after an abundant meal will have the same effect.)

Red Wine

If you binge on red wine, you might be already reaping its benefits. Vino prompts a sensation of fullness, compelling you to eat less than you do sans wine. A glass of red wine not only keeps the waistline slim, but also lowers cholesterol (the virtue of polyphenols), inhibits bloating (the magic of potassium) and regulates blood sugar (the power of resveratrol). Cheers to red wine! Enjoy in moderation, though.

These drinks stir a no-frill, no-sweat approach to defeating the detriments of overeating. Couple them with mild exercises (stretching or walking) and a fiber-full snack (cereal or oatmeal), and focus on the merry aspects of this holiday season.