A hangover is an unfortunate consequence that comes alongside a night of drinking too much, and sadly these symptoms only get worse with age.
Therefore, the majority of individuals will do whatever they can to alleviate the agonising pain of a hangover, including eating or drinking certain foods and drinks. However, unbeknownst to many, a lot of these typical hangover ‘cures’ are actually based on myths and in many cases can actually make a hangover worse.
This article will debunk a lot of common hangover myths and provide some worthwhile advice on how to successfully improve a hangover.
Hangover Cure Myths
Greasy breakfast
It is a common belief that a greasy breakfast after drinking makes for the perfect cure for a hangover, as it is believed to absorb the remaining alcohol in the body.
However, this isn’t necessarily true as the alcohol has already been absorbed into the bloodstream by morning. In addition, greasy foods are particularly difficult to digest and this can be worse when the stomach is sensitive after drinking alcohol.
Hair of the dog
The hair of the dog refers to drinking more alcohol when hungover with the idea that it will offset your hangover symptoms and make you feel better. There is some truth behind this, as when you are hungover your blood alcohol levels lower, until they are at zero and your hangover symptoms reach their worst. When drinking alcohol again the blood alcohol levels will rise, leading you to feel much better.
However, this is a temporary solution as eventually when you stop drinking again your blood alcohol levels will lower back to zero, and your hangover symptoms will return.
Coffee
Coffee is typically believed to be great for a hangover as it can help you feel more awake and alert. However, coffee can actually make your hangover worse as it is a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more frequently, which slows down the rehydration process and fails to rejuvenate your depleted reserves.
In addition, if you have a headache, the caffeine found in coffee will likely worsen this as it raises your blood pressure.
What works well for hangovers
Hydration
As alcohol is a diuretic, it causes you to urinate more frequently. This leads to dehydration which can result in headaches, fatigue and nausea.
To effectively cure a hangover, re-hydration is essential. This should be done by taking small sips of water regularly, as drinking lots of water at once may be too much and temporarily make you feel worse, especially if you are nauseous.
Nutrition
Eating is essential for improving a hangover as it will help to raise your energy levels and replenish the electrolytes lost whilst drinking.
However, eating the correct foods is important as some foods can have the opposite effects and worsen your hangover symptoms.
Eating nutritious foods is important as it will support your gut health and promote liver detoxification, allowing your body to recover as fast as possible. In particular, leafy greens, bananas, white fish, bone broth and so on, are recommended for hangover recovery.
Rest
Although the proper nutrition and hydration can go a long way in improving a hangover, ultimately rest and patience is the only cure. This will provide your body with the time to rehydrate, heal your gut and remove any toxins that have been produced whilst digesting alcohol.
In addition, it is best to not take up strenuous activities where possible. Exercise has previously been heralded as a great hangover cure, however ‘sweating out’ the alcohol will actually increase dehydration and worsen your hangover symptoms.
Similarly, if you plan on leaving the house, it is best to avoid driving at all costs and rather arrange a lift from a friend or family member. This not only ensures your body is well rested but will prevent you from driving over the limit. Drink driving is extremely dangerous, it places yourself and others at serious risk of injury
Prevention
Of course, when it comes down to it, prevention is always better than cure. So, if you want to avoid a hangover it is crucial to take the following steps:
- Drink water to stay hydrated before and after drinking.
- Line the stomach with carbohydrates, fats and protein packed food prior to drinking, do not drink on an empty stomach.
- Drink fizzy drinks in between alcoholic beverages, fizzy drinks improve the absorption of alcohol into the body.
- Pace yourself and don’t drink too much at once.
- Stop drinking before you reach your limit.
Following these tips will help to ensure that your hangover is as mild as possible. However, it is important to note that hangovers can’t be completely avoided, so if you plan on drinking alcohol expect to have some hangover symptoms the following day.
A lot of the popular hangover cures that many of us try are not only myths, but they can actually make your hangover much more severe.
If you stand any chance of improving a hangover, then it is important to rehydrate and fuel your body correctly, with the right nutrients and a lot of water.
However, being responsible and taking the correct steps to prevent a hangover is truly the only way to ensure a productive and pain free day after drinking.
