Good morning! Or – maybe not so much? If a throbbing headache, nausea, cotton wool mouth, and the repeated mumbling of “never again” sound familiar, well, then this one’s for you.
We all like to let off a little steam now and then, the only thing is, this leads to a hangover the next day. Is there any way to prevent this? For sure, you know the drill: drink one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you swig. But, let’s be honest, it usually never happens that way.
The most important question is: How do you make it go away? If you ask 10 people how they “cure” a hangover, you’ll likely get 10 different answers. Some swear by greasy fry-ups or “hair of the dog” (aka more alcohol) to overcome a hangover. But those really aren’t your best choices. Greasy food can mess with your digestive system when you’re hungover – in fact, it might even make you feel worse. Also, a boozy Bloody Mary or mimosa the morning after could make you feel better initially, but will only perpetuate the cycle.
Hangovers begin after blood alcohol levels start to fall. In fact, according to some experts, the worst symptoms occur when levels reach zero. Water is the first thing you should drink after waking up to normalize your body fluids and regain a balance in your body’s chemistry. Oh, and go easy on the caffeine, after a night of drinking it will only further dehydrate you. You could also replenish electrolytes lost to alcohol with a sports drink, coconut water, or an electrolyte enhanced drink.
If you’re feeling queasy, try a little ginger. Have a cup of ginger tea or a ginger shot, or grate some ginger into a fresh smoothy. Remember that ginger ale or ginger beer tend to be highly sugary which can make things worse and can lead to uncomfortable gas that won’t do much good for an unhappy hangover belly.
Although there is no scientific “cure” for the booze blues, certain foods can at least make you feel better or get you back to some level of functioning. The best hangover foods are the ones you actually manage to keep down. So start with something bland like toast (drizzled with a little honey for the energy boost you need), crackers, or pretzels. Also, Carbs will help to absorb any alcohol left in the stomach and combat nausea.
Just remember to follow up with protein when you can to minimize the blood-sugar surge. Nutrient-rich eggs contain the amino acid cysteine, which can help clear the liver of free radicals.
Fuel up on potassium powerhouses. Bananas, avos, dates, and leafy greens all contain potassium, an important electrolyte that is often depleted after a night of getting sauced. Blend these bad boys into a hangover fighting smoothie. And for dinner? A protein rich option, like chicken or turkey will not only satiate you, but is packed with amino acids to help flush toxins from your liver.
As simple as it sounds, the best way to overcome a hangover is to take it easy, drink plenty of water, and to replenish depleted nutrients with what you can muster.
Hang in there!
Source: webmd.com, bmj.com, realsimple.com, womenshealthmag.com, greatest.com, cosmopolitan.com, time.com, health.clevelandclinic.org, menshealth.com, everydayhealth.com, health.harvard.edu, supernutritious.net
