How To Overcome An Alcohol Hangover?
You may wake up with a bad headache, excruciating nausea, excessive thirst, and extreme exhaustion after a session of consuming alcohol. An alcohol hangover manifests itself in all of these ways.
While there are a lot of random rumored hangover treatments, from downing a glass of pickle juice to squeezing a lemon in your armpit before drinking, just a few are scientifically proven.
How fast can you cure an alcohol hangover?
Alcohol toxins (which vary depending on the type of liquor) can influence the intensity of the hangover. To put it more simply, the purer the alcohol, the less mild the hangover.
When you consume alcohol, your body produces acetaldehyde [1], a poisonous byproduct that your body tries to expel. How you feel is often determined by how quickly you metabolize and eliminate acetaldehyde.
Because everyone’s physiology is different, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all hangover cure. You’ll need to figure out what works best for you, which would certainly be a combination of factors.
There is no magical cure for a hangover, however, there are evidence-based ways to alleviate the symptoms of an alcohol hangover.
Let’s read about some of them.
Avoid Dehydration by Drinking Water
The alcohol in your drink works as a diuretic, causing you to urinate more. This leads to dehydration. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of hangover symptoms.
To put it another way, that desert-level thirst that wakes you up in the middle of the night is a warning that you’re on your way to being hungover. The amount of water you drink should be equal to the amount you lose, and drinking can throw that balance off.
If you know you’ll be drinking that night, stay hydrated throughout the day and keep yourself hydrated before going to bed. You can try different drinks and foods for hydration. If you do happen to wake up with a hangover, try to drink as much water as possible. Even if it’s just a few sips, it’s a start.
Drink Other Fluids to Replenish Electrolytes
Because alcohol is a diuretic and makes you urinate a lot, you lose out on electrolytes as well. You may have dizziness, nausea, and cramps due to an electrolyte imbalance.
When you consume electrolytes after being dehydrated for long, you can assist in restoring minerals like salt, potassium, and calcium.
When you’re nutrient-depleted, fermented drinks like kombucha can help as they’re high in minerals, antioxidants [2], and gut-friendly.
Another approach is to go for electrolyte drinks, which include sports beverages like Gatorade and products like Pedialyte.
Many of these drinks contain potassium, salt, and electrolytes, which aid to speed up fluid absorption, which may be beneficial when you’re hungover.
Start your day with a nutritious breakfast
One of the most well-known hangover cures is to have a nourishing breakfast. One explanation is that eating a healthy breakfast might help keep your blood sugar levels in check.
Some hangover symptoms, including nausea, exhaustion, and weakness, may be caused by low blood sugar.
Some studies suggest that maintaining a healthy blood sugar level can help to offset some of the negative effects of alcohol intake, such as the accumulation of acid in the blood.
Excessive alcohol consumption can deplete critical vitamins and minerals, which can be replenished by having a balanced breakfast.
Get lots of rest
For certain people, alcohol can cause sleep disruptions and be linked to lower sleep quality and duration.
While low to moderate quantities of alcohol may promote sleep at first, research shows that higher doses and long-term consumption might impair sleep patterns.
With dehydration, a lack of sleep can also exacerbate your hangover. Hangover symptoms such as fatigue, dehydration headaches, and irritability can all be increased by a lack of sleep.
Allowing your body to recover and get a full night’s sleep will help relieve symptoms and make a hangover more manageable.
Try these supplements
A few supplements that have been studied for their ability to minimize hangover effects are listed below:
- Red ginseng: One study indicated that taking red ginseng supplements lowered blood alcohol levels and the intensity of hangovers.
- Prickly pear cactus: There is some evidence that this species of cactus can help relieve hangovers.
- Ginger: According to one study, mixing ginger with brown sugar and tangerine extract alleviated various hangover symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Eleuthero: Eleuthero extract reduces the severity of hangovers and improves various symptoms.
Takeaway
While there are numerous well-known hangover treatments, only a few are scientifically proven. However, there are various scientifically validated methods for avoiding the negative side effects of a couple of drinks.
Staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep, having a nutritious breakfast, and taking specific vitamins are all effective ways to alleviate hangover symptoms.
Go for vitamin C-rich food items. In addition, drinking in moderation and selecting drinks low in congeners can help you avoid getting a hangover in the first place.
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