So you overindulged last night and are dealing with a pounding head and a bout of nausea this morning? Sucks to be you. While you’d probably trade your (future) firstborn for some bona fide hangover cures right now, the truth is that the only real remedy is time.
When you’re hungover, your body is flooded with toxins that create symptoms like dehydration, nausea, headaches – even vomiting if you really went for it last night. Unfortunately, it’ll take a little while for these toxins to leave your system and return your body to its normal fighting-fit state.
That doesn’t mean that you have to suffer in agony, though. While there are no real hangover cures, there are a host of tricks for keeping the worst of it at bay. Some of these are common-sense preventative measures that you – refined adult male that you are – should already be using: not mixing your drinks, having a heavy meal before you head out, and keeping your intake within sensible limits, for starters.
But every now and then, things – understandably – escalate. If you’ve lived to tell the tale (we know – that’s questionable right now) then here are a few tricks to help mitigate the painful aftermath until your hangover finally abates.
Drink Smart
This isn’t so much a hangover cure as a preventative measure; what you drink can have a big effect on how you feel the next day. The fermentation process that creates alcohol also produces congeners, a toxic by-product which has been shown to increase the severity of a hangover. Lighter-coloured drinks like white wine, vodka, gin and white rum are low in congeners, while spirits like tequila, whiskey, cognac and bourbon all have high amounts of congeners. So stick to clear (or pale) drinks on your night out and you’re already on your way to easing your hangover.
Hydrate
You already know the drill with this one – water is your best friend. While you’re out on a bender, try to alternate your adult bevvies with water to help you stay hydrated and moderate your overall booze intake; when you get home, drink a giant glass of water before you hit the sack so you won’t feel too much like roadkill the net morning. If it’s already too late, then the only thing you can do is keep up a steady intake of water and pray to the party gods for absolution. If you’re one of those that can’t take a glass of water like a man, flavour it with mint or lemon, or try a cup of tea. Whatever you do, try to avoid too much coffee as that’ll just dehydrate you further.
Stay Salty
If water isn’t quite enough to take the edge off your hangover, you may want to try dosing yourself with salt. Dehydration means your body is losing a lot of electrolytes (like sodium and potassium), which can make you feel like hell. To fix this, you may want to try a sports drink like Gatorade or oral rehydration salts to get your body back in balance.
Pop Some Pills
If that headache’s starting to feel like a jackhammer to your brain, then it might be time to reach for the painkillers. You’ll need to be careful, though, as mixing pills with alcohol can create some nasty side-effects. If you’re really desperate, try a low-dose ibuprofen; avoid aspirin as that can wreck some serious damage on your already over-taxed liver. If it’s just a light headache, you’re better off trying a natural pain reliever like Tiger Balm, turmeric or willow bark.
Eat
There’s a reason drunk food is a beloved hangover cure all over the world. Grabbing a carby, fatty feed after a night out can help slow down the body’s breakdown of alcohol and ease your hangover. But even if the next morning’s nausea makes food an unappetising thought, you’d do well to try and eat. A hangover means you’re probably dealing with low blood sugar and a build-up of acidity in the body, and the best way of fixing this quick is to eat. A good fry-up is a popular hangover cure, but if you can’t face a bit of egg and sausage, you could try the classic sickroom remedy of chicken noodle soup for a hit of nutrients.
Get Some Sugar
If you’ve really overindulged (it happens) then a quick dose of sugar may help settle your stomach. If you’ve got some soda handy, start sipping – but slowly, otherwise you may find your traitorous stomach starting an insurrection. Other options: juice or sweet tea.
Take a Shower
Water takes on a somewhat magical quality when you’ve cut up rough, and a long shower can be a great hangover cure. A few minutes under a stream will clear the cobwebs and have you feeling like a new man. Just make sure the water isn’t too hot or it could leave you feeling worse.
Move
It’s a hard
Dose Up on Vitamins
No, we’re not talking about those magic pills and potions that claim to stop your hangover in its tracks. Your body will be low on nutrients post-binge, so this is the best time to pop one of those multivitamins that you keep on your counter but never actually take.
Sleep it Off
If all else fails, then dive back into bed. Sometimes the only way to deal with a hangover is to sleep right through it.
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