There are a plethora of so-called hangover cures, but only a few have been verified by science.
So, what is a hangover? Some folks, after a night of excessive drinking, wake up with the dreaded hangover. Headache, dehydration, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting are common symptoms.
What one drank, how much sleep one received, what one ate, and whether or not one drank water or food are just a few of the variables that might affect the severity of a hangover.
Here we will examine the most effective strategies for avoiding or lessening the effects of a hangover.
Moderation in Drinking
Drinking little or not at all is the best method to prevent a hangover. A nasty hangover the next day is more likely the more alcohol one consumes the night before.
It’s impossible to give a universally applicable answer to the question of how much alcohol is safe to consume since it depends on so many variables, including the individual’s weight, the amount of water they’ve had, and the amount of sleep they’ve gotten.
Avoid Drinking The Next Morning
It appears counterintuitive to consume more alcohol in order to cure a hangover. This cure is so effective that it has earned the nickname “the hair of the dog (that bit you)” to describe its effect on hangovers.
Though there is no evidence to suggest it works, the science behind it is intriguing.
Methanol is a well-known congener present in small concentrations in several beverages, and it is thought that drinking more alcohol may alter methanol metabolism.
Methanol is converted into formaldehyde in the body, which is extremely poisonous. Many hangover symptoms could be caused by formaldehyde.
If you drink alcohol the morning after a heavy night of drinking, you may reduce the likelihood that formaldehyde will be produced.
In its place, methanol is excreted from the body via breath and urine without causing any harm. This is why treating methanol intoxication with ethanol is common practice.
However, if you’re suffering from a hangover, it’s not recommended that you have another drink the next day.
It’s not worth putting your health at risk to avoid a few hangovers in the morning, a behavior that is commonly connected with alcoholism.
Drinking Water
Because it is a diuretic, alcohol increases the frequency with which a person must pee, which might put them in danger of dehydration.
A person can avoid or at least lessen the severity of dehydration symptoms like thirst, weariness, and headache by drinking enough water along with alcoholic beverages.
Getting a Lot of Sleep
There is no innate connection between heavy alcohol consumption and an early bedtime. But resting well the night before might lessen the severity of a hangover in the morning.
Drinking alcohol might decrease sleep efficiency and shorten the time you spend asleep. A person may aid their body’s recovery from the night before by obtaining a good night’s sleep, so consider sleeping in or going to bed early the following day.
Avoiding Congeners
Congeners are compounds found in some types of alcoholic drinks. These contaminants might add to the unpleasantness of a hangover.
To name a few congener-rich beverages:
- whiskey, particularly bourbon
- cognac
- tequila
Low-congener drinks include:
- vodka
- rum
- gin
Congeners were observed to alter the intensity of hangovers in one study, with bourbon drinkers reporting a worse recovery time than vodka drinkers.
Use Supplements
Some medical professionals attribute some hangover symptoms to chronic low-grade inflammation. Anti-inflammatory plants, such as red ginseng and prickly pear cactus, may help some people deal with the symptoms of chronic inflammation.
Take Some Pedialyte
Pedialyte may be most known for its use in rehydrating children, but it has also earned a reputation among adults as an excellent means of preventing and treating hangovers. The hydrated solution, available in a variety of flavors and formats (powder mix, sports drink, ice pops), restores vital carbohydrates and fluid-balancing electrolytes, which are crucial during a hangover.
Keep a Steady Pace
Moderate drinkers are less likely to develop severe hangover symptoms the day after drinking since they were able to pace themselves.
The typical human body can metabolize one drink per hour. It’s possible that if you take your time when drinking, you’ll end up drinking less.
Be Sure to Measure Your Beverages
It is essential to keep track of how much alcohol you consume. People may pour themselves larger or less conscious measures of alcohol while they are drinking in the comfort of their own homes. It may be more challenging to monitor one’s alcohol intake in such a situation.
Have Food in Your Stomach Before You Drink
People who don’t take the time to have a healthy meal before imbibing tend to make poor decisions.
If you eat before you drink, or at the same time as drinking, you can reduce how quickly alcohol enters your system.
The severity of a hangover can be mitigated by eating beforehand to maintain a low blood alcohol percentage.
Have a Healthy Breakfast
A hangover may be exacerbated by hypoglycemia. Feeding your body the correct balance of vitamins and minerals first thing in the morning can improve its ability to use the food it eats throughout the day, including keeping your blood sugar stable.
Spreading a spoonful or two of honey, which is full of antioxidants and fructose, over your morning toast is a fantastic method to counteract low glucose.
Get Some Exercise (if you can).
If a hangover has rendered you nearly helpless, despite your best intentions, it’s usually not a good idea to go the gym; instead, rest comfortably on the sofa and demand that others bring you anything you need. However, if you’re feeling up to it, many individuals claim that working up a nice sweat is the best way to get rid of a hangover haze. Moderate exercise improves circulation, speeds up the metabolism, and helps the body eliminate waste products.
In Conclusion
If you want to avoid a hangover, it’s preferable to limit your drinking or abstain entirely. Keep in mind that any amount of alcohol use, regardless of how much or how often, can have negative effects on your health.
There are a few ways to lessen the impact of a hangover. Some examples are avoiding congener-rich beverages, consuming enough water, getting enough sleep, and beginning the day with a healthy meal.
Hangovers can be avoided if you limit your drinking or don’t drink at all. Sunnyside has a binge drinking app that can help you prevent one now that you know how to avoid a hangover.
