With Dry January in the rearview mirror, hangovers may have made their triumphant return to ruin the morning after a night of drinking.
Whether it’s a pounding headache, an extremely dry mouth, dizziness, irritability, fatigue or all of the above, most of us have experienced a hangover and all want the same thing – for it to end as soon as possible!
Before we get to hangover hacks, let’s better understand how hangovers happen in the first place.
What causes a hangover?
In a word, ethanol. This is a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism. When the body attempts to break it down, we produce acetaldehyde, which is to blame for many hangover symptoms.
Because acetaldehyde is a toxin that accumulates in both the gut and liver. This buildup slows us down, causing some of the depressant activity and loss of balance and control.
Our bodies need time to break down these toxins and return to homeostasis. But since we aren’t clearing the alcohol fast enough, it sits in our bodies and then we fall asleep and wake up to the repercussions.
How bad will the repercussions be? That depends on many factors, including: how fast you drink, your age, how much you drink and what you drink. Not to mention, everyone’s body is different, determining how fast or slow you process alcohol and contributing to the severity of your hangover.
What can you do about a hangover?
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. The best way to prevent a hangover is to not drink at all.
But if that ship has sailed and you’re suffering the consequences, there are ways to expedite your recovery.
Drink Lots of Liquids
Alcohol dehydrates you by boosting the amount of urine your kidneys make. You also lose fluid when you sweat or vomit after a night of bingeing. And on top of that alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you pee a lot and lose even more liquid. So if you’re hungover, you’re likely experiencing dehydration, which brings dry mouth and headaches.
Have a Snack
Drinking may lower blood sugar levels, so some of the fatigue and headaches of a hangover may be from a brain working without enough of its main fuel. Bland foods, like toast and crackers, can boost your blood sugar and settle your stomach.
Consider B Vitamins and Zinc
A small study published in The Journal of Clinical Medicine found that people whose food and beverage consumption contained greater amounts of zinc and B vitamins had less severe hangovers.
Consider Ginseng
This root has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Herbalists use it to treat everything from stress to asthma. In a small study, a drink made from red ginseng was effective in cutting down hangover symptoms. While Ginseng is safe for most people, please check with your doctor before using it, especially if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.
Give It Time
This one is easier said than done, but there’s a lot that your body has to do in order to feel better.
- Clear the toxins that were produced when your body broke down the alcohol you drank
- Rehydrate
- Heal the irritated tissue in your gut
- Return your immune system as well as your brain activity to normal
Make your recovery as restful as possible, which may mean taking a long nap.
Cheers!