The Best Hangover Cures

We’ve all had those mornings: the grogginess, aching head, stomach ache, and inability to form cohesive sentences or venture out into daylight. All because we went a little overboard with alcoholic drinks the night before!

Sadly, hangovers get even more difficult as we age. Although the easiest way to avoid symptoms is to stop after one drink, that can be easier said than done when we’re out with friends and having a good time.

Everyone has developed some fail-safe cures that work for them, but science has not been able to come up with solutions that work across the board. We came up with a list of some of the best cures we could find, and surprise, surprise - it all begins with good hydration!

The Best Hangover Cures

• Water
  It’s the magical life elixir that is essential for putting back all the liquid that alcohol (a diuretic) has pushed out. When your head is throbbing in the morning, it’s because your body is pulling water from any available source - including the brain. A great way to prevent the morning headache is to remember to drink a large glass of water before going to bed. This way, even if you’ve had a few cocktails your body will have an added boost of hydration before morning.

• Eggs
  There are some good reasons you’re craving them after a night of drinking! Eggs contain taurine, which is an amino acid that boosts liver function. They also contain cysteine which helps to break down the chemicals that are released when the liver is processing alcohol. So order up - eggs are a win-win.

• Tea
  Specifically peppermint or ginger tea, as they’ve been shown to settle an upset stomach and reduce feelings of nausea. An amazing tummy-settling drink recipe: Brew 1-2 tea bags of either peppermint or ginger tea in about 2 ounces of hot water in a large mason jar or pint glass. Once brewed, remove the tea bags, and stir in 1 teaspoon of honey, and ⅛ teaspoon of salt until dissolved. Add ice, a sprinkle of True Lemon, then carefully fill the remaining glass with sparkling water.The tea and sparkling water will be gentle on the stomach, and the small amounts of sugar and salt will replenish your electrolytes.

• Crackers or toast
  When a wave of nausea hits, it may be hard to think about eating anything at all. However, it’s important to replenish the nutrients you lost during the night. Crackers or toast are carbohydrates that will help raise blood sugar while still being gentle on your tummy. Just be sure to eat slowly, and chew thoroughly to help with digestion. If you can stomach it, try a slice of toast with banana. The potassium in the banana will help replenish lost electrolytes!

• Soup
  We know that pizza sounds better, but greasy food will only upset your stomach further. Salty brothy soups, such as chicken noodle, ramen, or miso, will help replenish sodium and water in your body. Soup is also gentle on the stomach, and easier to digest than other breakfast foods.

• Electrolyte drinks
  We wouldn’t normally recommend sugary sports drinks, but they can be a quick way to replenish liquids and electrolytes after a night of drinking. Some better options are coconut water or even Pedialyte (a drink specifically created for dehydrated children). In your body, water follows salt, which is why it’s important when dehydrated to consume drinks that include a small amount of sodium so that you can retain more water. An easy electrolyte drink recipe: mix 1 packet of True Orange with ⅛ teaspoon of baking soda or salt. Gently pour in coconut water, stir well, and enjoy.

[Credit: Breene, Sophia. “The Best and Worst Foods to Cure a Hangover.” Greatist.]