So it’s nearing the summer party season, deadlines will soon be over – god I need to do some work- anyway back to the matter at hand. The problem of course is the morning after the night before often leaves you feeling a bit worse for wear (too put it lightly).
Is there such a thing as hangover cures? Do they actually work?
The reason behind this article being that myself, and a few girlfriends, were out having a meal at Pizza express, and a member of the group had been out the night before and couldn’t bring herself to finish her beautifully delicious meal! Don’t worry the rest of us finished it for her, we couldn’t let perfectly good food go to waste now could we!? She was left feeling rough (even though 12 hours had passed) and now left with a sad unsatisfying half eaten lasagne taste and feeling in her belly. However, I am not singling her out at all! We have all been there before, horrendous headaches, constant nausea, dizziness and just general bleeuurrghh. All you want to do is cry, close your eyes, and wake up when it’s all over.
What then is the best way to not get the hangover the next morning?
Well of course the most obvious one, is to not drink. Simple.
However, I know for all this is simply not an option. Or it is at least what you say to all your friends as you walk out your front door, but once your out you get convinced otherwise. So this is what my research has found.
Unfortunately there are NO hangover cures. It’s a myth. They don’t exist.
There is no food/pill/drink/magic-potion that you can take to stop it in its tracks.
You can however, do things to speed up your body’s recovery or put things in place to lessen your chance of a hangover.
Before
The main cause of a hangover is dehydration, as alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it removes fluids from your body. In order to prevent this as much as possible, drink water in between drinks – stay away from fizzy drinks they speed up the absorption of alcohol into your system. Also drink a pint of water (SLOWLY) before you go to sleep, and keep one by your bed for when you wake during the night.
Also dark coloured drinks are known to contain natural chemicals called congeners (impurities) which irritate blood vessels and tissue in the brain, causing your hangover to be worse.
Don’t drink on an empty stomach; before you go out have a high carb meal, it will slow down the body’s absorption of alcohol.
After
Keep sipping that water.
Paracetamol is your best bet with regards to calming that enormous bass line you still have stuck in your head.
You now need sustenance. Food, a sugary snack may ease the trembles, where vegetable broth or soup will be a good source of vitamins and minerals, and relatively easy to digest.
Hair of the dog is not a thing, banish this thought now! Drinking may only delay the appearance of symptoms. Medical advice is to wait 48 hours until your next drink if you have had a heavy drinking session, hangover or not.
I also suggest you stay in bed for as long as possible, not just for your sake but for everyone else’s too. Lets face it you probably don’t look the best, smell the best, and you’re probably not in the greatest of moods.
I apologise for not giving you the one true cure for your hangover, but give these suggestions a go and fingers crossed you will feel better.
Just think in 24 hours you will feel just as good as you did before you went out, and you can do it all again, next Thursday night.
Much of this advice has been found on the NHS website, check it out for more info: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Hangovers.aspx