Everyone has a tried and tested hangover cure, and you’ve probably heard of plenty of them, but what actually works? Well there is no magic pill to get rid of a hangover, but since we now know what causes a hangover, we can apply that knowledge to find out how to fix it.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: You’ve got to get all that water you lost back in to your system.
Make sure you sip on water all day or, even better, drink plenty in between drinks the night before.
Avoid excess sugar: we know that alcohol disrupts glucose production and absorption, but replacing it too quickly can cause an even bigger sugar crash. Steer clear of sugary foods and drinks and instead go for slow-release carbohydrates, like those found in whole fruits and veggies.
Replace your B Vitamins and electrolytes: These are the main substances that are lost in urine when we drink alcohol, so they must be replaced. Drinking an electrolyte drink (without all the sugar) the next day can go a long way to replacing them. A great and natural form of this is good old fashioned coconut water and a banana, guaranteed to make you feel better.
Exercise: Although it might be the last thing you want to do, a bit of exercise will help to metabolise the alcohol more quickly and promote lymph flow, leaving you feeling far less toxic. Just make it gentle exercise, like a brisk walk or swim, and be careful not to overdo it or you might get a return of that nausea you were trying to avoid.
Sunlight: Sunlight is the cure for so many things, and it can certainly help in this case. Get out for a walk in the sun, maybe to go get a healthy breakfast, and you’ll start feeling better immediately.
Sleep patterns: Following a night of disrupted sleep, it’s important to get back to your regular sleep.wake cycle. If it was a really big night, try to follow the jetlag rules to help get yourself reset.
Micro and macronutrient replacement: Much of that sickness you’re feeling is because your body is missing a lot of what it needs. Make sure you give it back a good dose of carbs, fats, and protein, and get as many vitamins and minerals in with that as you can.
Ignore your instincts: Basically, most of your hangover instincts are wrong. Drinking gatorade, eating pizza and lying on the couch dozing all day might be what you feel like doing, but it’s not going to help anything. Instead get up, grab a bottle of water and go for a walk to the local cafe. Get yourself a veggie and protein heavy breakie, pick up some bananas and coconut water and snack on them throughout the day. You’re guaranteed to recover faster, and feel much better about yourself, than if you follow your instincts and slob around.
Back to Health Hub
