That extra glass of wine always seems like a good idea at the time, but not so much when you are suffering with the after-effects of excessive drinking the next morning. There are various old wives’ tales about how you can cure a hangover, most of which are not very palatable and few of which actually work. While it is impossible to make your headache and nausea magically vanish, there are a few sensible ideas to try to help lessen the symptoms.
Re-Hydrate
A hangover is the result of extreme dehydration. You have probably noticed that you spend a lot of time in the toilet on a night out. This is because alcohol works as a diuretic, leading you to eliminate water more often. This forces the body having to borrow sources of water from other areas– mostly the brain, which is why you get headaches. You can reduce your chances of a hangover on a night out by drinking lots of water in-between alcoholic drinks, but if you didn’t do that, make up for it in the morning by sipping the clear stuff regularly.
When Life Gives You Lemons…
If you really don’t feel like you can face another glass of water, reach for a can of Sprite. The sugar content will give you a boost, while the lemon and lime will help to rebalance the acidity in your gut so that you are less likely to vomit. If you can face making it, adding a bit of fresh lemon juice to a glass of fizzy water will do the same job and is a little bit healthier.
Over the Counter Remedies
A couple of paracetamols and plenty of rest is the most obvious solution to a hangover. If you are at a stage of your hangover where you are confident you will be able to keep them down, paracetamol is the most effective over-the-counter painkiller. Avoid aspirin, as this will only exacerbate your irritable stomach.
Soak it Up
Once your queasy feelings have passed, you will probably be starving. Eating calorie-rich foods will boost your energy levels and help you to feel a bit more normal. Bananas are great, because they help to replace the potassium lost through your alcohol consumption, while doctors tend to recommend bland carbohydrates such as toast and crackers. Of course, the urge is to head straight to the nearest café for a full English, which is another great choice since it is full of toxin-clearing amino acids.
Prevention is always better than cure, so if you can manage to drink lots of water while you party and try and stick to drinking in moderation, then you won’t need to rely on any of the above when you wake up the day after the night before.
