Hangover Cures That Really Work

With the festive season around the corner, it is almost a certainty that you’ll have a drink or two, be it wine, champagne or cocktails. However, overindulgence almost always leads to a miserable morning the next day fraught with symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, irritation, tremor, thirst, and a dry mouth.

Here’s a handy guide to keep those hangover blues at bay.

• Drink plenty of water.

Dehydration is one of the easiest ways to get a headache, even if you are not drinking. Drinking more water during your night out and right after you wake up goes a long way to reducing the negative effects of dehydration that come with a hangover.

• Choose headache medication with caffeine.

Caffeine is added to many OTC headache medication as it makes them nearly 40 percent more effective. There are studies available that suggest the caffeine itself helps relieve the pain caused by a headache, although this is unsubstantiated. However, caffeine affects people differently and for some, it may actually worsen a headache. If so, avoid these medications.

• Take prickly pear extract

It will probably not prevent a hangover, but this plant extract was shown in one clinical trial to reduce the severity of a hangover by approximately 50 percent. When choosing a supplement, know that a dose of 1,600 IU is needed for the anti-hangover effect.

• Eating Right

Eat light and choose foods that are easy to digest. Lightly steamed vegetables, avocado, and cooked quinoa will provide the fat, protein, carbs and nutrients needed for recovery. Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts are especially recommended as they contain nutrients that support liver detox.

• Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

While it sounds painful, going for a run or workout should also help clear your head and quell your symptoms. Exercise helps ‘kick-start your metabolism,’ increase blood flow and hastens your body’s clearance of alcohol-related toxins from your bloodstream and body tissues.

Try these the next time you have a hangover. Of course, prevention is always better than cure so go easy on those drinks the next time you are out.