When having a great time in the companies of friends and booze, many people do not think about the amount of alcohol they drink. The end result is that they end up with a horrible hangover often characterized by severe headaches, dizziness, queasiness, vomiting and sensitivity to sound and light. Alcohol, in fact can be considered as a drug, which when taken in excess can become toxic to the body. However, keeping yourself well-nourished and hydrated can go a long way in reducing the intensity of a hangover. Although you feel better after sometime, there are a few remedies that you can try if you want immediate relief from hangovers.
1. Bananas
A lot of potassium is lost from the body when you drink, which leads to dehydration. Bananas are rich in potassium and so eating this fruit helps in regaining your energy. It also speeds up the process by which your body gets rid of the toxins.
2. Water
It is always a good idea to drink lot of water before, during and after drinking alcohol. Your body gets dehydrated due to alcohol consumption and so the more water you drink, the more your body will be rehydrated and the better you will feel. Drinking plenty of water before going to sleep helps in preventing the symptoms of hangover the next morning.
Read about amazing benefits of drinking water.
3. Gatorade
Many people resort to sport drinks like Gatorade in order to get some relief from hangovers. The water in this drink rehydrates your body while the high amount of electrolytes in it replenishes your body and provides energy too. Drinking Gatorade along with alcohol is a great to prevent a hangover.
4. Kombucha
Kombucha is fermented tea that is full of good bacteria and probiotics. It is also rich in vitamins and other nutrients that support the liver with the detoxifying process.
5. Eggs
Eating eggs for breakfast not only provides energy for your body but is also a wonderful remedy for easing hangovers. This is because eggs contain a substance known as cysteine, which is helpful in breaking down acetaldehyde, a toxin formed in the body during the metabolism of alcohol. Read more about nutritional value of eggs.
6. Chicken soup
Chicken soup is not only filling and healthy but is easy on the stomach too when you are suffering from a hangover. The nutrients in the broth replenish your body and help you recover pretty fast.
7. Ginger
Ginger has been found to be a great remedy for combating nausea. Make a cup of ginger tea by boiling ginger root in water. Strain this liquid and then add the juice of half a lemon, one orange along with half a cup of honey. This drink works wonders in easing nausea and hangover.
8. Lemon and honey
After excess drinking, your body loses a lot of sugars and fluids. Drinking lemon juice and honey is an easy remedy to replenish this lost fluid. Honey is rich in the sugar fructose, which helps in the metabolism of alcohol while lemon helps in detoxifying your body.
9. Fruit juice
Fruit juices are naturally rich in fructose that not only provides the body with instant energy but is also beneficial in increasing the metabolism, which helps to get rid of the alcohol toxins at a pretty fast rate. Juice is also high in water, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that help the body get re-hydrated and replenished.
10. Coconut water
Drinking coconut water during a hangover hydrates you and the high levels of potassium in the water helps to make up for the lost electrolytes. Coconut water is also a good source of carbohydrates, which instantly lifts your energy levels.
[Read more about benefits of coconut water]
11. Take a bath
Another way of getting relief from a hangover is to take a hot shower or soak your body in a hot tub. This helps in removing the toxins through your skin. Adding a spoonful of Japanese horseradish or wasabi powder to your bath can increase the rate at which detoxification takes place.
12. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals and hence eating tomatoes during a hangover helps to replenish your body with the nutrients that are lost due to excess alcohol intake. Moreover, the fructose in tomatoes speeds up the metabolism of alcohol. Studies indicate that drinking tomato juice helps in reducing the blood alcohol levels at a faster rate. Tomato juice is found to trigger certain enzymes in the liver that helps in the removal to toxins from the body.
13. Peppermint
Peppermint is considered a very beneficial herb for treating the symptoms of hangover. Not only does it speed up the digestion process, it also helps to reduce nausea, dizziness and some of the other common symptoms of a hangover. Moreover, peppermint also aids in the process of detoxification to get rid of all the accumulated toxins in the body. You can either make peppermint tea or simply chew the fresh leaves.
14. Almonds
Almonds are rich in healthy fats and vitamin E that supports the functions of the liver. Eating a handful of almonds before drinking is believed to provide relief from a hangover. The fats in these nuts are digested slowly, which lowers the rate at which alcohol is released into the small intestine. This allows the liver to efficiently carry out the detoxification process.
15. Milk thistle
Milk thistle is a very popular remedy for curing hangover. It contains an ingredient known as silymarin that protects the liver from damage. It is available in the form of capsules and herbal drinks. Milk thistle is known to stimulate digestion and speed up the elimination of wastes from the body.
16. Beetroot juice
Beetroot contains a pigment known as betacyanin, which not only gives the vegetable its color but is also a powerful antioxidant that speeds up the detoxification process in the liver. Beetroot juice also helps in rehydrating your body and in replenishing the lost vitamins and minerals due to excessive alcohol consumption.
17. Asparagus
According to researchers, asparagus is capable of increasing the production of certain enzymes that help breakdown alcohol and reduce the symptoms of hangover. Eating asparagus before and after drinking is a great way to get rid of hangover symptoms. Read more about benefits of asparagus.
Did you know? Asparagus is natural aphrodisiac food.
18. Spinach
Spinach is a great remedy for hangovers because it is high in many nutrients such as vitamin C, folic acid and sulfur that assist the liver in the detoxifying process. Not only does spinach ease the hangover symptoms, it also helps your body recover fast. Read further how spinach can help your body.
19. Gherkins
As mentioned earlier, excess intake of alcohol depletes your body of nutrients. Gherkins are a good source of nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin K, iron, manganese, potassium and calcium. Therefore, eating gherkins can help you get relief from hangovers.
20. Wholegrain bread
In addition to being a rich source of carbohydrates, whole grain bread also contains B vitamins that help in the detoxifying process and also fatty acids that support the liver in healing your body.
21. Beans
Beans on toast are a popular hangover cure that most people are familiar with. Beans are high in proteins, fiber and folic acid that help the body recover.
22. Cayenne pepper
Although cayenne pepper is spicy, it is a natural pain reliever and a very good remedy for curing hangover. The spiciness of the pepper speeds up the metabolism, which in turn would make the detoxification process faster.
23. Thyme
Thyme is another herb that has been found to an effective home remedy for hangover. You can make thyme tea by boiling crushed thyme leaves in a cup of water. Strain the leaves and drink the remaining liquid.
24. Bifidus powder
Acetaldehyde, a byproduct of alcohol metabolism is one of getting a hangover. Bifidus is a type of bacteria that has the ability to detoxify acetaldehyde. Drinking a glass of water containing bifidus powder before going to bed can help you overcome the symptoms of hangover.
25. Carrots
Carrots are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients. So eating carrots can replenish your body with all the nutrients it requires and the antioxidants help in detoxifying your body.
26. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are another effective remedy for hangovers. They are rich in the antioxidant selenium and B vitamins that help the liver detoxify the body.
27. Tuna
If you can stomach it, then tuna is one of the best foods that can make you feel better. It is packed with nutrients and studies show that it is beneficial in replenishing your body with the nutrients that are lost due to the diuretic properties of alcohol.
[Read about health benefits of tuna]
28. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is rich in B Vitamins and minerals and so eating a bowl of oatmeal provides your body with these nutrients that are lost because of the diuretic effects of alcohol. The dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates in oatmeal help your body get rid of the toxins easily.
[Read about benefits of oat bran]
The after-effects of excessive alcohol intake can be both physiological and psychological. In addition to causing a hangover, alcohol consumption may also lead to dehydration and formation of toxins in your body, which can affect the various organs in the body. The best way to prevent a hangover is of course to drink in moderation. However, once you get a hangover, trying some of the simple remedies mentioned here can help in relieving many of the symptoms and promote a faster recovery.
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