8 Ways To Cure A Hangover
We’ll let you in on a little secret – there is actually no way to cure a hangover. But, you’ve Googled it and stumbled upon this page, so we’re guessing you’re probably in need. Whilst a hangover can never fully be cured, it can be helped and certainly prevented. So, whether you’re looking for a pick me up after one too many glasses of wine last night or you’re suffering on the day-after-the-work-Christmas-party kind of level, here are some tips and tricks to heal that head and put a spring back in your step.
1. Prevention Is Better Than Cure
It’s easier said than done, but know your limits and pace yourself. For every alcoholic drink you have, drink a glass of water and make sure it’s still water, as carbonated drinks help alcohol to be absorbed into your system.
Never drink on an empty stomach, as food slows down the body’s absorption of alcohol. Make sure you choose a meal that’s got a good balance of fats, carbohydrates and protein, but most importantly, don’t skip on food.
The darker the drink, the worse the hangover will be… more or less. Dark drinks contain chemicals called congeners, which irritate blood vessels and tissue in the brain, making a hangover worse. So swap your dark rum for a gin or your whisky for vodka.
Down at least a pint of water before you go to bed. You may need to get up in the night to go to the loo but your head will thank you for it in the morning. Hydration is key to curb a hangover.
Ok, so there’s no hard evidence that this one works, but there’s no hard evidence to show that it doesn’t either. Some people swear by taking activated charcoal before they start drinking to curb the nausea, dizziness and headaches. Don’t worry, you don’t have to gnaw on a lump of coal, there are plenty of health shops that sell activated charcoal in tablet form and raw juice brands that infuse the stuff with palatable lemon. Whether it works, who knows? Who cares; it’s worth a shot, no?
2. Make The Right Food Choices
Your hangover might be calling out for a Maccy D’s but your body won’t thank you for it in the long run. It’s important to restore the nutrients lost with some well-chosen foods…
- Bananas are full of potassium, which helps the body hold onto its water restores.
- Sugary foods may help you feel less trembly, but it’s worth taking an antacid first to settle your stomach.
- Drinking alcohol decreases the body’s stores of glutathione. Eggs are rich in cysteine, an amino acid that your body uses to produce glutathione. Plus, eggs feature heavily in the most important hangover meal of the day… brunch.
- Avocados raise low potassium levels from alcohol consumption and dehydration. Whack some on toast with chilli and lime and crack on.
- Shivering, headache, nausea, weakness… some of the most common hangover symptoms are the same as cold and flu symptoms. And what’s best to eat when you’re feeling under the weather? Chicken noodle soup. Due to its sodium content, it might make you rehydrate quicker.
3. Don’t Scrimp On Your Zzzzzzzs
Granted, sometimes the best nights are the nights that are completely unplanned and if you have to go into work on six hours rather than eight, you can probably pull through. But if you know you’ll be out and drinking, factoring in that a lie in, where possible, is going to help massively.
Alcohol might make you fall asleep more quickly and more deeply, but it reduces REM sleep (rapid eye movement). This is the stage where you dream, and it’s thought to be very restorative on the body. If it’s disrupted, expect poor concentration and drowsiness. Bypass that nightcap and schedule in your whole eight hours.
4. Up Your Liquids
Replace lost fluids by drinking water and lots of it. If you want to switch up your liquids or can’t face downing litres of water on a hangover, choose bland liquids that are easy on the digestive system, such as soda water and isotonic drinks.
The NHS suggest drinking Bouillon soup, a thin vegetable-based broth, as it is a good source of vitamins and minerals and can top up depleted resources lost through boozing. Its main advantage is it’s easy for a fragile stomach to digest, plus it costs between £1-£2 for a whole pot – or give bone broth a try instead.
And while hair of the dog might seem like a good idea, the NHS suggest leaving at least 48 hours before drinking any more alcohol to give your body time to recover.
5. Fake It With Makeup
Everyone’s experienced that zombie in the mirror staring back at them the morning after, but there are plenty of makeup and skincare tips and tricks to hide the sins of the night before…
- Add glow with an illuminating primer under your foundation and tap some over the top of your cheekbones and the tip of your nose to add a healthy glow.
- Conceal the lack of sleep with a good concealer and lashings of mascara. We’ll never tire of YSL’s Touche Éclat.
- Keep a water mist in your bag or desk drawer to add moisture and replenish your skin throughout the day.
- Mask up in the morning with a quick fix sheet mask – keep it in the fridge to bring down puffiness, clear redness and cool, or invest in Charlotte Tilbury’s Instant Dry Sheet Mask that can be worn over makeup and works a treat. Pop it on in the back of an Uber in the most dire of situations – just warn your driver first.
6. Kill The Pain
Often a hangover can be nipped in the bud with some simple painkillers. If you have a headache, paracetamol is best. Two 500mg tablets of paracetamol up to four times a day is a safe dose for adults (never take more than eight tablets in a 24-hour period).
Ibuprofen can be harsh on the stomach and should never be taken on an empty or upset stomach as it can do more damage than good. If your hangover has caused an upset tummy reach for Gaviscon or Buscopan instead.
Always check with a registered pharmacist or doctor if you’re unsure, or check out the NHS website which can provide you with further reading on painkillers.
7. Get Outside & Active
While we don’t suggest you do a sponsored 5k the day after the night before, getting out there and getting fresh air is better than wallowing in a pit of hungover self-pity. Go for a walk and clear the cobwebs, even if it’s just to get to your favourite hangover brunch spot. If you need something a bit more laid back to ease your headache, try a nice yoga class to swiftly begin your recovery day.
8. Know Your Units
Finally, the best way to cure a hangover and to ensure your drinking responsibly is to know your units.
- Single small shot of spirits (gin, rum, vodka, whisky, tequila, sambuca) (25ml, ABV 40%) = 1 unit
- Alcopop (275ml, ABV 5.5%) = 1.5 units
- Small glass of red/white/rosé wine (125ml, ABV 12%) = 1.5 units
- Bottle of lager/beer/cider (330ml, ABV 5%) = 1.7 units
- Can of lager/beer/cider (440ml, ABV 5.5%) = 2 units
- Pint of lower-strength lager/beer/cider (ABV 3.6%) = 2 units
- Standard glass of red/white/rosé wine (175ml, ABV 12%) = 2.1 units
- Pint of higher-strength lager/beer/cider (ABV 5.2%) = 3 units
- Large glass of red/white/rosé wine (250ml, ABV 12%) = 3 units
You can keep track of how many units you’re drinking using the MyDrinkaware app available from iTunes and Google Play.
For more information visit www.nhs.uk and www.drinkaware.co.uk
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