Posted by Tia Patel | Dec-17-2020
The Best Way to Cure a Hangover
According to a survey by Kantar, alcohol sales in the first month of the Coronavirus lockdown surged by 22%. That's a lot of hangovers, headaches and poorly tummies!
Keep reading for some natural hangover remedies and learn how to get rid of a hangover fast.
Eat a good breakfast
Eating a hearty breakfast is one of the most well-known natural hangover remedies.
A good breakfast can help maintain your blood sugar levels. Although low blood sugar levels are not necessarily the cause of a hangover, they’re often associated with the symptoms of nausea, fatigue and weakness.
Excessive drinking can also throw off the balance of the chemicals in your blood and cause metabolic acidosis. This is characterized by an increase in acidity and is associated with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
In addition to helping reduce certain hangover symptoms, eating a healthy breakfast can provide important vitamins and minerals, which may become depleted with excessive alcohol intake.
Get plenty of sleep
Alcohol can cause sleep disturbances and may be associated with decreased sleep quality and length. Though low to moderate amounts of alcohol may initially promote sleep, studies show that higher amounts and chronic use can ultimately disrupt sleep patterns.
While a lack of sleep does not cause a hangover, it can make your hangover worse. Fatigue, headaches and irritability are all hangover symptoms that can be exacerbated by a lack of sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep and allowing your body to recover may help alleviate symptoms and make a hangover more bearable.
Stay hydrated
Drinking alcohol can lead to dehydration in a few different ways. Firstly, alcohol has a diuretic effect, increasing the production of urine, leading to a loss of fluids and electrolytes that are needed for normal functioning. Secondly, excessive amounts of alcohol can cause vomiting, leading to further loss of fluids and electrolytes.
Although dehydration is not the only cause of a hangover, it contributes to many of its symptoms, such as increased thirst, fatigue, headache and dizziness. Increasing your water intake may help alleviate some symptoms of hangovers and even prevent them altogether.
When drinking alcohol, a good rule of thumb is to alternate between a glass of water and a drink. Though this won’t necessarily prevent dehydration, it can help you moderate your alcohol intake.
Staying hydrated throughout the day by drinking water whenever you feel thirsty will further reduce your hangover symptoms.
Have a drink the next morning to get rid of a hangover fast?
Also known as “hair of the dog,” many people swear by this common hangover remedy. Though it’s largely based on myth and anecdotal evidence, there is some evidence to support that having a drink the next morning can lessen hangover symptoms.
Alcohol changes the way that methanol, a chemical found in small amounts in alcoholic beverages, is processed in the body. After you drink alcohol, methanol is converted into formaldehyde, a toxic compound that could be the cause of some hangover symptoms.
However, drinking ethanol (alcohol) when you have a hangover can stop this conversion and prevent the formation of formaldehyde altogether. Instead of forming formaldehyde, methanol is then safely excreted from the body
This method is not recommended as a treatment for hangovers, as it can lead to the development of unhealthy habits and alcohol dependence.
Try taking some of these natural supplements
Though research is limited, some studies have found that certain natural supplements could ease hangover symptoms.
- Camomile tea is great for reducing hangxiety, or hangover induced-anxiety, brought on as a result of drinking. This can be as taxing emotionally as some of the physical symptoms of a hangover. Chamomile can also help you sleep more soundly and relieve an upset stomach.
Click here to find out about the benefits of running for mental health
- Ginger is one of the best natural remedies for soothing an upset stomach and aiding digestion. Ginger can either be brewed on its own or mixed fresh into a smoothie.
- Red Ginseng mitigates hangover severity following heavy drinking lower blood alcohol levels and thus the symptoms associated with a hangover.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Use your multi gel pack cold to reduce inflammation in your stomach and symptoms of nausea as well as on your head to numb the sensation of a hangover headache.
Fresh Air
Fresh air can do you the world of good when you have a hangover! But opt for a gentle stroll instead of a run or a gym workout. Because alcohol is a diuretic, you'll be very dehydrated the next morning. Heavy exercise will cause you to sweat, meaning you'll lose even more fluids. You need to be hydrated when you exercise to maintain blood flow through your body which is essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. Make sure you rest and let your body recover and rehydrate before doing any strenuous exercise.
Find out more about the effects of alcohol and running here
Don’t suffer the dreaded hangover! We’ve got your back…….and your tummy and your head! 🙌
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