Why painful headaches always follow any great night out is an oxymoron often raised and blissfully regretted by partygoers. This recurring phenomenon tends to take place on weekends, holidays and, of course, year-end celebrations.
If you experience stinging pain in your head, thirst, nausea, fatigue and lethargy, diarrhea, sensitivity to light and decreased motor skills, it’s highly likely that you’re suffering from hangover, which also indicates that yes, you had one too many cocktails. What happens is that your liver would have had to work harder to process the alcohol in your system, which then leads to a drop in your blood sugar (glucose), energy, concentration and alertness.
While pain killers or aspirins might do the trick in relieving monstrous headaches and pains, there’s no harm in going the natural way. Read on to get some tips for kicking your hangover as quickly and naturally as posisble. You’ll be surprised to know that some of the cures are tasty, too!
Water
Alcohol is diuretic, which means it sends liquid out of one’s body through increased urination that leads to dehydration. The body then searches every organ for water, including the brain, causing headache. Therefore, having a glass of water after each alcoholic drink will help you stay hydrated and limit the amount of your alcohol intake.
Herbal Tea and Green Tea
Boil up some water and pour it into a cup of tea. Some really good options include ginger tea to reduce nausea and motion sickness, peppermint tea to alleviate stomach pain and decrease nausea, or red ginseng tea (in fact, any other beverage that contains red ginseng) to combat fatigue, thirst, and stomach pain as well. Green tea is also good for hangover given its rich level of catechins, a type of antioxidant that increases the production of detoxification enzymes in the body.
Coconut Water
A study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition in 2012 discovered that thanks to its high content of natural electrolytes, coconut water works really well in hydrating people after an intense workout – and the same can be said of its benefit to cure hangovers.
Fruit Juice
Apple or cranberry juice or other fruit juices that contain high level of fructose do more than simply rehydrating the body – they also provide instant energy boost. However, stay away from orange, grapefruit or tomato juice because their high acidity can irritate an already upset stomach.
Milk
Having a glass of milk before heading to a night club might be unusual for some but it prevents you from being tormented by hangover the next morning. This is because milk is high in protein and fat content, which will protect the stomach and slow down alcohol absorption.
Soup
Be it chicken noodle soup or Japanese miso soup, the warm, comforting broth gives a soothing feeling while restocking your body’s water and sodium levels. The cysteine in the chicken is good to prevent liver damage and fermented miso good for digestion.
Asparagus
According to a study published in the Journal of Food Science in 2009, the amino acids in asparagus speed up the work of cells in breaking down alcohol and thus prevent any long-term damage caused by alcohol.
Eggs
The protein in eggs helps to stabilize the blood sugar in the body while the cystine in the protein is good to break down toxins. Organic pastured eggs make a better option – the Vitamin B in them helps your cells to produce better energy.
Banana
The high level of potassium in bananas improves muscle function and helps shake off that post-party exhaustion. Known as one of the best natural sources of Vitamin B6, eating bananas can cut down hangover symptoms by as much as 50 percent.
Oatmeal
A bowl of oats or other starchy carbohydrates is recommended as it improves the level of serotonin (the feel-good hormone) and lightens up your mood – a practice that’s highly recommended.
Honey
This sweet gold contains fructose that quickly gets rid of any remaining alcohol left in your system. You can mix it in your tea, add into your oatmeal, drizzle some on your banana or just spread on toasts or whole-wheat breads – together they work wonders to boost up low levels of blood sugar.
