Hangover Remedies

You are getting ready to go out and have a good time and that is all that is on your mind at the moment. There are hangover remedies to help provide some hangover relief by either preventing or reducing the severity of the hangover that is sure to follow a night of getting your drink on. 

If you slow down a little bit and do a few simple things before you go out and during your event you can help yourself reduce some of the symptoms of a hangover.

1. Make a promise to yourself that you will drink in moderation. This can be hard to do and especially after you have already had a drink or two. Make that promise before starting and stick to it. You will feel much better the next morning if you can do this.

2. Try to avoid smoking. Reduce the amount you would normally smoke and try to avoid being in the middle of a lot of smoke while at your event. This is easier to to do now than it used to be since there are so many laws prohibiting smoking inside of bars and most public facilities.

3. Drink water before you start drinking alcohol and while you are drinking. Alternate between alcoholic drinks and water. A big part of the symptoms associated with a hangover are due to dehydration. Keeping yourself hydrated will help tremendously.

4. Eat a good meal before going out. Try to eat greasy foods. These foods are thought to coat the stomach lining which helps absorb the alcohol slower. Drinking on an empty stomach is not a good thing.

5. Drink milk or take some Pepto Bismol before going out. Yes, it helps to also coat the stomach and help absorb the alcohol slower.

The morning after is here and you feel horrible. What in the world made you drink as much as you did and how can you get some hangover relief right now? Keep in mind that the diuretic effects of alcohol makes you dehydrated. The dehydration leaves you with headaches and body aches. Your blood sugar shoots up with drinking the alcohol only to come crashing back down again. Here are a few hangover remedies that will make you feel better.

1. Take Tylenol or Ibuprofen to reduce the headache and body aches.

2. Eat and drink things that will metabolize the alcohol faster, get your blood sugar levels back to where they should be, and rehydrate you. Eating and drinking items that are high in fructose sugar tend to help metabolize the alcohol faster. Your body has been robbed of things like Vitamin C and Protein. Here are some examples of hangover foods and drinks to consider when recovering:

   • Juices – these tend to be high in fructose sugars and help metabolize the alcohol faster while also replenishing your body with Vitamin C. Drinking fruit juice as well as eating fruits such as apples and bananas help replenish your body of the  nutrients it needs.

   • Water and Gatorade - To simply rehydrate yourself.

   • Eat Eggs, Bacon, and other greasy items. The grease helps to coat the lining of the stomach before drinking but it also just tastes so good the morning after. Greasy foods have been known to alleviate nausea the morning after. The eggs are high in protein and your body needs this right now. A good meal the morning after would be a bacon and egg sandwich. Works every time.

   • Honey – eat small amounts of honey. It is high in fructose sugars and helps with your blood sugar level.

   • Ginger Ale, Coke – Drinking either of these have been known to help with nausea. If you can get your hands on a piece of ginger, chew on it.

   • Peppermint - chew on a piece of peppermint candy to help relieve nausea.  Peppermint Tums also helps if you can stand the chalky texture after a night of drinking.

    

If you can't keep any food down and your head and body aches so bad you can't stand it just grab some water and go lay down. Try your best to take something to help with the headache and body aches including a B Vitamin which will help with your energy level. Take a luke warm bath to help with the aches and pains then just lay down and get rest. Your body needs it to recover. Sometimes laying down is the best hangover relief you can provide for yourself. Once you are able to get up and move around try some of the hangover remedies listed to provide your much needed hangover relief.