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Why hangovers happen
Typically, it takes
the average 150-pound man’s body about an hour to metabolize one
ounce of alcohol, the equivalent of one bottle of beer, glass of
wine, or standard shot of hard liquor. According to the Bayer
Aspirin Company, hangovers can result from an average of just 3.2
drinks.
Because different
alcoholic drinks also have different congeners (the natural
byproduct of fermentation), combining these various impurities can
result in particularly severe hangover symptoms – the higher the
congener content, the greater the hangover. Gin and vodka contain
the fewest congeners, while bourbon, red wine, brandy, whiskey and
tequila claim the most.
Additionally, the
carbonation in beer actually speeds up the absorption of alcohol.
Therefore, consuming beer after liquor gives the body even less time
than usual to process the resulting acetaldehyde, a resulting toxin
that the latest research suggests may be responsible for the worst
of your hangover symptoms.
8 Remedies for a
Rapid Recovery
In P.T. Elliott’s
drinking lore book, 100
Proof, celebrities swear by their own
special brand of hangover cures. For instance, Frank Sinatra claimed
gin and cream to be “just the ticket” for the morning after, while
Roger “the other Bond” Moore devoured ice cream. Alice Cooper eased
his unwelcome nightmares with a mixture of tuna fish, pistachio ice
cream and milk.
But if the very idea
of any of these star-studded remedies send you running for the hills
(or the bathroom), here are eight more palatable alternatives to aid
in speedy hangover recovery.
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Water:
Replenishing the body's water supply after a night of drinking not
only combats dehydration, but also helps to dilute leftover toxins
in the stomach. Adding sugar or honey helps balance blood sugar
levels and carbonated mineral water may help soothe an upset
stomach. Non-caffeinated sports drinks can help to achieve the same
effect and replenish electrolytes as well.
Note:
The dirty little secret to most of the purported "miracle” hangover
cures may, in fact, merely be the amount of water ingested when
taking them.
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Juice: The
fructose, or fruit sugar, in juice naturally increases the body's
energy. Studies have shown that it also speeds the rate at which the
body rids itself of lingering alcohol-related toxins. Fruit juice is
also high in vitamins and nutrients that were depleted the night
before because of alcohol's diuretic effect.
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Fruit: Eat
plenty of fresh fruit to cleanse and re-hydrate your system.
Bananas, kiwis, apples, melons or citrus fruits are all excellent
choices to provide lost electrolytes and potassium.
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Eggs: Not
only do they provide first-rate protein, zinc and B vitamins for
added energy, but eggs are easily digestible and contain large
amounts of cysteine, the amino acid that breaks down acetaldehyde.
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Vitamins:
While multi-vitamin supplements are always helpful, two in
particular – B-complex and C vitamins – are touted to help relieve
hangovers. B vitamins help to combat stress, including physical
stress from overexposure to methanol (found in red wine and cognac)
and sulfites (a preservative). B1 or Thiamin also helps maintain
normal nervous system, heart and muscle function and is believed to
reduce feelings of lethargy and depression, while increasing
appetite and alertness. Vitamin C is a superb antioxidant and helps
minimize tissue damage and hangover discomfort.
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Pain-relievers:
Yes, a hangover's just not a hangover without a hammering headache.
Aspirin and ibuprofen are great for relieving a throbbing head and
reducing inflammation of tissues, but avoid acetaminophen (found in
Tylenol and other pain relievers), which may cause severe liver
damage when taken after drinking.
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Milk Thistle:
A commonly prescribed herb for people with liver problems, milk
thistle helps the liver function properly, by aiding in alcohol
processing and eliminating lingering toxins more efficiently.
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*Goober’s personal
hangover remedy: Before bed drink 16 oz water, take a 100 mg
Vitamin C, a 500 mg Vitamin B complex or B-12 Vitamin.
Drinking alcohol
dehydrates the body, in fact one of the reasons you get a
headache in the morning is because the brain doesn’t have enough
water, thus the 16 oz of water. Alcohol destroys B-12 in the
body, and Vitamin C helps the body absorb the B-12
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Hair of the dog:
It's a legendary, if not controversial, hangover remedy: a small
morning-after drink to bring your blood-alcohol level back up.
Salvatore Calabrese, Britain’s legendary bartender and author of
How to Cure a Hangover,
has meticulously studied and poured antidotes for every type of
hangover during his 30-plus years in the business. It all began with
Calabrese’s own first hangover, when his mother whipped up a curious
concoction of egg yolk, chili, lemon juice and sweet marsala wine
(known as “Rosa’s Magical Cure” in his book), which aided him in a
faster recovery. "It's important to know just what sort of dog you
are referring to," he says. "Is it a little Chihuahua, which you
needn't worry about too much, or a huge Great Dane?"
But contrary to popular
belief, Calabrese notes that it’s often not just the alcohol that
helps. For instance, Bloody Marys owe much of their renowned
“healing” properties to the tomato juice’s vitamin C and potassium –
not merely the vodka.
But be warned, any
hair-of-the-dog relief gained is only temporary. Your body will
still have to work hard to break down the newly added toxins too. Of
course, the only complete cure for a hangover is time & rest.
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