There are always those days when we tend to overindulge and have one too many drinks. Whether it’s trying to numb ourselves from our current, stressful situations or to just have a good time, everyone has their own reason for getting drunk. Regardless, we all end up suffering from the same raging hangover, which never fails to show up the morning after.
Some of the most common symptoms include throbbing headaches, nausea, a severely dehydrated mouth, and fatigue. Truthfully, the best way to avoid a hangover is to prevent one from ever happening in the first place. But since it’s much too late for that now, and you’re looking for a solution as to how to cure your hangover, here are five remedies to help you out.
How To Cure Your Hangover With These Effective Home Remedies
Rehydrate Yourself With Water
Before you go delving into other remedies that show you how to cure your hangover, get yourself a large glass of water first. Alcohol can act as a diuretic by boosting the urine levels that your kidneys make. This in turn causes you to urinate more, which leads to dehydration. On top of that, there are other factors (vomiting, sweating, or having diarrhoea) that stem from alcohol consumption, which can further worsen your dehydration. You may also experience more symptoms such as severe headaches and a parched mouth because of this.
Your water intake should be balanced out with the amount of water you lose. Drinking alcohol will disrupt that equilibrium. If you wake up with a hangover, drink as much water as you can. Taking frequent small sips of water will be of great help. Alternatively, to curb the hangover effects, drink plenty of water before going to bed. Similarly, if you already made plans to catch up with friends over a night of drinking, then ensure that you keep hydrated throughout the day.
Consume Some Healthy Fruits In Your Stomach
Past research suggests that having food with alcohol can aid your body’s ability to metabolise alcohol more efficiently. After all, consuming and digesting food before or while you drink improves blood flow to the liver. It also raises anti-diuretic hormone levels (ADH) and sugar fructose. These all work together in deconstructing the alcohol content in your system.
Eating fruits like bananas is one of the best types of foods to ease your hangover due to their high mineral and nutrient content. Bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium, which helps replenish the minerals you’ve lost due to overindulging. Minerals like potassium will also lower other hangover symptoms, such as fatigue and nausea. However, if you can’t stand the thought of stomaching any solid food at the moment, then opt for a banana fruit juice with a tablespoon of honey instead.
Drink Sports Beverages Or Coconut Water To Restore Your Electrolytes
Coming back to the point of alcohol being a diuretic, because you’re urinating frequently, you’re also losing a lot of electrolytes. This electrolyte imbalance is one of the main reasons you feel fatigued after a hangover, causing you to experience cramping, nausea, and dizziness. When you restore your electrolytes, you’re also bringing back essential nutrients and minerals, such as calcium, potassium, and sodium, that your body desperately needs.
Sports drinks, like Gatorade, are useful in raising your sodium and blood glucose levels. This allows your muscles to absorb and use water, which leads to faster rehydration. Alternatively, if you want a healthier and more natural option, then you can also drink coconut water to replenish your electrolytes.
Eat Ginger Slices/Drink Ginger Tea To Relieve Your Nausea
Ginger has long been considered as a reliable natural remedy to treat nausea and soothe an upset stomach. It aids in the digestion of alcohol, providing quick relief to any stomach pain, while also diminishing other effects like dizziness or just all-around body pain. The main active compound found in ginger, gingerol, is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. According to certain studies, these antioxidant compounds can regulate the oxidative stress produced by alcohol. This oxidative stress is partly what worsens your hangover.
Try munching on two to three slices of ginger or brew a cup of ginger tea, as it lends fast relief. To prepare your ginger tea at home, start boiling 10 to 12 slices of ginger root in four cups of water for about 10 minutes. Then add in the juice of one orange, along with half a cup of honey and half a lemon to it. The sweetness will balance out your blood sugar levels.
Have An Eggy Breakfast
Another method on how to cure your hangover symptoms is by consuming eggs. Eggs are a great breakfast option because of their rich vitamin B12 content. Most hangover symptoms are caused by nutritional deficiencies, with vitamin B being affected the worst of all. With a lack of B vitamins, your body is unable to produce red blood cells that carry and distribute oxygen throughout the body. So, you’re more likely to feel tired and have low energy levels. Having a plate of eggs will revitalise you and bring up your vitamin B12 intake.
Additionally, eggs are also packed with cysteine; an amino acid that generates the antioxidant glutathione. Your body loses this glutathione when you drink alcohol. As a result of this, your body will have trouble removing the toxins from the alcohol, impairing your immune system. Eating eggs is an excellent way to boost your glutathione and ease your hangover symptoms too.
Try Out These Simple Remedies So You Know How To Cure Your Hangover Symptoms
Truthfully, there is no one and done method to teach you how to cure your hangover completely. Just like how everyone’s body will react differently to alcohol, the same can be said for hangover remedies. So, take the time to figure out which natural remedy works best for you to ease your symptoms. Ultimately, the best hangover cures are time and rest, as well as drinking plenty of water. In need of more simple solutions to your everyday problems? Check out our other article on natural home remedies for hair fall.