So you went out with the boys last night and knocked back a few too many drinks. Now you’re paying the price to the porcelain gods and asking la Virgencita to forsake you. We’ve all been there – the hangover – a pounding headache, queasy stomach and cotton ball mouth. How can a night of fun lead to a day of feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck?
Jim White, a registered dietician and American Dietetic Association spokesperson, explains that drinking can irritate the lining of your stomach and – you guessed it – you’re left curled in the fetal position on your bathroom floor. White also notes that alcohol can also cause your blood sugar levels to fall which contributes to that overall sleepy feeling. That drum solo in your head? That’s because alcohol causes your blood vessels to expand, which can lead to headaches. Plus, alcohol stimulates your body to produce more urine, dehydrating you even further. “Ingredients called congeners are found in larger amounts in dark liquors like whiskey and brandy, than in clear ones like vodka and gin, [which] can contribute to hangovers, too,” White explains.
So after getting three sheets to the wind, what can you do to keep happy hour from turning into a horrific morning after? While there’s no one quick fix, there are a few things you can do to help ease specific symptoms.
Drink
Chug-a-lug that H2O and lots of it, about 16 ounces, before stumbling into bed. “Alcohol is a diuretic, so increased water intake can lessen the effects of dehydration,” White says. At the bar, alternate a glass of water between each round to keep hydrated throughout the night and stick to light-colored drinks – vodka or light colored rum – they have fewer congeners, an ingredient found in higher amounts in darker alcohol, that increase your chance of a hangover. “Some people swear by a good spicy Bloody Mary, maybe it’s the pepper and horseradish that open up the blood vessels that may help with a hangover headache,” White says. But it’ll likely just prolong the inevitable. The one thing you should stay away from: café. While a cup of coffee may sound like a good idea, skip it – coffee can have a diuretic effect, like alcohol, which can lead to further dehydration.
Eat
Go for bland foods like crackers and toast since either can help boost your blood sugar levels and settle your stomach. Eggs and fruit are also good options advises White. He points out that the “The eggs allegedly help with absorbing the extra toxins from the alcohol. Fruit provides vitamins and minerals as well as fluid – try a banana, it’s soothing and low in acid.”
Pop a Pain Reliever
Have a small dose of an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease your headache, but try to stick to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDS, such as aspirin or ibuprofen). Taking acetaminophen while your liver is busy metabolizing alcohol may cause liver damage White cautions.
Exercise
“If you can handle it, go for it,”
White says. But White also notes that “It doesn’t really cure the hangover.” While the whole “sweat it out” thing is a myth, the endorphin release could help raise your spirits. If it feels good, do it. If you’re hitting the gym, just keep a water bottle filled nearby.
Rest
“Like time, this is one of the better remedies,” White says. He further advises to “Eat your breakfast, or lunch, grab your water, and find your favorite movie or football game, and rest it out.”
Preventive Measures
Drink responsibly. The ultimate cure is prevention. You know better. Keep your drinks to about one an hour or so. For guys, “moderate drinking” is defined as two drinks a day. More than five in one sitting, experts say, is considered “heavy drinking.”
Sobering, don’t you think?