We’ve all been there.
You wake up after a night of heavy drinking, and instantly, it hits you—headache, nausea, stiff legs. You quickly regret the choices you made the night before.
You suddenly have to scramble to figure out what your body needs to start recovering. Luckily, there are some hangover cures available to help you get back on track and not waste the entire day in bed.
For more on the best hangover cures, keep reading!
How to Prevent a Hangover
Hangovers are created by various factors, including dehydration, gastrointestinal irritation, inflammation, and withdrawal symptoms. These are just a few reasons for the negative side effects that follow.
If possible, taking preventative measures before drinking can really help save you from hurting the following morning.
Consider trying to implement these steps into your evening activities:
- Eat a full dinner, particularly one heavy on carbohydrates
- Drink plenty of water throughout the night and before bed
- Stick to lighter-colored alcohol
- Pace yourself – your body can only process one drink per hour on average
- Avoid fizzy or sugary drinks
These steps will help reduce the impact of alcohol on your body. However, with excessive drinking, you may still feel woozy the following morning. Luckily, there are some second-day tricks to help you feel better.
How to Cure a Hangover
Of course, preventing a hangover from occurring in the first place is one of the most effective ways to protect your body.
But there are steps you can take to help your body feel better the next day:
- Take ibuprofen, rather than aspirin
- Rehydrate your body with water
- Replace lost salts and electrolytes with Gatorade/Powerade
- Eat a meal to replace lost nutrients (eggs, toast, bananas, etc.)
- Drink milk, tea, or fruit juice
- Do some light exercise
These may help you feel better in the short term. But to achieve lasting recovery, be sure to continue to hydrate and refuel all day.
One of the most effective ways to ensure the hangover does not drag out any further is with proper rest. Ensuring you get a good night’s sleep following a hangover can be a game-changer in getting you back on track the next day.
Do Hangover Cures Really Work?
While there are no magic cures that will instantly snap you back to feeling 100%, there are science-based tactics you can employ to help your body speed up recovery time.
As previously touched on, taking steps to prevent hangovers is the most effective defense mechanism. Otherwise, you will be playing a game of catch-up the morning after.
Should you find yourself in this position—try out some of these steps to get your body back as quickly as possible.
Now You Know the Best Hangover Cures
For these hangover cures and other health tips, it’s important to turn to the experts. The Center for Health and Wellbeing is here for you!
Check out our other health news articles, or consider scheduling an appointment with one of our doctors.
In the San Diego area, we are available for holistic and naturopathic appointments. We are also available for telemedicine and video visits, for those farther away or more comfortable at home.
Contact us to make an appointment today!