The party last night was great. The cocktails were yum. But this morning, you are paying the price of downing one too many drinks. Though there are no magical cures for hangovers, there are some simple remedies that can help you feel better. Here are some ways in which you can deal with the after effects of a late-night party.
Fuel up the morning after
After a night of heavy drinking, food might be the last thing you want in the morning but don’t skip it as it can help a lot. You don’t have to eat anything heavy. Just opt for something that’s fiber and protein-rich. Since you drank too much, your liver gets busy in metabolizing the alcohol and will not be able to handle anything else. This will bring your sugar level down making you feel irritated and tired. So, begin with something bland like a piece of toasted bread, a bowl of crackers, or potassium-rich fruits such as banana. You can even opt for soups and yogurt.
For some, greasy food before or post a drinking session works best because it lines the intestine and helps settle your stomach. If you are one of those, order yourself a cheesy pizza, burger or some fries. However, remember not to overeat. And for light drinkers and those with a sensitive stomach, it will be a good idea to avoid fast food post drinks.
7 Ways to cure your hangover
Choose appropriate drinks
It is important to stay hydrated to recover from a hangover. But you need to choose your drinks correctly. While water is the best choice, not everyone can guzzle down glasses upon glasses of water. Try squeezing a juice of a lemon into a bottle of water and sip on it. You can also add cucumber or basil for extra freshness. Stay away from carbonated drinks and these will only dehydrate you further. Many people think a hot cup of coffee is the perfect remedy for curing headache and dizziness. While this might work when you are tired, if your headache and dizziness are results of a hangover it will only make it worse. If you are a regular coffee drinker and can’t abstain from it for even a day, then make yourself a light cuppa.
Alternatively, you can also opt for cups of warm sweet tea, glucose mixed water, any type of sports or energy drink with zero alcohol or light fruit and vegetable juices. Keep sipping on these drinks throughout the day. The crucial thing here is to find the drink that works for you and stick to it, whether it is plain water, vegetable juice, or tea.
Munch on ginger
Ginger is a good remedy to reduce nausea and vomiting. It will speed up metabolism and burn off the remaining alcohol in your system. Slice fresh gingers into thin pieces and munch on it. You can also skewer them and put them on the stove, directly above the flame, so that the surface gets a little burnt. Many find that this tastes better than raw ginger. You can also prepare pickled ginger by adding some lemon, chili, and salt to it. Another great idea would be to put ginger slices in a cup of lemon tea. Add a dollop of honey to it before drinking. However, if you want fast relief, ginger infused water might not be the best idea. You would fare well by eating ginger on its own.
Squeeze in a workout
This might not sound like a good idea when you have a hangover, but try to do some light exercise. Exercise maximizes the consumption of oxygen in your body, which in turn increases the rate at which your body breaks down toxins. So stretch a little, or go for a quick walk around the neighborhood. This will release some much-needed endorphins as well to boost your mood when you are feeling weary.
However, keep in mind not to overdo it. Too much cardio and hence sweating might do you more harm than good when your body is already dehydrated. Make sure your workout time is limited to thirty minutes or less. Do not opt for high intensity activities or sauna because the heat produced in your body can disrupt the normal blood flow pattern in your blood vessels.
Don’t pop a pill
When you wake up with a pounding headache, you might be tempted to pop a painkiller but don’t do it. The combination of the already existing alcohol in your body and the medicines can damage your liver and lead to stomach ulcers as well in the long run. What you can do for some relief is rub vicks vaporub or some pain balm on your temples. Some find cooling pads to be quite effective as well. If you don’t have cooling gel pads then you can simply put some peas in a zip-lock bag, freeze it, and then place that on your head or eyelids. Though a hangover isn’t caused by lack of enough sleep, it can sometimes make the symptoms feel worse. It might be a good idea to simply stay in bed for an extra hour or two or take a nap during the day.
