This festive season, why not consider a number of preventative steps before plunging into another dreaded “morning-after-the-new-year’s-eve-before”? Even if you forget to do this, other reactive remedies can be used to lessen the headache, nausea and malaise accompanying the hangover.
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It is common knowledge that drinking after eating slows the rate of alcohol absorption and that the best way to prevent a hangover, is to alternate the litres of champagne with gallons of water or at least soft drinks.
Women have to accept that they have less tolerance to alcohol than men - at least until menopause. A woman’s tolerance of alcohol is reduced at the time of menstruation, and throughout her reproductive years she will absorb alcohol faster - and therefore become drunk quicker - but metabolise it less well, and so sober up more slowly. To some extent, women get their revenge after the menopause, when their oestrogen/testosterone balance is more like a male’s.
Furthermore, the type of alcohol you consume affects your chances of a hangover. Fermentation and aging of alcoholic beverages produce more than ethanol - the type of alcohol that gets the blame for hangovers.
Substances called "congeners” magnify the effects of alcohol. These non-alcoholic substances are the by-products of fermentation and distillation. They contribute to the taste, aroma and colour of wines and spirits. “Congeners” cause much of the toxic reaction the morning after. Scientific studies show that brandy and bourbon cause the most problems, followed by red wine, sherry, Scotch whisky, beer, white wine and gin. Vodka, which isn't aged, contributes the least to hangovers.
Other useful tips to be employed before the big night, includes eating a few raw almonds or a peanut butter sandwich to prevent intoxication.
What to do if you’ve gone overboard
A few common household products can probably do the trick if you haven’t complied with the above-mentioned proactive steps:
Tomatoes: probably the reason why the Bloody Mary has been known to be a popular remedy.
Chicken soup: grandma's old favourite, chicken soup, seems to work as well for hangovers as it does for colds.
Honey: take 2-6 teaspoonfuls of honey every twenty minutes upon awaking, depending on the severity of the hangover. Continue with the honey until you start to feel better, then take four teaspoonfuls with your first meal. The potassium in the honey helps counteract the effects of the alcohol and will decrease the cravings for it.
Persimmon/raw cabbage: eat a raw persimmon or cabbage to relieve the headache.
Sauerkraut Juice: drink sauerkraut juice with some tomato juice if you don't like it straight. These drinks replace lost nutrients.
Scientific studies also suggest that taking vitamin B6 and the amino acid cysteine assist the body in getting rid of the toxins produced by alcohol. It is important to note that you should never take more than 50 milligrams of vitamin B6 because high doses are toxic to the nerve cells.
As is evident, a myriad of cures and pick-me-ups exist and although they hold merit, the truth of the matter is that there is no quick cure. The alcohol needs to be worked through you’re system and be metabolised. Furthermore, you're suffering mostly from dehydration, and if you didn't drink enough water while partying the night before, only time is going to help you.
This festive season, why not consider a number of preventative steps before plunging into another dreaded “morning-after-the-new-year’s-eve-before”? Even if you forget to do this, other reactive remedies can be used to lessen the headache, nausea and malaise accompanying the hangover.
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