Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
The festive season brings plenty of party excitement, but overdo it with the Christmas spirit and you’ll end up with the hangover to end all hangovers. While the world’s greatest scientific minds have tried to solve it, there’s technically no cure for a hangover, but if you understand what’s really happening to your body, there are ways to ease your suffering.
“When you drink alcohol, a lot of things happen in your body at once,” explains Rosie Millen, nutritionist for the wellness brand. agility“Alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing dehydration by increasing urination, It also disrupts your body’s inflammatory response, depletes essential vitamins and minerals, and produces toxic byproducts like acetaldehyde during metabolism, The result? Those classic hangover symptoms we all dread — headache, fatigue, and nausea,”
Of course, not all hangovers are created equal. That particularly brutal headache could be the result of tackling an open bar on an empty stomach, starting the night already dehydrated, or simply being caused by a lack of sleep.
“Ever wonder why your friend relapses when you’re struggling the next day? It really depends on genetics and how efficiently your body metabolizes alcohol.” Milan says. “Factors such as liver enzyme production, body composition and even gut health play important roles. Women usually experience stronger symptoms than men due to differences in body composition and enzyme levels. A lucky few naturally produce more of the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, which helps break down the toxic byproducts of alcohol.”
The best hangover recovery supplements are:
Read more: The best probiotics to improve gut health, tried and tested
How to avoid hangover
Of course, the best way to avoid a hangover is to simply drink in moderation, or not drink at all. Drinking mindfully, being sober and curious, and pursuing no- and low-alcohol options will save you from the headaches, dehydration, and existential dread that inevitably result from drinking large amounts of alcohol.
However, if you’re a fan of cocktails or a few glasses of wine, there are ways to cut back and enjoy drinking in a healthy way. There’s no point in feeling guilty about enjoying a drink. The best thing is to have fun while you’re drinking and take care of yourself with some simple health tips so that you wake up feeling refreshed the next morning.
Millan advises, “When drinking, alternate each alcoholic beverage with water. This will make the biggest difference. Hydration is your best friend, so start with water containing a pinch of sea salt for electrolyte balance. Also, choose light-colored beverages, which generally contain fewer congeners.”
Congeners are produced during fermentation and distillation and include chemicals such as methanol, acetone, acetaldehyde, esters, tannins, and aldehydes. Beverages with high congener levels are more likely to cause a hangover and are usually dark beverages such as beer and red wine.
Instead of adding salt to water, you can also drink water with electrolyte sachets added before, during and after drinking alcohol to replenish the minerals lost by your body.
“The main thing is to give your body the nutrients it needs to process alcohol more efficiently.” Milan says. She advises that it’s important to eat adequate amounts of protein and healthy fats both before and after drinking, along with electrolytes.
Read more: The best supplement to improve mood and prevent SAD symptoms
“Think salmon (rich in omega-3s), or turkey with avocado. These foods slow alcohol absorption and help keep blood sugar levels stable throughout the night. Eat a protein-rich breakfast, especially eggs. Their cysteine content is wonderful for breaking down acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol.”
“Foods rich in B vitamins are great too. They’re absolute powerhouses for supporting your body while it processes alcohol. Good choices include dark leafy greens, whole grains, nuts and seeds. And don’t forget to boost your antioxidants, for example with dark berries or pomegranate seeds.”
One of the first things people do when they wake up with a hangover is crave salty fatty foods. This is because your body is crying out for replenishment and help breaking down the alcohol in your system. Although it may be tempting to reach for fast food, something with more diverse nutrients will actually help treat hangover symptoms more effectively.
You can also replenish your nutrient stores with supplements. Some supplements provide liver support, hydration, and the supply of vitamins and minerals that your body needs after a night on the sauce. They can help you recover faster by helping your body restore balance, giving you more energy, and reducing symptoms like headaches and nausea.
We tested some of the best hangover supplements, from powders and gummies to recovery drinks, to see if they can help prevent and soothe a hangover. Read on for our verdict on which products work best and how to get them ahead of party season.
How We Tested Hangover Supplements
Every hangover supplement is a little different. Some contain ingredients that naturally support the body in case of dehydration, while others are more designed to combat inflammation and support energy and cognition the next day. We took into account the perceived health benefits of each when testing and tracked the severity of symptoms on a scale of one to 10. Each supplement on our list was tested before drinking light-colored alcohol such as white wine and vodka, and our testers used wearables to track sleep quality and recovery scores the next morning.
Read more: The best electrolyte drinks and tablets to keep you hydrated, tested by our fitness editor