Some foods contain nutrients that can help relieve hangover symptoms.
We have all been there! The throbbing headache, the churning stomach, and the dry mouth. Although last night you thought it was a good idea, your body will surely not thank you today! While it’s true that the only real way to avoid a hangover is to not drink alcohol, some foods can slightly reduce symptoms and make the next day a little more tolerable.
Coconut water helps you rehydrate, which is especially important after a night of drinking alcohol.
Coconut water
Coconut water is one of the most hydrating liquids you can drink. So much so that many athletes use it to rehydrate during exercise instead of electrolyte drinks or water. One of the main hangover culprits is dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic that makes you urinate more often, removing water and certain electrolytes from your body. Coconut water contains an excellent balance of both, which can help with rehydration and the breakdown of alcohol in the body.[1]
Limes can help your body produce the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which can speed up the breakdown of alcohol in your system.
limes
When you drink alcohol, your body tries to break it down through the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. Studies show that limes can improve your body’s ability to produce this enzyme and speed up the breakdown of alcohol left in your system.[1] Unfortunately, eating a lime alone while nauseated can be too much! Instead, mix some lime juice into coconut water to reap the moisturizing benefits and improve the breakdown of alcohol.
Ginger is a natural treatment for nausea.
Ginger
Ginger has been used for centuries to help treat nausea, and scientific research appears to support this benefit.[2] Ginger may also have a lasting effect on the body, with some studies tentatively suggesting it helps treat alcoholic fatty liver disease.[3] Combine this with its anti-inflammatory properties, and you have a great pick me morning. The easiest way to have ginger is to grate it around a fingernail and swallow it with a little water.
Kale and spinach can help your body produce the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which breaks down alcohol in your body. They also contain the minerals potassium and magnesium, which may need to be replenished in your body after a night out.
green leafy vegetables
Leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale are another type of food that can help break down alcohol by increasing the production of alcohol dehydrogenase.[1] They also contain significant levels of magnesium and potassium, which can be low after a night of drinking. Studies also show that green leafy vegetables may support long-term liver health, meaning that as a regular part of your diet, your liver may be more efficient at removing alcohol from your body.[4]
When mixed with other fruits, pears can reduce hangover headaches.
pears
Animal studies suggest that the juice of Asian pears may help increase alcohol hydrogenase, which helps reduce symptoms.[3] There has been little direct work in humans, but one study showed that when mixed with other fruits, pears can significantly reduce headaches after drinking alcohol.[5] While more research is needed, signs are optimistic that it may help reduce hangover symptoms.
Clearly, if you don’t want to have a hangover, you better not drink! However, if it’s too late, what you eat may help relieve some of your symptoms. Not only that, but these options are healthy additions to most diets, so it certainly wouldn’t hurt to try them.
References:
- “Influence of Foodstuffs on Hangover Based on Alcohol Dehydrogenase and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activities” by Shraddha Srinivasan, Kriti Kumari Dubey, and Rekha S. Singhal, Sep 17, 2019, Current research in food science.
DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2019.09.001 - “Ginger from Farmyard to Town: Nutritional and Pharmacological Applications” by Jeremiah Oshiomame Unuofin, Nelisiwe Prenate Masuku, Oluwatomiwa Kehinde Paimo, and Sogolo Lucky Lebelo, November 26, 2021, Frontiers in Pharmacology.
DOI: 10.3389/ffar.2021.779352 - “Natural Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Hangovers and Alcohol Use Disorder” by Fang Wang, Ya Li, Yu-Jie Zhang, Yue Zhou, Sha Li, and Hua-Bin Li, January 7, 2016, molecules.
DOI: 10.3390/molecules21010064 - “Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Liver Diseases 2014” by Yong-Song Guan, June 28, 2015, Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine.
DOI: 10.1155/2015/824185 - “Effect of mixed fruit and vegetable juice on alcohol hangovers in healthy adults” by Min-Ju Kim, Sang-Wook Lim, Jong-Hyun Kim, Da-Jeong Choe, Jung-In Kim, and Min-Jung Kang, 2018 , Preventive Nutrition and Food Science.
DOI: 10.3746/pnf.2018.23.1.1
(function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.6″;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,’script’,’facebook-jssdk’));
