How to Cure a Hangover
Using food to recover from a hangover is nothing new. "Hangover Foods" generates neatly 9 million results on Google. However, not all hangover cures were created equal. Here are some of the best hangover cures, and some of the foods you should stay far away from.
Good: Eggs
Eggs are naturally full of something called cysteine, a substance that can break down a toxin called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is what causes all the awful hangover symptoms, so the quicker you break it down, the quicker you'll feel better.
Bad: Coffee
While coffee has a great reputation as a hangover cure, that couldn't be further from the truth. Coffee is a diuretic, which means it will exacerbate the alcohol's dehydrating effect and leave you feeling even more sickly. It can be hard to resist the instant wake-up coffee brings, but it will be worth it in the end.
Good: Water
On the flip-side, keeping well hydrated with water will help your body to recover from the dehydration the alcohol has put it through. Adding a little salt to the water can help to replace the sodium your body lost the night before and speed up your recovery process even more.
Bad: Spicy Food
Spicy foods can't do much to help your body get back to normal, but they can irritate an upset stomach. Unless you have a craving and a strong stomach, this is better to stay away from.
Good: Ginger
While other foods may upset your stomach, ginger will soothe it and fight off any feelings of nausea that you may have. A cup of Ginger Ale or some sweetened Ginger Tea will also help your body get a small amount of sugar- just enough to replenish the glycogen you lost the night before.
Bad: Fast Food
Many people will swear up and down that the grease in fast food will "soak a hangover up", but unfortunately, it isn't true. Like spicy foods, fast food won't do much more than make you sick to your stomach. Save the junk food for another day.
Good: Bananas
A night of drinking takes a serious toll on your body's potassium supply, and bananas are just the food to build it back up. One banana contains a whopping 467 mg of potassium- just what your body needs.
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