Best hangover cures to make you feel fresh again after your big Christmas party
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A lot of us like to enjoy a few bevvies at our Christmas parties – whether it be a work bash, gathering with friends or a family reunion.
However, the hangover the next day isn't quite as fun as the night before. But have no fear, as we've found the top cures to make you feel human again after that big night out.
And they're guaranteed to have you feeling fresh. From plenty of water, to getting your vitamin dose, experts gave us the low-down on those hangover cures to get your feeling right as rain.
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What causes a hangover?
Before we know how to solve the issue, it's best to know what actually causes a hangover.
If you haven't guessed by now, then alcohol is the big culprit behind the dreaded hangover. But what does it do to the body?
Well, according to www.webmd.com, alcohol causes your immune system to release cytokines, which are proteins that help control inflammation in your body.
It said: "Those cytokines appear to trigger many hangover symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, nausea, and more. They might even contribute to blacking out, or lapses in memory that can happen when you drink too much. They also may determine just how severe your hangover will be."
As part of this immune response, inflammation can also occur, which could make you feel generally unwell. Alcohol also causes dehydration as it disrupts communication between your brain and your kidneys. So, instead of keeping fluids in your body the way you normally would, you have to pee more.
This fluid loss leads to mild dehydration, which brings on symptoms like thirst, fatigue, and headache, which are common with hangovers.
A hangover can also lead to other symptoms such as stomach irritation and low blood sugar, which can leave you shaky.
How could you cure a hangover?
Drink water
The biggest thing you can do to cure a hangover, according to experts is drink a big glass of water, which will help cure the dehydration alcohol causes and stop symptoms such as a dry moth and headache.
Drinking water also slows down the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol and keeps your overall blood alcohol level lower.
If you drink some water before you go to bed after a night out drinking, this will stave off the effects of the alcohol in the morning. Another drink of water when you wake up will help keep you hydrated.
Eat carbohydrates
Eating carbohydrates can help sort out the low blood sugar caused by a hangover. We need carbs for fuel so having a few slices of wheat toast or a few whole-grain crackers can really bring those blood sugar levels back up to normal.
Take a pain reliever
Taking pain relief can help you feel better by getting rid of the nasty headache a hangover sometimes causes. Try Ibuprofen, Aspirin or Paracetamol – but be careful not to exceed the recommended dosage otherwise this could worsen your nausea and irritate the lining of your stomach.
Drink a little bit of caffeine
If coffee is part of your morning routine, you should have a small cup after a night out to give you a boost and also because you risk a caffeine withdrawal headache otherwise.
If you're not used to having it regularly though, probably best to leave it as caffeine is a diuretic, which means you’ll pee more when you drink it. If you’re already dehydrated from the night out, this will mean you'll probably stay like it longer.
Be careful you don't have too much caffeine as it can worsen headaches. Your morning cup temporarily narrows blood vessels and increases your blood pressure, which could make your head even more sore.
Take vitamins
GP Abdelaziz Shabaneh says replenishing the body’s magnesium and vitamin B12 levels can help restore the essential vitamins and minerals in the body to allow quicker recovery. She says magnesium and vitamin B12 play a major role in the functioning of the nervous system.
She said: "Taking 2 Vitamin B12 before a night out and 2 Magnesium after a night-out, can ensure that you replenish these essential vitamins and minerals in the body."
How can I cure hangover nausea?
If you're feeling sick as a dog after a night out, you're better off eating bland food high in carbohydrates. Try food like bananas, rice, toast, and crackers.
What hangover myths should I avoid?
A lot of people suggest 'hair of the dog' if you have a hangover – which basically means just having another alcoholic drink to make you feel better again. The name reportedly comes from an old folk tale that says the way to treat a dog bite is to cover the wound with hair taken from the dog that bit you.
However, according to webmd.com, when you drink, alcohol holds back a brain chemical called glutamate that causes your brain to make more and more of it.
It explained: "When the alcohol wears off, you have a bunch of it floating around in your brain. It may be to blame for hangover symptoms like crankiness, headaches, nausea, and fatigue.
"Down another drink the next morning, and you'll hold off the glutamate all over again. Your hangover symptoms may improve. But it won't last. The truth is, drinking again will just throw your body back into the same destructive cycle without giving it time to heal. Experts don't suggest trying this method."
- Alcohol
- Christmas
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