I firmly believe in the age old adage ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’, needless to add that play has different connotations for each individual.
This piece is for all of us who enjoy their parties with drinks that keeps us swinging into the wee hours of the morning but at times leaves us with a gripping Hangover and we swear never to touch the poison again, which only lasts till the next time we put on our dancing shoes !!!!!!!!
That’s fine. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest and we can bring back good morning sunshine post a rocking drinking binge.
So it’s one of those mornings, getting out of bed feels tougher than climbing out of a subterranean pit, you feel miserable, dehydrated and feel generally slow. A little stupider, a little less coordinated.
Don’t worry, we have all been there and done that…………
Read on to learn which foods can alleviate post-party hangover blues and which you should ideally stay away from like that one last drink!!!!!!
“A hangover is the wrath of grapes.”
Thousands of years ago, man discovered alcohol; the next day he discovered the hangover. The effects are as immutable as Newton’s law: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Though no one meal or drink can cure a hangover, certain foods are better for refuelling than others. After waking up with a pounding head, aim to restock the body with necessary fluids and nutrients that can help break down toxins or lessen the body’s negative reaction to the chemicals in alcohol.
Drinks That Help
The elixir of life should be your number. 1 priority after waking up with a pounding head. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it pushes liquids out of the body. When nothing’s left in the tank, the body will draw water from any available source, including the brain—hello, headache!!!
Before falling into bed, try to gulp down 2-3 glasses of water. And the next time you go out remember to have a glass of water after every drink —and alternate between the two to replace lost fluids as you go.
Sports Drinks or Coconut Water
Reach for a Gatorade, Pocari Sweat or similar beverage to restore liquids and electrolytes stat. Or better still have coconut water, which has five of the electrolytes found in human blood, while most sports drinks only have two.
Ginger or Peppermint Tea
For a soothing brew, look no further than your favorite herbal tea. Studies show that ginger tea may reduce nausea and motion sickness. Peppermint tea may also ease stomach pain and decrease nausea.
Fruit Juice
Pour a glass of apple or cranberry juice, (just stay away from OJ—more on that later) to kick start the recovery process. The fructose in sweet fruity drinks gives the body some instant energy, and juice also contains vitamins and plenty of water to help re-hydrate the body.
Foods That Help
Eggs
This breakfast staple is a brunch all-star for a reason. Eggs are chock full of hardworking amino acids that help improve liver function and also help to cure the yucky headache.
Bananas, Dates, and Leafy Greens
These brightly colored foods contain potassium, an important electrolyte that is often depleted due to alcohol’s diuretic effect.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Nothing says “wild night out” like a bowl of mom’s famous chicken soup, right? It might not be the most conventional hangover food, but a cup of noodles can help restock sodium and water levels in the body.
Crackers or Toast with Honey
Crackers and whole-wheat toast are both bland carbs that raise low blood sugar, without upsetting the stomach. Add a drizzle of fructose-laden honey for even more instant energy. Carbs can help bring your blood sugar levels back up the morning after.
Oats
Take this super food for a spin when you’re feeling less than stellar in the morning. A hot bowl of oatmeal has plenty of essential nutrients. Plus oats can help neutralize acids in the body and raise blood sugar levels, giving you an instant energy boost.
Food and Drinks to Avoid
Coffee
While waking up with zero energy sounds like the perfect time for a cup of Coffee, it actually could worsen that headache, since caffeine is a mild diuretic.
A lot of coffee leads to more dehydration and could make your hangover worse. After a night of drunkenness, it’s best to sip water, coconut water and sports drinks to counter dehydration and replace lost electrolytes — especially if you threw up.
Greasy Food
Contrary to popular knowledge, heading to the local greasy spoon is not a great idea. Turns out, a large, fatty meal is hard to digest and grease can irritate the stomach. I recommend non-acidic fruit and vegetables, such as bananas and broccoli, which contain potassium and vitamin B. Food helps slow the absorption of alcohol, and the longer it takes the alcohol to reach your blood stream, the longer it is until you become intoxicated.
Hair of the Dog
The “hair of the dog” remedy, drinking a bit more alcohol the next morning to lessen the effects of withdrawal, is popular the world over. More alcohol in the morning does nothing but postpone a hangover.
Orange Juice
Lay off the OJ after a night of drink binge. Sour citrus like orange and grapefruit can irritate an already sensitive stomach. Also, skip tomato juice—it is also acidic, making a Bloody Mary at brunch probably the worst choice for a hangover morning.
One drink is metabolized by your body in about an hour, so the whole “sweat it out” theory to cure a hangover is myth. At the same time, the endorphin release could boost your mood.
A hangover sometimes is just a painful reminder that you had fun last night. Go on….. try some hangover cures that I have listed for you, which can help you beat the blues and get back morning sunshine and help you feel great and look good and all set for the next party.
by Aditi Srivastava Director Diet Mantra- Chain of Diet & Wellness Clinics & Diet Consultant IndoIndians
