Party a little too hard last night? Planning on partying a little harder this NYE? Check out these five foods that will likely ease the symptoms of a crappy hangover. You may be thinking, can food actually help? Although no strong scientific evidence exists classifying these foods as cures, given the physiologic changes that occur with a night of drinking, they surely can’t hurt! See what they are after the jump!
Q: What’s a hangover?
A: If you’ve ever had one, you know what it is. You feel awful and that’s the end of it. But if you’re looking for a more scientific approach, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco explain it well in this Annuals of Internal Medicine article, published in 2000. Their review describes a hangover as “characterized by headache, tremulousness, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue combined with decreased occupational, cognitive, or visual-spatial skill performance.” It also found that hangovers were mostly classified to light or moderate drinkers in terms of societal costs (loss in job productivity, absenteeism, etc.) and that the symptoms were caused by dehydration, the toxic effects of alcohol, hormonal changes and deregulated signaling of cells.
1. Chicken Noodle Soup
We all know that soup tastes and feels great when we have the sniffles, however it’s also essential the day after too much drinking for several reasons. First, it rehydrates you. Alcohol is a huge dehydrator. Just one look at your urine after a few drinks and you’ll see it — it will be the color of the yellow brick road and that means you need fluid — now! The second essential thing that chicken soup provides is salt. In line with dehydration is electrolyte loss. Electrolytes are essential for maintaining physiologic body functions, and dramatic changes can have a drastic effect on the body. Further, if you’ve got the runs (which is very likely with a hangover), you’ll really need to get some electrolyte therapy! Can’t stand soup? Opt for a sports drink instead to build back sodium and potassium stores.
2. Salmon
Salmon contains nutrients that may help ease your pain: B6 and omega-3s. B6 in particular has been found to be effective in helping with hangover symptoms. In addition, omega-3s have been found to boost mood. Pair your yummy salmon with a side of brown rice and you’ll reap the benefits of boosting your blood sugar as well; low blood sugar will only make you feel worse, so make this a meal that makes you feel great!
3. Fruit
Fructose, a simple sugar found in fruit, was once thought to help clear alcohol faster from your body. Although there is no hard evidence that this is actually true, there is anecdotal evidence that fruit simply makes you feel better the next day. Bottom line, if you feel that an apple or a few berries makes you feel even just a little better, it’s worth it. No harm in taking advantage of this potential placebo effect!
4. Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread is common and accessible during the holidays. One of its main ingredients is — no surprise here — ginger, the wonder root that helps to ease gastric distress. Nausea is a major symptom of a hangover and when you have it, you want it gone — and quick. Several double-blind studies have found ginger to be effective in easing the symptoms of stomach pain and nausea, two things you may find yourself waking up with after a night of too many drinks. Thai or Indian cuisine traditionally has plenty of ginger-laden dishes as well.
5. Cold Cereal
A 2002 study in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that, in animal studies, chronic alcohol ingestion significantly reduced the intestinal absorption of dietary folate. While cold cereal may not necessary make you feel better the next morning, cereal is fortified with folic acid, a man-made form of folate commonly found in foods. Getting enough folate is a good step in keeping yourself healthy. By the way, if you are in your childrearing years, you should be taking a multivitamin with folic acid as well.
6. Any liquid without caffeine
In addition to having soup, you should avoid any caffeinated beverages for at least 24 hours and focus on water and caffeine-free teas and drinks. Dehydration causes headache and fatigue — sound like a familiar morning-after symptom?
