Waking up after a night of fun can sometimes feel like a cruel joke. Your alarm is blaring, the sunlight is way too bright and every sound is like a jackhammer in your head. It’s the dreaded hangover, reminding you of last night’s party.
But there’s some good news before you hide under the covers and swear off parties forever. The food you choose to eat can come to the rescue and help you fight that nasty hangover. Here are hangover cure foods that can make you feel better and ones you should avoid.
Foods as Hangover Cures
The morning after a night of partying can be tough. When you’re looking for something to ease that hangover, knowing which foods can genuinely help is essential. These hangover cures can save you and quickly kill any physical symptoms you’re experiencing.
1. Ginger
Ginger isn’t just a spice for your favorite Asian dishes — it’s also great for helping with hangover symptoms. This spice has some powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help your body get rid of the toxins that come from alcohol.
It has a history of calming upset stomachs, too. The root has properties that can help restore balance in your gut, which is fantastic for dealing with the nausea and stomachaches that often come with hangovers.
2. Bananas
Alcohol can make you lose a lot of fluids from your body. Along with those fluids, you lose important minerals like potassium. Low potassium can give you problems like muscle cramps, fatigue and more nausea — all things you don’t want when you’re already hungover.
Eating bananas after a night of drinking can help get your potassium levels back to normal, reducing cramps and queasiness. They also provide natural energy, which can help satisfy your cravings and fight the tiredness that often comes with a hangover.
3. Eggs
Eggs are like nature’s multivitamin, packed with nutrients and proteins that can cure hangovers. One big reason they work is because they contain something called cysteine. It helps break down a toxin called acetaldehyde, which builds up in your body when you drink too much and causes those awful hangover symptoms.
People who eat eggs after a night of drinking often report feeling better because eggs help eliminate acetaldehyde in your body. Eggs also have taurine, which can help fix some of the damage alcohol can do to your liver. Your liver is important for processing alcohol, so giving it a hand can speed up your recovery.
4. Whole Grains
Alcohol can make your blood sugar levels drop, which leads to feelings of tiredness and weakness — classic hangover symptoms. Whole grains like oatmeal and whole-grain toast are full of complex carbohydrates that digest slowly and steadily, releasing sugar into your bloodstream.
Whole grains are better for your blood sugar and insulin levels than refined grains. After a night of partying, a bowl of oatmeal might be what you need to start feeling better. Plus, whole grains are a good choice if you’re considering eating more plant-based foods because they’re packed with nutrients and can be a hearty base for many dishes.
5. Water and Electrolytes
Alcohol makes your body lose fluids and important electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium. This can lead to problems like dizziness, nausea and muscle cramps. Even mild dehydration can mess with your thinking and mood.
To fix this, drink water and beverages that replace those lost electrolytes. Staying hydrated is crucial for getting rid of hangover headaches and other symptoms.
Foods to Avoid
When dealing with a hangover, reaching for comfort foods is tempting, thinking they’ll make you feel better. But not all foods are hangover cures — some can worsen your symptoms. Here are some to avoid.
1. Greasy Foods
You’ve probably seen it in movies — after a night of partying, people head to diners for a big greasy breakfast. But does this really help? Not so much.
High-fat foods can irritate your stomach lining, especially after drinking alcohol. This irritation can worsen nausea and vomiting, which is the last thing you want when you’re hungover. As tempting as that burger might be, skipping it if you’re nursing a hangover is better.
2. Sugary Foods
When you feel drained from a hangover, sugary treats or sodas might seem like a quick energy boost, but they can do more harm than good. Rapid changes in your blood sugar levels can lead to fatigue, irritability and dizziness.
After drinking alcohol, your body is working hard to stabilize itself. Adding a sugar rush to the mix can make your hangover even worse.
3. Coffee
Coffee is a morning ritual for many, and it can give you a quick burst of energy and alertness, but it’s not the best idea when dealing with a hangover. Coffee is a diuretic, which makes you pee more and can worsen your dehydration.
Dehydration is one of the main causes of hangover symptoms, so even though coffee might seem like a good way to fight fatigue, it can make your recovery slower. If you have coffee, balance it with plenty of water to counteract its dehydrating effects.
4. Acidic Foods
Fruits like oranges and lemons are healthy, but when you have a hangover, they might not be your best choice. These fruits are high in acid, which can irritate your already upset stomach. This irritation can trigger or worsen acid reflux, which is common when you’ve had too much to drink.
Eating acidic foods can make you feel even worse when dealing with a hangover, which often includes nausea and stomach upset. It’s better to go for milder, non-acidic foods when recovering from a night of partying.
Choosing Wisely for a Swift Recovery
Hangovers can be rough, but lots of people have been there. The key to feeling better faster is making the right choices. Choosing foods that help your body heal and avoiding those that worsen your symptoms can help you feel normal again.
To stay hydrated, go easy on your stomach and know every smart choice you make is a step toward feeling better. Your body and mind will thank you for feeding yourself these hangover cures.
Feature Image by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
