The time of the year is upon us again when drinking and celebrating may get somewhat overdone. Most of us have been involved in a situation or two that led us to consume more alcohol than was good for our well-being. The effects the following day can be miserable, to say the very least. Bad hangover symptoms can feel worse than the nastiest flu virus going around at any given time.
Alcohol is actually a form of poison to the human body, which explains the abnormal behavior during consumption and the awful aftereffects from drinking too much. Your vitamin B, potassium, and electrolytes all get depleted during excessive consumption. Alcohol is also a diuretic which dehydrates the human body. Since coffee and other caffeinated drinks are diiuretics also, drinking extra coffee the next morning may clear your head to some degree, but too much caffeine will just drag the hangover symptoms out longer by stretching out your re-hydration process.
The most common sense approach is to just avoid over-indulgence of alcohol, but most of us have fallen into the temptation at one time or another. While none of these methods is a cure-all, you may find some helpful tips in the mix.
Here are a few different hangover remedies that some folks swear by. You may be familiar with some of them, or already partial to a few that are listed here. I have not included any of the exotic or far-fetched solutions for the pain, but instead have focused on the remedies that make sense to most people. Also omitted here were the hair-of-the-dog and pharmaceutical remedies that some folks use, as these may create other problems. I have also noted my own personal preferences from over the years.
*1) Water: Drink a few glasses of water before you start drinking. This helps your body store some water and helps your system combat the dehydrating effects of alcohol as you partake.
*2) Exercise: Plenty of water, and moderate exercise the next morning is helpful. Walking, biking, or jogging with plenty of water consumption helps your body to revitalize itself from the dehydration while at the same time removing the toxins that your body has absorbed from the alcohol.
*3) Sleep: If you are just feeling too bad to do anything else for yourself, just lie down for a while. Your body needs to heal itself, and rest can help the process.
*4) Vitamins: Alcohol depletes your internal supply of vitamin B, so it makes sense to supplement your system with this before and after a drinking binge. Multi-pack vitamins are a popular choice.
5) Carnation Instant Breakfast : Some folks use this because it has plenty of vitamins and nutrients to restore your depleted system. It also puts some soothing and easily digestible food in your stomach, when you may not really feel like eating anything at all. Some people also have this before they start drinking.
6) Gatorade,and other sports drinks: When you drink alcohol you also reduce your body’s supply of electrolytes. A variety of sports drinks out there replenishes these, as well as providing liquids to your dehydrated system.
7) Flu Medicines: The effects of a bad hangover are very similar to the symptoms of the flu. If you feel like you have the flu, those over-the-counter flu remedies may help knock out some of the alcohol’s after effects.
8) Aspirin: Plain old aspirin is one of the most common methods of reducing the headaches from drinking. This is one of the oldest and most widely accepted methods used throughout the world. Aspirin also helps the general uneasiness you may be feeling from the alcohol.
9) Bananas: Easily digestible, soothing to your stomach, and restores your depleted potassium at the same time. These are also a simple way to get nourishment back into your system without disturbing your upset stomach.
10) Small frequent meals: Your system needs nourishment after the abuse of drinking. if you just eat small portions of food during the day you will not add stress to your already punished system. Just give your body a little bit of food at a time and let it take in what nourishment it needs without being overloaded.
There you are, a few tried and true hangover remedies to experiment with. There are a lot more home redey cures out there, but those listed above are the ones that I came across the most frequently. I have always preferred the exercise and water method myself, as well as the small and frequent meals approach. But just use your own judgement and do what works best for you.
Please keep it safe, and see other articles in this guide series:
Hardcore Hangover Remedies
A Guide to Selling Your Used Books
A Guide to WD40 Uses
