Once upon a time there was a night, when you danced like there was no stopping you, and drank like no fish in any water could ever beat you. But that was at night. And then you woke up, with that hangover.
If you are reading this, you are probably already in the middle of a hangover, or are reading up after promising yourself that the hangover you had last time will never happen again, but still, no harm in knowing, just in case (yes, we know that feeling).
There is no one food that can cure you of a hangover, or make it worse, but there are some food types you should avoid, and some you should go for, if you have a hangover.
Food and beverage you SHOULD EAT to beat that hangover
Coconut water – Coconut water is rich in its potassium content, which will keep you hydrated and eliminate those feelings of dry mouth and light-headedness. Also, because it is naturally flavoured, you will be able to stomach it better than water.
Ginger – One of the sure shot ways to reduce that feeling of churning in the stomach, as well as help you keep down any food or liquid you take. Try chewing on a piece of raw ginger or ginger root. If not, grate some ginger in water, boil and drink.
Tomato – Tomatoes contain a high amount of antioxidants as well as vitamins that can help your body replenish the lost nutrients and fluids. It boosts liver function, which can help your body digest the alcohol faster, and flush it out of your system.
Lemon – Suck on a slice of lemon, or add it in a glass of water and have lemon juice. The vitamin C in lemon works as a detoxifying agent, helping your body to get rid of the alcohol faster. It also helps your liver function better, thereby speeding up the process of eliminating traces of alcohol from your system.
Bananas – The high amount of potassium found in bananas will help to reduce and stop those tremors you have the morning after. Also, since you may have trouble holding down food, nibbling slowly on a banana will give you the energy you need.
Honey – A spoonful of honey can actually help you reduce the headache you wake up with. The fructose in honey forces your body to work faster to digest it, thereby also speeding up the digestion and elimination of alcohol from your body. Have it on toast, in a cup of tea, in warm water or just like that.
Food you beverage SHOULD NOT eat when you have a hangover
Greasy food – Avoid any type of greasy or fatty foods, even a small packet of chips. Your digestive system will try hard to digest the alcohol as well as the fat, and in the process, not be able to digest either properly.
Orange juice – NO! While it is easy to make and is otherwise healthy, the citrus content in oranges will worsen your already bad hangover.
Just Meats – Don’t fall in the trap of nibbling on a plate full of meats, without any rice or breads. In the absence of any carbs, the high amount of proteins in the meat can actually worsen your headaches, as your blood sugar levels will already be low due to all the drinks.
Coffee – Yes, unlike what you may have heard, coffee is bad when you have a hangover. As it is a diuretic, which means it triggers more urine production in the body, it will flush out the required elements such as water, potassium and even sodium from your body, leaving you dehydrated.
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