23 Best Hangover Foods

Medically Reviewed on 6/30/2022
23 Best Hangover Foods
Besides a hangover, excessive drinking can cause a few unfavorable changes in your body.

You must learn to control your alcohol consumption because excessive drinking may cause major health issues. That does not mean that you should not party. You must be cautious about how much alcohol you consume and should always try to drink within limits. The aforementioned meals can help treat your hangover.

Fortunately, hangovers usually go on their own within 24 hours. However, by eating and drinking the correct foods and beverages, you may feel better quicker.

What are the complications and symptoms of excessive drinking?

Excessive drinking causes a few unfavorable changes in your body. Too much alcohol can cause:

  • An inflammatory reaction
  • Irritate the stomach lining
  • Cause low blood sugar levels
  • Dehydrate you

As a part of a hangover, you may experience various symptoms such as:

23 foods and beverages for hangover relief

Foods and beverages that help with hangovers include:

  1. Chicken broth: You may feel nauseous as a result of a hangover. A solid meal may not sit well under such conditions. A warm chicken broth—homemade or store-bought—will help ease your stomach. It will rehydrate you, and salts in the low or regular sodium chicken broth will restore your lost electrolytes.
  2. Water: Drinking alcohol inhibits the production of a hormone known as vasopressin. This increases urine frequency. Drinking alcohol can cause the body to excrete up to four times as much water, resulting in dehydration and the dreaded hangover headaches, and dry mouth. To wake up feeling revitalized, drink a glass of water between each alcoholic beverage. Water will flush out the toxins from the body and reduce the alcohol content in the body, thus preventing a hangover.
  3. Almonds: Magnesium is required to sustain alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol and removes it from the body. Furthermore, magnesium may help relieve the head and neck muscle tension that might aggravate your hangover symptoms. One ounce (approximately 23) of almonds is a great source of magnesium, giving 21 percent of the daily required intake. To acquire some extra sodium, choose lightly salted, dry roasted almonds.
  4. Lentils: Lentils are another high-magnesium food. One cup of cooked lentils contains 18 percent of the daily required amount of the mineral. Drinking a simple lentil soup can assist with rehydration. Lentils include fiber and protein, which can help you stay full and regulate your digestion.
  5. Bananas: Bananas are one of the finest hangover cures. Bananas are rich in both potassium and magnesium, giving a double dosage of hangover-friendly nutrients. They are soft on the stomach and high in soluble fiber. One medium banana has 105 calories, 12 percent of the daily necessary potassium, and 8 percent of the daily needed magnesium. Moreover, they provide natural sugars that can take care of your low blood sugar levels.
  6. Ginger: Ginger contains anti-inflammatory qualities and is well-known for relieving nausea and upset stomach caused by a hangover. You can incorporate ginger in various food items such as:
    • Ginger tea
    • Fruit smoothie
    • Freshly squeezed juice 
    • A warm bowl of soup
  7. Eggs: As you consume too much alcohol, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses occur in the body. Selenium is a potent mineral that is essential for a healthy metabolism and protects the body from oxidative stress. This essential mineral is abundant in eggs. Taking eggs in the morning can help alleviate a hangover. 
  8. Asparagus: A study in 2009 revealed that asparagus has chemicals that may alleviate hangover symptoms. The efficacy of enzymes that aid in the breakdown of alcohol has been quadrupled under the influence of asparagus extracts. These enzymes protect the liver cells from injury.
  9. Brazil nuts: Minerals present in whole, unprocessed diets play a significant role in managing fluid balance and inflammation. Brazil nuts are not only anti-inflammatory but also high in selenium.
  10. Cucumber: Alcohol causes dehydration. Cucumbers are high in water and electrolytes, so they help you rehydrate better than water alone after a night of drinking.
  11. Salmon: Alcohol can deplete vitamins and minerals in the body, resulting in inflammation. Salmon may help counteract these effects because it is high in vitamins B6 and B12, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation. A three-ounce portion of grilled salmon has more than half of your daily required vitamin B12.
  12. Leafy greens: Leafy greens such as spinach and kale are high in fiber. They can assist with digestive issues such as diarrhea and constipation that might develop after consuming too many cocktails.
  13. Mangoes: Studies report that natural sugars in the tropical fruit, mango, may help recover from a hangover faster. It replenishes your blood glucose. Mango is high in water, which helps prevent dehydration. Grapes, oranges, pears, and plantains are other good choices.
  14. Lean protein: Hangover increases cravings for fatty foods such as bacon, eggs, and cheese. Consuming lean meat such as chicken will be simpler to digest and may make you feel even better. Not only lean meat increases your energy levels but also the amino acids in it will stimulate the brain cells that promote alertness and keep you aware.
  15. Rice: It is easy to consume a bowl of white rice. It is rich in carbs and will help relieve symptoms such as diarrhea or nausea while increasing your blood sugar levels. White rice may be better for your digestive system instead of brown rice. You may add egg to rice to make fried rice.
  16. Smoothies: When you have a hangover, one of the wisest things you can do is make a smoothie. When you consume alcohol, you cause oxidative stress in your body, which means you will need more antioxidants to counter the damage. For this, you need to eat fruits strong in vitamin C and antioxidants. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, kiwis, and oranges are especially good additions because they are high in water and vitamin C. You may make smoothies with these fruits and add chia seeds and flaxseeds that are high in antioxidants for additional benefits.
  17. Milk: Milk is high in proteins and fat, and if you drink milk before consuming alcohol, it may reduce alcohol absorption from your gut. Milk is a refreshing and hydrating drink if you are struggling with a hangover.
  18. Pickles: Eating cucumbers pickled in a salty brine can help with a bad hangover. The high sodium content in the pickles and brine fights with the hangover.
  19. Tomato juice: Tomatoes improve liver function, which will assist your body in processing the toxins in your system. They are high in minerals such as potassium, which help prevent dehydration-related adverse effects including headaches and lightheadedness.
  20. Coconut water: A 11.2-ounce container of coconut water has 660 mg of potassium compared to 422 mg in a banana. According to 2012 research published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, coconut water was as efficient as a commercial sports drink in hydrating people after a hard workout. Coconut water can help you get some energy and hydration needed to recover from a hangover.
  21. Honey: Honey is mainly fructose, and studies have reported that fructose accelerates alcohol elimination from the body. It helps your body deal with the hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) produced by alcohol.
  22. Green tea: Green tea is high in catechins, an antioxidant that boosts the body's production of detoxifying enzymes. They burn fat while doing so. Catechins increase the liver's ability to convert fat into energy.
  23. Whole grains: Alcohol inhibits the absorption and use of nutrients such as B1, B12, and folic acid (B9). Low levels of these nutrients can cause exhaustion and lethargy. Whole grains are complex carbs that are higher in not only nutrients but also fiber, offering a gradual release of energy rather than a spike and crash, which is the last thing you want on a hangover.

QUESTION

According to the USDA, there is no difference between a “portion” and a “serving.” See Answer

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Medically Reviewed on 6/30/2022
References
Image Source: iStock image

What Should You Eat When You’re Hungover? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-foods-that-can-beat-your-holiday-hangover/

18 of the best hangover cures that actually work: https://www.savethestudent.org/save-money/health/getting-over-hangovers.html