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Hangover cures

Hangover cures
Average rating: 4 out of 5 star rating

So it's the morning after the night before and you feel terrible. What should you do to get yourself back on track as quickly as possible? We look at the best and worst ways to get rid of that thumping head...

A fry-up

Will it work? Possibly
Why? The high fat content takes longer to break down, so it might give you indigestion, but it will provide you with much-needed calories that your body craves. The eggs and meat also contain something called cysteine, and that's great for getting rid of toxins.

Water

Will it work? Yes
Why? Before you go to bed, down a pint of water. It might seem like torture, but alcohol dehydrates you, so this water will hopefully make you feel a little better when you wake up the next morning. Once you're up, try to drink a pint an hour to help replace all that lost liquid.

Fruit juice/Smoothie

Will it work? Yes
Why? A hangover is basically your body's way of telling you it's running on empty and you need to fill it up. Orange juice, or any berries, are a great source of Vitamin C and this will speed up how quickly your liver gets rid of the alcohol. The sugar helps increase blood sugar levels and stops you feeling wobbly.

Meanwhile, a banana is packed with magnesium that will ease your headache and, it's also a natural antacid to settle your stomach.
Try our fruit-packed detox smoothie for starters

Cup of coffee

Will it work? No
Why not? Alcohol dehydrates you and a hangover is a sign of that. As caffeine also causes dehydration, then any restorative powers you might feel immediately after your cuppa will quickly vanish, as your body craves more water.

Exercise

Will it work? Yes
Why? Going for a brisk walk or a swim helps pump oxygen round your body, which increases blood flow to your brain and flushes out toxins more quickly. It's probably the last thing you feel like doing, but try it anyway.

- Read about more potential hangover cures

More help and advice

- Do you know your alcohol quiz
- Alcoholism and problem drinking

By Rob Mansfield

Average rating:

4 out of 5 star rating

All pages in this article

  1. Hangover cures
  2. Hangover cures - part 2

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