7 Best Foods to Cure a Hangover (and Which to Avoid)

Waking up with a hangover is probably one of the worst ways to start your day, especially if your day is filled with responsibilities and activities. Depending on what and how much you had the day before, your hangover can vary in severity, but it is never a pleasant experience. Luckily, there are ways to handle it and survive the day. In this article, we will discuss foods to cure your hangover and foods to avoid as they worsen it.

Best Foods for Hangovers

When you’re grappling with the aftermath of a night out, choosing the right foods can be a game changer in alleviating your hangover symptoms effectively.

Bananas

Bananas are rich in potassium and one of the best foods for curing hangovers. Alcohol consumption often leads to dehydration and a loss of electrolytes like sodium and potassium. Bananas can help replenish this essential mineral and reduce symptoms like fatigue and muscle cramps. 

Bananas are also easy to digest, which your stomach needs when fighting a hangover. In addition to being easy on the stomach, bananas are very satiating and will elevate your energy. A glass of water accompanied by a banana might just be what you need. 

Another reason to try curing a hangover with a banana is its ease of use. You can have it on its own or blend it into a smoothie for a refreshing and hydrating drink. It works especially well when mixed in a protein shake or some nut butter to boost protein and healthy fats, turning your banana into a nutritious meal. 

Eggs

Eggs are rich in cysteine, an amino acid that helps break down acetaldehyde, a toxin produced when your body processes alcohol. Having this line of defense can significantly help reduce the severity of a hangover. As a very rich source of protein, eggs can also help stabilize blood sugar levels and provide you with much-needed energy to kick-start your day. 

Still, be mindful of how you have your eggs, as cooking them the wrong way, i.e., fried, can worsen your hangover. Try pouching, boiling, or microwaving them to avoid adding oil. You can also turn them into a delicious omelet with spinach and cheese, but if this is too much for you, boiled will do just fine. 

You might also find many hangover smoothie recipes recommending you add raw eggs to your smoothie. Even though this might help, it isn’t good judgment to do it as chances are that it will worsen your hangover because raw eggs aren’t easily digestible. Plus, raw eggs are risky since you might contract a bacterium, so stay on the safe side and have them cooked. 

Ginger

Known for its anti-inflammation properties, ginger can cure anything from a cold, flu, or a hangover. It is also famous for its ability to soothe nausea and settle the stomach, as nervous bowels are a common hangover symptom. 

Ginger can be particularly effective if your hangover comes with nausea or a queasy stomach. It can do a great job in settling the digestive issues a hangover often causes. 

Fresh ginger isn’t something you can enjoy on its own, so you will have to invest some energy into preparing it. Luckily, other than grating it, you won’t have to do much more. There’s also powdered ginger ready to sprinkle in your juice, smoothie, or tea. 

Oats

Oats are very rich in complex carbohydrates, which can stabilize your blood sugar and provide you with steady energy throughout the day. They also contain important vitamins and minerals like B vitamins and magnesium, which are essential for overall health and can help reduce the symptoms of a hangover. Oats are also high in fibre, promoting healthy digestion and preventing further stomach upset.

The added bonus when it comes to oats is that they are very easy to prepare. Make a bowl of oats and fruit, and watch your hangover fade away. Just keep one thing in mind: don’t mix your oats with regular milk; use coconut or rice milk instead. Regular milk can further upset your stomach, which is definitely something you want to avoid when trying to cure a hangover.

Avocado

Avocados are very generous in healthy fats, potassium, and fiber, and they can significantly help you cure your hangover. Since potassium is one of the electrolytes you lose due to alcohol consumption, avocados can help you replenish it. 

The healthy fats and fiber can help sustain your energy levels without spiking blood sugar levels. Avocados can also support brain function, which can help improve your mood, and that can be particularly beneficial when dealing with a hangover.

Add avocado to your toast, salad, or smoothie to boost your intake of essential nutrients. You can also make quick guacamole or add avocado to a wrap or sandwich for an easy and nutritious meal to fight off your hangover.

Watermelon

Watermelon contains a lot of juice, and it is a great way to rehydrate, as dehydration is a major cause of hangover symptoms. It is over 90% water and also contains vitamins and antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation and replenish your body. The natural sugars in watermelon provide quick energy without spiking your sugar levels, while the high water content helps flush out toxins and supports overall hydration.

You can pack watermelon slices to snack on or blend them into a hydrating juice. You can also add watermelon to a fruit salad or make a refreshing watermelon smoothie for a light and revitalizing treat. 

Soup

Chicken noodle soups, like chicken and vegetable broth, are hydrating and easy on the stomach. Curing everything from bad mood to flu, a soup might be just the thing you need when trying to cure a hangover. 

Since they often contain salt, broth-based soups can replenish your electrolyte levels due to the sodium. This means that they can easily rehydrate you and help you restore your body faster, providing relief from fatigue. The warm liquid can also be soothing to a sensitive stomach and help reduce overall discomfort.

Since making soup hungover is probably not how you want to start your day, it is best to be proactive and have some soup frozen for occasions like this. You can also add vegetables and lean proteins to the broth for a more substantial meal that provides additional nutrients and supports recovery.

Foods to Avoid When Hungover

When fighting off a hangover, it is also important what you don’t consume in addition to what you do consume. Even if you have all the foods listed above, your hangover will not settle and can even worsen if you combine them with the wrong types of food. So, take a look at the foods below to help your hangover. 

Greasy Foods

While it’s a common belief that greasy foods can soak up alcohol, they can actually irritate your stomach lining and worsen nausea and indigestion. Stay away from fried foods, fast food, red meat, and trans-fats. Greasy foods are often harder to digest, leading to further discomfort and prolonging the hangover symptoms because they don’t provide any nutritional value, nor do they hydrate you. 

The only positive aspect of having greasy foods while trying to cure a hangover is that they might make you thirsty, and you’ll drink more water. However, this positive side also comes with a downside: consistent dehydration due to slow digestion. 

Instead of reaching for greasy options, stick to lighter, more easily digestible foods that can provide the nutrients your body needs without adding to the discomfort.

Sugary Foods and Drinks

Sugary foods and drinks are another category you should avoid when hungover. They can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, leading to increased feelings of fatigue and irritability. In addition, they can further dehydrate you and increase inflammation, making your hangover symptoms even worse. 

Instead, opt for complex carbohydrates and natural sugars from fruits, which provide more sustained energy and support overall recovery. 

Caffeinated Beverages

A cup of coffee is probably what you’ll reach out to first when a fighting off a hangover hoping that it will perk you right up. Unfortunately, coffee is your enemy in this situation. Caffeine is a diuretic and can lead to further dehydration. 

This can exacerbate hangover symptoms and prolong your recovery time. If you must have caffeine, drink it in moderation and balance it with plenty of water to minimize dehydration. It is also a good idea to mix it with some rice milk or coconut milk and make it very mild. 

Alcohol

Some cultures believe that more alcohol can help cure hangover symptoms. This does not mean getting drunk first thing in the morning, but it does imply consuming small amounts of alcoholic beverages, like a glass of warm brandy, wine, or beer. However, this only delays the inevitable and can worsen dehydration and prolong your recovery time. 

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