Hangover cures: what no-one tells you

Wouldn’t it be great if all the Christmas and New Year pints, fizz, plonk and shots could be enjoyed without the pounding headache, gut rot and kill-me-now pain of a hangover?⁠
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That’s the promise alcohol hangover pills, powders and patches all claim. But hangovers are a mystery to science and medicine, in part because research in the area isn’t well funded, so it’s good to keep a critical eye on things.⁠
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The problem is that it’s pretty hard to define what a hangover actually is. The best scientific thinking right now is that dehydration, hormone imbalances, inflammation and the inherent toxicity of alcohol all combine to cause the symptoms we feel the morning after.⁠
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But this isn’t necessarily a complete list and we don’t know the mechanics of how each of these things contribute to the pain.⁠
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Hangovers are hard to study scientifically because there’s so many variables beyond just the alcohol. You’re likely eating and sleeping poorly when you drink. Even the mixers you have, and their sugar content, play a part in how you’ll feel the next day. Drinking under lab conditions is nothing like playing a drinking game with your pals.⁠
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If we don’t know exactly what causes a hangover, then there’s no foolproof way to develop a cure.⁠
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That said, there is research out there that shows certain minerals and nutrients can help with each of the known symptoms of a hangover. Alpha Lipoic Acid, Cysteine, B & C Vitamins and Zinc all help your body process booze. Electrolytes will sort your dehydration. Magnesium can help with your sleep quality. Ashwagandha and Ginseng can calm your morning-after anxiety caused by hormonal imbalances.⁠
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Finally, don’t turn your nose up at the bonus of the placebo effect. After all, if you feel better, you feel better.⁠

Hangover cures: what no-one tells you

Rebalance

Reboot

Release

Restore