Beating Hangovers

An age old question, and not an easy one to answer. Some people swear by the 'hair of the dog' as the most effective hangover remedy, whereas others will have you slurping down raw eggs and any number of other gruesome concoctions with the promise that, once digested, you'll feel less like you've been hit by a bus.

So what is the best cure for a hangover?

Greasy FoodContrary to popular belief, eating a gigantic breakfast full of fat and grease does nothing to help your hangover. In fact, it is likely to make you feel worse. The sheer amount of food to digest will make you feel more tired and lethargic, and the high salt content will dehydrate you further, which is the last thing you need. Not to mention the fact that your already delicate stomach is likely to feel a whole lot worse after chowing down ten pieces of bacon. Let Gourmandia.ca help you out on this one.

So What Should I Eat?Forget the grease. You need something light and energising, otherwise you'll be doing your best impression of a zombie all day in between giving sweet hugs to the toilet. Tempting as it may be to get straight down the pub for another beer, you'll actually be doing far more harm than good. Part of a hangover is alcohol withdrawal symptoms, so that drink can temporarily make you feel slightly better. However, in the long run you're further dehydrating yourself and prolonging the inevitable, meaning you'll only end up feeling far worse later on in the evening.

So What Should I Drink?The aim of the game with a hangover is to rehydrate yourself, as most of the symptoms are caused by severe dehydration. So more alcohol is out of the question, and so is coffee, as it's also a diuretic and will only worsen your hangover.

FruitAs far as hangover food goes, you can't go wrong with a nice big slice of watermelon. Not only does it taste amazing, but it's full of essential nutrients and bursting with rehydrating water. Munching on a banana is also a good call, as it contains potassium which can help with the nausea, feeling of weakness and tiredness, not to mention a mood-lifting boost of serotonin.

High Protein/Low FatFor all you readers with an aversion to 'health food', the good news is you don't just have to stick to fruit. Whip up some delicious eggs; scrambled, boiled or poached, as their protein-rich goodness will help your mood and energy levels. Furthermore, eggs contain cysteine, an amino acid that helps fight the alcohol-induced toxins in your blood. Cracking! (Sorry)

Sports DrinksYou can obviously rehydrate yourself with plain old water, but chugging down a couple of energy drinks packed with electrolytes can actually be extremely effective. Swap that 'hair of the dog' lager or giant latte for a bottle of Powerade and you'll be thankful later.

Coconut WaterIf you want to go one step further, coconut water contains even more of those essential electrolytes than your average sports drink, plus it's completely natural and tastes awesome! You can pick it up in most supermarkets too.