A drink or two too many and you can wake up feeling awful. Here are some tips on how to cope with the day after. When you drink alcohol to excess, your body is unable to break it down fast enough, so it accumulates in a harmful byproduct called acetyldehyde. The liver – which has the job of detoxifying your body – is overwhelmed by dealing with this substance, and that is what creates the awful feeling. The other main reason for a hangover is dehydration, because alcohol robs the body of water, and with this, vitamins and minerals. 1. Drink fruit juice It contains fructose, which helps the body burn alcohol faster. A large glass accelerates removal of alcohol still in your system the morning after. 2. Try bouillon Broth made from bouillon cubes or any homemade soup broth will help replace the salt and potassium your body loses when you drink. 3. Drinking plenty of water Drink water before you go to bed and again when you get up in the morning. This will relieve discomfort caused by dehydration. 4. Take B-complex Your system uses up more B vitamins when it is under stress – and overtaxing your body with too much booze definitely qualifies as stress. 5. Get some pain relief A headache is an inevitable part of a hangover. Take aspirin or paracetamol. 6. Have something decent to eat If you can face it, that is. A balanced meal will replace essential nutrients. But keep the meal light: no fats or fried foods. 7. Let time heal The best and only foolproof cure for a hangover is, of course, 24 hours. Get through the day as best you can, get a good night’s sleep and the next day – hopefully – all will be forgotten.
