Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy Hangover!

As I've mentioned recently, I'm on meds which make the imbibing of spirits unwise, so I couldn't toast the new year. But perhaps you did. Perhaps you toasted so damn hard that you never want to toast again. Aw, poor baby! But I don't mean to mock your headache/nausea/fatigue/vomiting/ vertigo/photophobia/or tremors. Au contraire, mes chéris!   Instead, I've done some research on possible hangover cures, for your benefit. Ain't that kind of me? Why, yes. Yes, it is.

WebMD advises drinking lots of water the morning after, to combat the dehydration caused by excessive boozing. Other possible options include consuming burnt toast and drinking sports drinks with electrolytes (Ed. If you don't want the sugar, I suggest something like Smart Water instead). A couple of pain-relief pills should help with the inevitable headache (though other sources warn against taking aspirin, naproxen sodium, or acetaminophen while alcohol's still in your system).

eHow seconds the re-hydration recommendation, adding that a BRAT diet the morning after comprises mild foods your stomach should be able to tolerate (Bananas, Rice, Applesause, Toast).

Men's Fitness recommends eating eggs but avoiding coffee, as caffeine serves to dehydrate you further. (Ed. Though perhaps drinking twice as much water as coffee may negate this effect? The caffeine can help take the edge off your headache, just sayin'.)

Real Simple also hops on the toast/sports drinks wagon, but tosses out the surprising suggestion of eating spicy foods which "distracts your body from focusing on your hangover." (Ed. Yeah, I'll just bet.) And apparently, the extract of prickly pear may reduce nausea. (Ed. Who knew?)

I suppose, as a last (or first) resort, you can give products like Hangover Helper a try, though I can't personally vouch for it, or any's, efficacy.

Probably the best thing you can do for yourself is eat like you're just getting over a stomach bug and get as much rest as you possibly can. And next time you go out boozing, be sure you've filled your stomach with a good dinner beforehand and pace yourself, damn it. What are you, just out of college?

(Ed. Ignore me; I'm just snippy 'cause I haven't had a drink since August 2012 and God knows I coulda used several!)

23 comments:

  1. A lot of my friends' favourite cure for a hangover is...more alcohol. I know, the mere idea of that is awful, but you know, ole hair of the dog does seem to make one feel a bit better. I tend to go for greasy/salty foods and shitloads of water.

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

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    1. Hair of the dog, for me, is blerch. Though I have heard about greasy foods being helpful. Weird, eh?

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  2. The smartest thing to do is to drink lots of water during your alcoholic binge -- this is easily accomplished if you use water as your mixer. I speak from experience. Also, right before crashing, drink a full glass of water & take 3-4 Ibuprofen tablets. Preemptive strike, man. Happy New Year!

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    1. When I would drink, I'd have the booze, then a glass of water, and continue alternating till I was done (or too many sheets to the wind to keep it up). ;-)

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  3. I'm allergic to alcohol so I can't drink anymore anyway. I haven't had a hangover since the 80s!!

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    1. Bummer about being allergic! All booze is no bueno???

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  4. Pregnancy number 3 ruined alcohol for me. I just have a regular headache. When I was younger, I took my friend's advice and always took tylenol or motrin while drunk. It definitely works, but I'll be on the liver transplant list by 2020. Happy New Year!

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  5. Water tends to be the best "cure"... and or a red Gatorade. Although the red Gatorade is not pretty coming back up, let me just say. Not that I'd know... I haven't had a hangover in, well, forever. I did get really toasted on a girls weekend on Nantucket like 7 years ago (we walked everywhere on the island), but I woke up still drunk. I think I coasted right through the hangover stage. :)

    I'm not huge into alcohol anyway... my ex-husband drank enough for both of us... if we had lived for an eternity... which is why, of course, he didn't. You are wise to heed the doctor's direction.

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    1. I woke up drunk once or twice...found it a most disorienting, unpleasant experience!

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    2. It was very odd, I'll say that. :)

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  6. Dude...why'ya keep pointing me out? Ed. this..., an Ed. that...wadupwiddat?
    You could e-mail me ya'kno...or message me on teh fb.
    Going all public with teh side notes? Why don't we just...huh?...oooohhh, (Ed.)....nevermind. XD

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  7. I haven't had a "massive" drinking session for a long, long time. I'm rubbish at drinking anyway, as most Friday's or Saturday's I'm playing in a pub or club and have to drive...

    Back in the day though, my hangover cure was, if you could manage it, a pint of water before bed. Then the morning after, as much fried carbohydrate as you can force down your throat, more water, industrial strength coffee and orange juice. Then, repair to the sofa for the rest of the day to watch endless repeats of Friends. Worked for me.

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    1. Yeah, no good boozing when you gotta sing. (Though I did know a singer who always took a shot of Portuguese firewater before a gig, said it soothed his throat.) (Yeah, right.) :-)

      You intrigue me, sir; what sorts of fried carbs?

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  8. You'd think eggs would make the stomach churn! Have a great 2013!

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  9. Though I can't say I drank like in my youth, I did sip (gobbled) some wine. My favorite part was using my Margarinator for the first time. Without reading the instructions, so I ended up blending the damn thing. Still tasted as good. =)

    Happy new year!

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    1. A Margarinator? Like, something that makes margaritas??? Dang, girl - you hardcore! I wonder if they sell Mojito-nators? ;-)

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  10. LOL drink lots of water. Gotta love the post New Years hangover.

    Thanks for all the great words you dropped on my blog today. *hugs to my favorite Mina.

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    1. I meant them from the bottom of my (sex-addicted) heart. ;-) (((((((Michael)))))))

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  11. Ah yes the hang-over, so ugly memories of my sweet youth. Too bad alcohol is now outcasted from my life. A paramedic once recommended to drink saline solution combined with glucose. If you can keep it inside long enough to get to your system, you'll not remember you were suffering from hangover within the hour. ;)

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    1. Hmmm...that saline/glucose solution business sounds like Gatorade! :-)

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