While the best way to avoid a hangover is to drink in moderation, it’s hard to resist the urge to have another drink when spirits are high and cocktails are flowing over the holidays.
From family get-togethers to New Year’s Eve shenanigans, the aftermath of consuming too much alcohol usually involves pounding headaches, nausea and sensitivity to light and noise.
We asked Toronto-based dietitian Abby Langer for her opinion on a few so-called hangover remedies to find out if they actually help or cause more damage to our bodies.
Drink pickle juice or eat a poutine
The rationale behind the pickle juice remedy is that the brine will help kick start your body into storing water and restoring electrolytes, while the poutine is considered the quintessential Canadian hangover cure. Even if it doesn’t work, loading up on crispy fries, cheese curds and gravy sure sounds like a hearty way to soothe your morning after regrets.
Langer: A lot of supposed hangover cures appear to work – at least in the short-term, because they help us rehydrate and replenish electrolytes lost in our urine during a drinking binge. This definitely rings true for greasy food, pickle juice and Clamato.
Drink a Caesar
This approach gives you the perfect excuse to head back to the scene of last night’s crime. The reasoning? Having a bit of alcohol the morning after tends to ease hangover symptoms.
Langer: Drinking more alcohol only staves off your hangover for a short time before it comes raging back, so I don’t recommend starting your morning with any hair of the dog remedies. Plus, why would you want to [add] insult to injury? Your liver has already suffered enough!
Have lots of coffee
Drowning yourself with caffeine may perk your fatigued head on a normal work day, but will it sober you up?
Langer: Coffee is a diuretic, which will dehydrate you even more, so it’s a pass for me!
Aspirin and water
Many people swear by an aspirin and a glass of water before bed to relieve hangover symptoms. It may be a quick-fix, but is it really the best option?
Langer: Aspirin can help with a hangover by soothing a raging headache, but I wouldn’t bother taking it before getting into bed. Take aspirin in the morning, when it’s more likely that you’ll feel the effects of a hangover. Please avoid taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) while drinking because it can cause liver damage.
