A headache, nausea, excessive sweating and dry mouth. Most of us have experienced the consequences of excessive alcohol intake at least once. Unfortunately there is no magic cure for a hangover. However, these tips might bring some relief.

Drink

As a hangover is primarily caused by dehydration, the most obvious and most effective tip is to drink water. Lots of it! Fruit juice is a nice alternative because the fructose  boosts your energy levels and the Vitamin C stimulates the liver to break down the alcohol. If fruit juice upsets your stomach, try vegetable juice or a banana-yogurt smoothie instead. In any case avoid coffee, black tea, coke or Red Bull. Caffeine will only dehydrate your body even more. Sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade help to rehydrate the body and replenish minerals.

Eat

When you’re hung over you are probable craving fatty foods as the fat helps to absorb toxins. Your stomach however might protest against that hamburger and fries, so maybe it’s better to stick to a bacon and egg sandwich. Eggs are rich in cysteine, an amino acid that helps the liver to break down toxins. For dessert have a banana to restore potassium levels in the bloodstream.

Sleep

On days like these sleep is your best friend. Just stay in bed and give your body some time to recover. It’s working hard to process all that alcohol and repair the damage done to your internal organs.

Watch out with painkillers

If you’re looking for quick headache relief, go for aspirin. It’s a blood thinner, like alcohol, and will spare your liver. Always take in moderation as aspirin or ibuprofen can irritate your stomach and could even lead to stomach bleeding.

Go outside

For some people it helps to take a shower and get a breath of fresh air. Just remember that too much physical activity won’t help to rehydrate your body.

Alison