Close
Photo:Getty Images
Getty Images
Hangover cures are popular for good reason—hangovers are unpleasant and can take you out for the day. With the rise of products for hangover relief, we know people are looking for ways to combat hangovers and move on with their day. Luckily, just as the right fuel can get your car back on the road, the right drink can help you bounce back from a hangover.
Let’s explore the best beverages to refuel your body, ease your hangover symptoms and help you feel like yourself again.
This Is What Happens to Your Body During a Hangover
What Is a Hangover and What Are the Symptoms?
If you’ve ever experienced a hangover, you know that the symptoms can range from a mild headache or nausea to intense sickness, vomiting, fatigue, anxiety and muscle aches. Alcohol works as a diuretic, so it is inherently dehydrating. Hydration—or, rather, lack thereof—is one of the most significant contributors to the symptoms of a hangover.
While waking up hungover might feel like your body is running on empty, the right drink can help you refuel and recover faster. Keep reading for some of the best beverages to alleviate hangover symptoms and get you back on your feet.
The Best Types of Alcohol to Prevent Hangovers
5 Best Drinks for a Hangover
1. Water
2. Electrolyte Drinks
Increased urination from alcohol intake also flushes out certain nutrients from your body. “Drinks containing electrolytes are beneficial for hangovers, as they help replenish nutrients lost due to alcohol’s diuretic effect,” says Routhenstein.
Electrolyte drinks include sports drinks, coconut water, electrolyte powders or Pedialyte. These are excellent for replenishing the electrolytes sodium, potassium and magnesium that are lost due to alcohol’s diuretic effect. Electrolyte beverages help restore the body’s water balance and may reduce symptoms like muscle cramps and dizziness.
3. Fruit Juices
Fruit juices (100% juice), especially those high in vitamins and antioxidants like orange juice or tomato juice, can help boost blood sugar levels and provide essential nutrients. The extra fluids can also help rehydrate the body.
While you may have heard that a bloody mary cocktail is a hangover cure, the true hangover hero is the tomato juice, Enright says. Tomato juice is rich in sodium and is a good source of potassium, two electrolytes needed for hydration. The juice also packs antioxidants like lycopene, as well as vitamins to help replenish the body, Enright adds.
4. Tea
In addition to increasing your fluid intake,herbal teassuch as ginger tea or peppermint tea can soothe the stomach and reduce nausea. Chamomile tea can help with relaxation and improve sleep quality. Earlier research suggests that green tea may be helpful in treating hangovers due to its high antioxidant content, says Enright.
5. Broths and Soups
Clear broths and soups may not look like much, but they contain a hangover-fighting nutrient package. If you’re having trouble with your appetite, broths are gentle on the stomach and help replenish lost fluids. “Broth, particularly bone broth, can be effective at helping hangovers because not only does it provide a source of fluids, but also contains electrolytes and some protein, which can help refuel the body,” Enright shares.
Drinks to Avoid
Partaking in the “hair of the dog” is common hangover lore; however, imbibing again the following morning can delay recovery, worsen dehydration and cause additional symptoms.
The Bottom Line
Hangovers are never fun, but you can alleviate your symptoms sooner with proper hydration. Water is the best solution for rehydration, while other beverages that contain electrolytes may replenish your fluid and electrolyte status. Avoid drinking more alcohol, extra caffeine or sugary beverages, which can all exacerbate dehydration and prolong hangover symptoms.
Frequently Asked QuestionsUnfortunately, there is no quick fix for a hangover. To feel better as quickly as possible, drink plenty of water or electrolyte-rich beverages to rehydrate. Eat a balanced meal with complex carbohydrates, lean protein and healthy fats to stabilize blood sugar levels. Rest and use over-the-counter pain relievers as directed to reduce headaches and muscle aches.Nothing will “soak up” a hangover, but certain foods can help. Consuming meals with a combination of protein and carbohydrates, like whole-grain toast or oatmeal, works to stabilize blood sugar levels. Eggs are beneficial due to their content of L-cysteine, an amino acid that may help break down alcohol toxins.Plus, nutrient-rich leafy greens and antioxidant-rich fruits like berries may help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.Plain water is a must for rehydration, while electrolyte-rich drinks like sports drinks and coconut water may help restore electrolyte balance. Herbal teas like ginger or peppermint can soothe the stomach. Broths and soups offer hydration and nutrition that’s gentle on your digestive system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for a hangover. To feel better as quickly as possible, drink plenty of water or electrolyte-rich beverages to rehydrate. Eat a balanced meal with complex carbohydrates, lean protein and healthy fats to stabilize blood sugar levels. Rest and use over-the-counter pain relievers as directed to reduce headaches and muscle aches.
Nothing will “soak up” a hangover, but certain foods can help. Consuming meals with a combination of protein and carbohydrates, like whole-grain toast or oatmeal, works to stabilize blood sugar levels. Eggs are beneficial due to their content of L-cysteine, an amino acid that may help break down alcohol toxins.Plus, nutrient-rich leafy greens and antioxidant-rich fruits like berries may help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
Plain water is a must for rehydration, while electrolyte-rich drinks like sports drinks and coconut water may help restore electrolyte balance. Herbal teas like ginger or peppermint can soothe the stomach. Broths and soups offer hydration and nutrition that’s gentle on your digestive system.
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, Calame W, Tieland M.The Diuretic Action of Weak and Strong Alcoholic Beverages in Elderly Men: A Randomized Diet-Controlled Crossover Trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7):660. doi:10.3390/nu9070660Skrzydlewska E, Ostrowska J, Stankiewicz A, Farbiszewski R.Green tea as a potent antioxidant in alcohol intoxication.Addict Biol. 2002;7(3):307-314. doi:10.1080/13556210220139523Sánchez-Lozada LG, Roncal-Jimenez CA, García-Arroyo FE, Jensen T, Lanaspa MA, Johnson RJ.The perils of rehydrating with soft drinks following heat and exercise.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019;316(3):R187-R188. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00007.2019Eriksson CJP, Metsälä M, Möykkynen T, Mäkisalo H, Kärkkäinen O, Palmén M, Salminen JE, Kauhanen J.L-Cysteine Containing Vitamin Supplement Which Prevents or Alleviates Alcohol-related Hangover Symptoms: Nausea, Headache, Stress and Anxiety.Alcohol Alcohol. 2020;55(6):660-666. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa082
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, Calame W, Tieland M.The Diuretic Action of Weak and Strong Alcoholic Beverages in Elderly Men: A Randomized Diet-Controlled Crossover Trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7):660. doi:10.3390/nu9070660Skrzydlewska E, Ostrowska J, Stankiewicz A, Farbiszewski R.Green tea as a potent antioxidant in alcohol intoxication.Addict Biol. 2002;7(3):307-314. doi:10.1080/13556210220139523Sánchez-Lozada LG, Roncal-Jimenez CA, García-Arroyo FE, Jensen T, Lanaspa MA, Johnson RJ.The perils of rehydrating with soft drinks following heat and exercise.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019;316(3):R187-R188. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00007.2019Eriksson CJP, Metsälä M, Möykkynen T, Mäkisalo H, Kärkkäinen O, Palmén M, Salminen JE, Kauhanen J.L-Cysteine Containing Vitamin Supplement Which Prevents or Alleviates Alcohol-related Hangover Symptoms: Nausea, Headache, Stress and Anxiety.Alcohol Alcohol. 2020;55(6):660-666. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa082
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, Calame W, Tieland M.The Diuretic Action of Weak and Strong Alcoholic Beverages in Elderly Men: A Randomized Diet-Controlled Crossover Trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7):660. doi:10.3390/nu9070660Skrzydlewska E, Ostrowska J, Stankiewicz A, Farbiszewski R.Green tea as a potent antioxidant in alcohol intoxication.Addict Biol. 2002;7(3):307-314. doi:10.1080/13556210220139523Sánchez-Lozada LG, Roncal-Jimenez CA, García-Arroyo FE, Jensen T, Lanaspa MA, Johnson RJ.The perils of rehydrating with soft drinks following heat and exercise.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019;316(3):R187-R188. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00007.2019Eriksson CJP, Metsälä M, Möykkynen T, Mäkisalo H, Kärkkäinen O, Palmén M, Salminen JE, Kauhanen J.L-Cysteine Containing Vitamin Supplement Which Prevents or Alleviates Alcohol-related Hangover Symptoms: Nausea, Headache, Stress and Anxiety.Alcohol Alcohol. 2020;55(6):660-666. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa082
Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, Calame W, Tieland M.The Diuretic Action of Weak and Strong Alcoholic Beverages in Elderly Men: A Randomized Diet-Controlled Crossover Trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7):660. doi:10.3390/nu9070660
Skrzydlewska E, Ostrowska J, Stankiewicz A, Farbiszewski R.Green tea as a potent antioxidant in alcohol intoxication.Addict Biol. 2002;7(3):307-314. doi:10.1080/13556210220139523
Sánchez-Lozada LG, Roncal-Jimenez CA, García-Arroyo FE, Jensen T, Lanaspa MA, Johnson RJ.The perils of rehydrating with soft drinks following heat and exercise.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019;316(3):R187-R188. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00007.2019
Eriksson CJP, Metsälä M, Möykkynen T, Mäkisalo H, Kärkkäinen O, Palmén M, Salminen JE, Kauhanen J.L-Cysteine Containing Vitamin Supplement Which Prevents or Alleviates Alcohol-related Hangover Symptoms: Nausea, Headache, Stress and Anxiety.Alcohol Alcohol. 2020;55(6):660-666. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa082
