5 ways to beat a nasty hangover

It’s the morning after the night before and you’re 98 per cent sure you’re dying. OK, maybe not dying, but the hangover struggle is definitely real. You’ve got the headache, the nausea, the confusion – ‘what even happened last night?’ – the shakes, and the classic ‘I’m never drinking again’ story to tell your unsympathetic family/flatmates.

A survey by YorkTest found that the average Briton spends four years of their life with a hangover, so we decided it was time for a change. Is there hope at the end of the tunnel? Is there any way to feel remotely human again? We have the answers, and they’re just in time for party season!

Here are five ways to shift that hangover:

Drink more… water!

It’s an oldie but a goodie: drinking a glass of water before you go to bed was probably one of the first pieces of alcohol-related advice you ever got given and for a reason. ‘Dehydration is one of the major effects of a hangover, so it’s really important that you drink lots of water if you’ve been out partying,’ says Nicola Shubrook, nutritionist at Urban Wellness. ‘The day after a drinking session, aim to drink at least 2.5 litres of pure water to gently plump up your cells and bring your blood vessels back to normal,’ suggests Laura Wilson, a nutritionist, health coach and author of The Alkaline 5 Diet. And for the speediest hangover recovery, try a drink high in electrolytes and minerals such as a sports drink, coconut water or Sprite, as these will help restore your electrolyte balance (after it’s been depleted by alcohol) and flush out the toxins. ‘You can also add some fresh lemon juice to your water for extra help detoxifying the liver,’ adds Nicola.

Get some grub

Whether you’re feeling extremely nauseous and can’t face the thought of food, or are hankering after something deliciously savoury to sort you out, there are a number of foods that will help shift the hangover. Fruit is a great starting point, as its high water and mineral content will help to rehydrate you and put an end to that banging headache. ‘There is an enzyme in pears that scientists are currently investigating for its ability to help us metabolise alcohol, and prevent us from having a hangover. If you’re going to eat fruit, it makes sense to choose a pear,’ advises Shona Wilkinson, head nutritionist at NutriCentre.  Laura also recommends bananas and spinach, as they’re rich in potassium and will further replenish your electrolytes.

Many of us also often reach for a big fry-up and we can confirm this is a good thing. It will help to replace some of the lost nutrients your body has used to detoxify the alcohol and will bring you back to the land of the living. ‘Ideally choose eggs, because they are rich in cysteine, which is needed to break down acetaldehyde,’ explains Shona. According to Nicola, eggs are also a great source of sulphur. ‘Sulphur is a mineral that plays a big role in detoxification and your liver needs all the help it can get after a night out.’ she says. And what about our beloved bacon? ‘It is, however, better to avoid bacon and sausages. The nitrites in them will only add to the toxic burden on your body,’ says Shona. Boo!

And can we eat something to get rid of that beating headache? ‘Magnesium can help relieve headaches, rather than automatically reaching for the ibuprofen,’ explains Nicola. ‘Grab mag-rich foods such as spinach, nuts, avocados, bananas and dark chocolate.’

All hail ginger

We all know the worst hangovers are the ones that make you feel nauseous. When you’re feeling sick, ginger is a great way to help. ‘If you are feeling nauseous or have been sick and can’t face the thought of food, put some ginger in a mug of hot water and sip until you feel better,’ advises Nicola. ‘Ginger is excellent for helping to calm the digestive system and ease that sick feeling.’ Laura also suggests drinking it in a herbal tea: ‘It will reduce nausea and sickness and will also hydrate you in a warm and comforting way.’

Do some light exercise

Of course ‘light’ is the operative word here. Clearly no one is going to want to go for a 10K run or two-hour gym sesh, but light exercise such as yoga or a gentle walk can increase blood flow to all parts of your body, in particular your liver, which will speed up the detoxifying process. ‘The sweating will also help to eliminate the toxins through your skin, but it can make the problem of dehydration worse, so ensure that you drink plenty of water at the same time.’ explains Ella Allred, nutritionist at NutriCentre.  A gentle walk is also a good idea. ‘Walking in the fresh air alkalises your body, which is key in easing the build-up of acidity caused by drinking too much,’ explains Laura. ‘The motion of walking gently massages your brain too, which is soothing, and the vitamin D from the sun and oxygen in the air all help things along too.’

Hair of the dog?

For most of us, even the sight of last night’s wine bottle is too much to handle when we have a hangover. But drinking through the pain – or ‘hair of the dog’ as it is known – has long been thought a remedy for a hangover. So, does it work? ‘Drinking more alcohol will not help!’ says Ella. ‘It may initially take the edge off the pain, however in the long run will only make it hurt more and last longer. It will dehydrate you further and give your liver even more toxins to handle.’