How to cure a hangover

The Christmas lights are up, the shops are bursting with sequined dresses and bars are selling mulled wine. It can only mean one thing: the party season is almost here, which for many of us means one thing — hangovers. Because no matter how often you wake up vowing that you’ll never get that drunk again, somehow you always do. Panic not; here are four proven methods to cure the ills of the morning after.

DAMAGE LIMITATION

Not drinking is, of course, the only surefire way to avoid a hangover, but as that’s not going to happen, prepare your body for battle.

Eating is a good start because it slows down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed, stopping you getting drunk so quickly. ‘Avoid highly acidic or spicy foods that can irritate the stomach,’ advises GP Dr Roger Henderson. ‘But beyond that, just make sure you eat.’

However, you should pick your tipple carefully. Research carried out at Brown University’s Centre for Alcohol and Addiction Studies in the US showed that the intensity of your hangover depends on your poison. Darker drinks contain molecules known as congeners — tiny but significant amounts of toxins — so make you feel worse than clear drinks. That said, if you drink a load of vodka, you’re going to feel terrible, but not as terrible as if you’d drunk the equivalent amount of whisky.

Oh, and keep off the fags. Another Brown study showed students who smoked when they drank were more likely to have worse hangovers.

GLUG, GLUG

We all know that alcohol is a diuretic that steals every molecule of water from your body, but you might not know that along with it goes a host of vital vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc, which are all needed for your organs to function effectively.

Alternating booze and water is one way to prevent dehydration, but if the damage is done, take a rehydration drink before you turn in. This is a better option than glugging plain water — research shows that rehydration salts increase the amount of fluid your body retains, and help to replace the good stuff that the booze has flushed out.

‘An oral rehydration drink is good to take before bed to help raise blood sugar levels back to normal and replace lost fluids, salts and minerals,’ says Dr Henderson. Try Oralyte (95p, at boots.com). If you forget the night before, make it your priority in the morning. It won’t be as effective, but it will certainly help.

REPLENISH

Got carb cravings? It’s not surprising. ‘Alcohol is mainly sugars, so blood sugar levels rise dramatically when drinking. The body has to work harder to produce insulin to reduce these levels back to normal, but can produce too much, causing a blood sugar slump the next day,’ explains Dr Henderson. ‘This manifests itself as fatigue, dizziness and poor co-ordination, not to mention increased appetite.’

While the Royal Society of Chemistry reckons the best hangover breakfast is toast and honey, which replenishes depleted levels of sodium, potassium and fructose, Dr Henderson recommends a slow energy-release breakfast such as porridge or a full English. If you can’t be bothered to cook your own, The Wolseley’s (£15.95) is excellent, as is the Battersea Grill’s (£5.70). ‘The high fat content can settle the stomach, and eggs contain a compound called cysteine. After the liver breaks down alcohol, what’s left is acetaldehyde, the toxin that makes you feel so lousy. Cysteine breaks down acetaldehyde, so you feel better,’ says Dr Henderson.

POP THE RIGHT PILLS

A review of hangover pills in the British Medical Journal found ‘no compelling evidence’ to suggest any were effective. Painkillers can help you feel more human, but Dr Henderson recommends paracetamol rather than aspirin and ibuprofen, which can irritate the stomach.