The Super Bowl was amazing. The Giants won, Madonna pouted, and you partied...and partied...and partied.
Now it's Monday morning and you're feeling like something fished out of a drain. You overindulged and now you're paying the price. You could call in sick but your sadistic boss set up a sales meeting for today - just to make sure everyone makes it into the office. Buck up and keep your brains from oozing out of your skull with one of these remedies:
10. Vitamins
When you drink, your body loses electrolytes and your liver and kidneys start to work overtime. According to the Life Extension Foundation, downing vitamins, especially Vitamins B1, B6 and C, helps your liver process the toxins in alcohol.
9. Greasy Foods
Contrary to popular belief, greasy foods do not absorb alcohol. The fat and salt in most greasy foods (like eggs, bacon, french fries) does help replenish salt in your body, while the fat is turned into some much needed energy. If you can keep food down, this won't hurt.
8. Hair of the Dog
Yes, it sounds like a great idea, and to be honest if you keep that buzz on you might not feel the pain of a hangover. But it's a slippery slope. Drinking too much can land you in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. Plus, if a bottle of tequila looks really good about now, you might have a bigger problem -- like one that requires a stint in rehab.
7. Coffee
We all reach for coffee after drinking too much the night before. And
caffeine does react against ethanol (which is pure alcohol). Plus,
caffeine's added benefits include a shot of energy (since you might have
been up too late or had a restless night of sleep). Just make sure you
drink plenty of water with the coffee, because coffee tends to
dehydrate you - and your body is already dehydrated.
6. Honey
Honey has been touted as a remedy for allergies and fatigue. Now add
hangover cure to its benefits. Eating two teaspoons of honey every 20
minutes is supposed to help metabolize the alcohol in your system. The
secret lies in the potassium and fructose in the honey. Plus it tastes
good and provides you with some much-needed energy.
5. Pickles
The juice in pickles contains high amounts of potassium and sodium,
which help replenish the electrolytes lost after a night of drinking. Vanderbilt University
did an entire study on the benefits of pickle juice on athletes.
Runners swear by it. Like Gatorade without the lemon-lime flavor.
4. Sports Drinks
Gatorade and other sports drinks contain sugar, sodium, and replenish
the electrolytes in your system, much like the pickle juice noted
above. Plus it makes you think that your an athlete instead of a
stinking drunk.
3. Pain Killers
Sure, it's OK to pop a few pain killers to stop your head from
exploding. Just remember to take NSAIDS like aspirin, ibuprofen, and
naproxin sodium (not Tylenol). According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,
acetaminophen can cause liver damage when taken after heavy drinking.
Remedies like Excedrin and Alka Seltzer also contain caffeine, which
gives you a boost of energy and clarity.
2. Water
Drink water and plenty of it. You're dehydrated and your liver and
kidneys are working overtime to pump the toxins out of your body.
Replenish your body with water and lots of it. 16-20 ounces of water
before you go to bed, ideally. Then keep on drinking the day after.
1. Time
Your body needs time to metabolize the alcohol and everything else is
just a band-aid to get you through the day. According to the Mayo Clinic, most hangovers go away on their own, though they can last up to 24 hours.
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