The roast goose has just been digested, so some heads and stomachs are faced with a new test of endurance on New Year’s Eve: For many people, the new year begins with a bad hangover: sore skulls, rebellious stomachs and leaden bodies – these are the typical symptoms after too much alcohol. This can be taken care of with plenty of water and hearty snacks.
How does a hangover develop?
The lack of water and minerals due to alcohol consumption is the main cause of headaches, dizziness and thirst in the morning. Carbonated and warm, high-sugar drinks such as punch and liqueurs, in which the alcohol circulates particularly quickly in the bloodstream, also have a particularly strong effect. Not getting enough sleep can make a hangover worse.
What protects against a hangover the next morning?
Because of Corona, big parties are not welcome this year either, but people are sure to drink anyway. Under no circumstances should alcohol be consumed on an empty stomach. High-fat dishes such as pasta dishes, tuna in oil, fried potatoes or fried sausages are good bases.
As a rule of thumb, every alcoholic drink is followed by a glass of mineral water. This will reduce alcohol consumption and the body will not become dehydrated. In between, mineral-rich snacks such as nuts, cheese bites, liver sausage rolls or a hearty soup are recommended, which replenish the mineral reserves washed out by the alcohol.
Does sticking to one type of alcohol help?
According to health experts, this is a misconception. It is simply the amount of alcohol consumed that makes the difference. Of course, sweet drinks such as cocktails, liqueurs and wine spritzers as well as concentrated alcohols such as brandy are more likely to cause headaches.
How long does it take for the alcohol to break down?
The body absorbs alcohol quickly, but breaks it down slowly. A man weighing 80 kilograms takes about two and a half hours to break down 20 grams of alcohol. That corresponds to about half a liter of beer, a quarter of a liter of wine or three glasses of schnapps. Women need around three hours to break down the same amount.
What helps against an acute “hangover”?
Anyone who wakes up with a headache, nausea and dizziness on New Year’s morning despite all the precautionary measures, is best able to fight the symptoms with plenty of mineral water, fruit juice spritzers and a sour and salty hangover breakfast. A hearty sauerkraut stew, fried herring, olives, savory biscuits and pickles are far more recommended as headache relievers.
The acid promotes the breakdown of alcohol, the salt replaces lost minerals such as calcium. Fruits and whole grains also help the liver break down alcohol. Painkillers tend to put additional strain on the liver. However, a lot doesn’t always help a lot. The stomach irritated by alcohol could have problems with a hearty breakfast, so smaller portions are advisable.
There are also effervescent tablets or powders that can be bought in pharmacies and drug stores. They promise to fight the symptoms. These primarily contain potassium, sodium and vitamin C. This will bring the electrolyte balance, which has been imbalanced by alcohol, back into balance. However, they are not magic drugs.
What helps against the “fire” in the morning?
Some of them not only have a headache and a queasy stomach, but also a lot of thirst, also known as «burn». On the other hand, still mineral water or fruit juice spritzers help. Sparkling water is rather unsuitable because carbonic acid irritates the stomach, which is already stressed. Coffee also increases the headache of some hangover sufferers and puts a strain on the stomach. For others, however, an espresso with lemon juice helps. After all, a walk in the fresh air gets your circulation going. (AFP / jmh)