FitSugar

Quiz: The Truth About Hangovers

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:05:14 -0700

You just got a big promotion at work and you're out celebrating with friends. After a few rounds of cosmos, you start to lose count, and in the morning, you feel so horrible that you curse yourself and vow never to touch another drop of alcohol again.

Many of us have taken that same ride to hangover land, and because skipping happy hour to prevent it in the first place isn't always an option, take this quiz to learn the truth about drinking and how to ease hangover symptoms.

Source: Flickr User calebdzahnd

Take the quiz

Could Asparagus Help Your Hangover?

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:00:11 -0700

I've heard all sorts of crazy hangover cures, from Bloody Marys to pickled herring. The only surefire solution I've found is lots of water and, well, not drinking too much. However, a new study suggests that asparagus could also aid your post-indulgence misery.

Apparently, the nutrients that make asparagus so good for you in other ways could also prevent hangovers. Researchers in South Korea studied the effects of asparagus on human and rat liver cells and found that the cells could be protected by the amino acids and minerals found in the green veggie.

Who knows if an asparagus-heavy dinner could really make a difference, but considering that asparagus is also high in vitamins K, C, A, folate, and potassium, it's definitely better than fending off your hangover with a greasy late-night meal. Do you think you'll give it a try?

The Anatomy of a Hangover

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0800

It happens to all of us at some time or another but maybe to more of us on New Year's Eve. We drink too much and then we pay for it the next day. Are you hung up by your hangover?

Let me take a moment to explain what that excess of alcohol does to your body once the party is over:

Your throat and mouth are dry due to dehydration, which is caused by the diuretic properties of alcohol. The dehydration also affects your muscles, making them feel weak. So drink up! And I don't mean booze. Keep yourself well hydrated today to fight last night's excesses.
The excessive alcohol also irritates the lining of the stomach, causing nausea and sour stomach. The inflammation delays digestion, which in turn contributes to the feelings of nausea.
Your liver gets backed up trying to metabolize all the alcohol, so you might be experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia, meaning you are highly irritable and moody. Some folks end up feeling ravenously hungry after a night of partying due to whacked out blood sugar levels too. If you can eat, you should eat.

Unfortunately, there are a few more symptoms of a hangover. To learn those, if you are not already experiencing them, read more.

Your central nervous system becomes chemically overexcited, causing sensitivity to light, sound, and touch.
Blood vessels in the brain dilate, and that is what is causing that throbbing headache, which is only exacerbated by your dehydration mentioned above.
Your pituitary gland becomes confused and releases the wrong amounts of the hormones that regulate sleep. So while you may want to sleep it off, your sleep pattern is severely disrupted.

On the bright side of things, it is not clear whether hangovers affect cognitive abilities. But fear not, the aftereffects of your partying should only linger about for about 24 hours. Tomorrow is another day and it is a fresh new year too. Here are some recovery tips if you need them.

Source

You Asked: Why Do Hangovers Make Me Hungry?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:30:00 -0700

You're asking, and I'm answering.

Dear Fit,

I've noticed that on a day after a night of heavy drinking, whether I'm hungover or not, I tend to be ravenously hungry. I know that people joke about "hangover foods," but for me, it's not just craving greasy treats. I actually just feel insatiably hungry. Why is this?

- Hungry and Hungover

To see the answer, read more.

Ah, yes. As if the headache weren't bad enough, you also have to worry about a hangover interfering with your healthy eating habits. Before I started researching this answer, I assumed it had something to do with blood sugar, and indeed, blood sugar takes the blame for postparty hunger pangs.

Alcohol, as we know, is high in carbohydrates, and drinking heavily can temporarily decrease your blood-sugar levels. Basically, alcohol throws your blood sugar out of whack, and your body spends the next day trying to readjust, leading to increased hunger.

Here's what else I've been able to figure out from my research. When you drink, your liver is so busy metabolizing the alcohol that it neglects to produce glucose like it usually does. It's especially bad if you're drinking on an empty stomach, because then the drop in blood sugar is even more dramatic, resulting in ravenous hunger. In addition, drinking inhibits the production of a stimulant called glutamine, so the next day, when you've dropped drinking, your body churns out more glutamine than it needs. The resultant overstimulation may also contribute to increased hunger.

I'm no doctor, so that's about as much as I've been able to figure out, and it makes sense to me. Got your own knowledge of the subject? Share it below.

Source

Dealing with Your Bachelorette Party (or ANY) Hangover

FitSugar — Fri, 18 May 2007 15:45:00 -0700

It's Wedding Party Week here on the Sugar pages, and FitSugar has been loaded with some wonderful ideas for alternative bachelorette parties. However, if you are planning on going the traditional route you might just get loaded yourself. Here are a few tips for dealing with the hangover that might happen if you get a bit more than tipsy at your bachelorette party.

Drink water before you go to bed!!! It is no joke that alcohol dehydrates you.
Your skin will also feel the effects of dehydration from alcohol, so before you go to bed, slather on face moisturizer to prevent that dry feeling when you wake up.
Nip the headache in the bud and take two ibuprofen tablets, to help diminish the headache and body aches that accompany a hangover.
Clean up!!! Take a nice hot shower upon waking - alcohol resides in your pores, the steam from your hot shower will help sweat out the alcohol and the smell.
Juice it!!! Drink juice - fructose, such as honey or fruit juice, may help your body burn the alcohol faster.
Physical activity (wink - wink, nudge nudge) can help your body burn through the excess alcohol by eliminating the toxins by sweating.

My buddy DearSugar has some suggestions for dealing with hangovers.

Please remember to drink responsibly and never, ever drink and drive.

Source

Engagement Party: How to Avoid (or Deal) with Your Champagne Hangover

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Parties are fun and no doubt if you are throwing one to celebrate the arrival of spring or your engagement, you might just over imbibe. Champagne the celebratory drink of the masses is just a devil. It is easy to drink, hard to say no to, and you can leave you with one hell of a hangover.

So in case you don't stick to drinking PartySugar's fruit juice mock champagne, you might end up a wee bit hungover. In fact, it is believed that women are more likely to experience hangovers than men. Here are a few tips on avoiding as well as dealing with them (hangovers - not men).

At the Party

Don't eat sweets, since champagne is already high in sugar. So the less sugar you eat, the less intense the hangover should be.
Once you have started drinking champagne, stick with champagne (or wine). Remember - Bubble before liquor, never sicker.
Eat!!!! Food in your stomach slows down the body's absorption of alcohol.
Take it slow. Try to drink one glass of champagne an hour.
Drink water throughout the party. Just fill that glass with "bubble" water and alternate with champagne.

To find out what you can do before going to bed read more

Before Bed

Drink water!!!! Dehydration is a major component of the hangover.
Take 2 ibuprofen tablets, to help diminish the headache and body aches that accompany a hangover.

The Morning After

Once again drink water and take some more pain relief.
Drink juice - fructose, such as honey or fruit juice, may help your body burn the alcohol faster.
Take a nap with your fiancé...your hangover just might be gone when you wake up (time is really the only true cure).
Physical activity (wink - wink, nudge nudge) can help your body burn through the excess alcohol by eliminating the toxins by sweating.

I sure do hope these help and I sure do hope you had some fun.

You With a Hangover

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 04:22:43 -0800

It happens to us all at some time or another, but with an expected frequency on New Year's Eve. We drink too much and then we pay for it the next day. Are you hung up by your hangover?

Well let me explain what is going on with your body.

Your throat and mouth are dry due to dehydration, which is caused by the diuretic properties of alcohol. The dehydration also affects your muscles making them feel weak.

The excessive alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach causing nausea and sour stomach. The inflammation delays digestion, which in turn, contributes to the feelings of nausea.

Your liver gets backed up trying to metabolize all the alcohol so you might be experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia, meaning you are highly irritable and moody.

Your central nervous system becomes chemically over excited causing sensitivity to light, sound and touch.

Blood vessels in the brain dilate and that is what is causing that throbbing headache, which is only exacerbated by your dehydration mentioned above.

Your pituitary gland becomes confused and releases the wrong amounts of the hormones that regulate sleep. So while you may want to sleep it off, your sleep pattern is severely disrupted.

The kind of good news is that it is not clear whether hangovers affect cognitive abilities. But fear not, the after effects of your partying should only linger about for about 24 hours. Tomorrow is another day.

My friend YumSugar wants to know what you eat when you're hungover. So go vote on her poll.

Source

Beyond Moderation: The Hangover

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:45:00 -0800

It happens to us all at some time or another, but with an expected frequency on New Year's Eve. We drink too much, and then we pay for it the next day. Are you hung up by your hangover?

Well, let me explain what is going on with your body and help you figure out ways to deal with the problems at hand.

Symptom: Dehydration
Your throat and mouth are dry due to dehydration, which is caused by the diuretic properties of alcohol. The dehydration also affects your muscles making them feel weak.
Cure: Drink plenty of water, all day long!

Symptom: Sour Stomach
The excessive alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach causing nausea and sour stomach. The inflammation delays digestion, which in turn, contributes to the feelings of nausea.
Cure: Take some Alka Seltzer or eat some mild foods.

Symptom: Irritability
Your liver gets backed up trying to metabolize all the alcohol so you might be experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia (that's a fancy term for low blood sugar), meaning you are highly irritable and moody.
Cure: Eat some food and drink some juice.

Symptom: Jangled Nerves
Your central nervous system becomes chemically over excited causing sensitivity to light, sound and touch.
Cure: Rest with an eye pillow and soothing music.

Symptom: Headache
Blood vessels in the brain dilate and that is what is causing that throbbing headache, which is only exacerbated by your dehydration mentioned above.
Cure: Take some OTC (over the counter) pain medication.

Sleepy and Sleepless: Your pituitary gland becomes confused and releases the wrong amounts of the hormones that regulate sleep. So while you may want to sleep it off, your sleep pattern is severely disrupted.
Cure: Try some Sleepytime Extra Tea fortified with Valerian root to help you sleep.

The only real cure for a hangover is time. Physical activity can help, too. Take a walk or jog and sweat a bit to help get the alcohol out of your blood. Fear not, the after effects of your partying should only linger for about 24 hours. Tomorrow is another day.

Source

Happy New Year!!!!!!

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:01:39 -0800

Happy New Year!!!!! It is finally 2007 and the new year always feels like a clean slate, a fresh start, a time to reshuffle the cards.

Just wanted to let you know that there are a ton of fun runs happening all over the country today. My two favorites:

The Hangover Classic 5K and 10K runs in Salisbury Beach, Mass. The event is sponsored by none other than Bud Light. The race doesn't start until 11 am so you can sleep off your partying from the night before. Plus, you can register to run at the race today for only $15 - you just won't get a tee shirt. There is an optional ocean plunge at the finish line.
Portland's 5K Dash and Splash, yep "splash" means jumping in the ocean at the end of your 5K walk or run. This event doesn't even start until 1 pm.

These are options if you are not nursing a hangover. If you are nursing a hangover my unsolicited advice is DRINK WATER.

Hangover treatment

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:50:57 -0700

Illustrations

Hangover remedies

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Information

Here are tips on preventing a hangover:

Drink slowly and on a full stomach. Keep in mind that if you are a small person, the effects of alcohol consumption are greater on you than on a larger person.
Drink only in moderation. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends that women have no more than 1 drink per day and men no more than 2 drinks per day. One drink is defined as a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 4-ounce glass of wine, or a 1 1/2-ounce shot of liquor.
Drink a glass of water in between drinks containing alcohol. This will help you drink less alcohol, and will also decrease the dehydration associated with drinking alcohol.
Avoid alcohol completely to prevent hangovers.

If you have a hangover, consider the following for relief:

Consume foods and drinks that contain fructose (such as fruit juice or honey). There is some evidence that fructose will help your body burn the alcohol faster -- that is, get the alcohol out of your body faster.
Eat well, if possible. Bouillon soup is good for replacing salt and potassium depleted by drinking alcohol.
Get plenty of rest. Most hangovers are gone within 24 hours. Remember, even if you feel good the morning after heavy drinking, the residual effects of alcohol will diminish your ability to perform at your best.
Avoid taking any medications for your hangover that contain acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), because it may cause liver damage when combined with alcohol.

References

Pittler MH, Verster JC, Ernst E. Interventions for preventing or treating alcohol hangover: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2005;331:1515-1518.

Xu BJ, Zheng YN, Sung CK. Natural medicines for alcoholism treatment: a review. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2005;24:525-546.

Review Date: 10/31/2007

Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, M.D., Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, and physician in the Primary Care Clinic, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_002041