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Ring In the New Year With These Helpful Hangover Tips and Cures

Michele Foley — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:03:18 PST

New Year's Eve is days away, and while a Champagne toast at midnight is customary, many of you will be having more than just one glass - maybe even four or five before the night is out. Come morning and you have quite the hangover on your hands. You wake up with a pounding headache, parched mouth, and a room that seems to be spinning. What - if anything - can you do to make it stop? Read up on our helpful hangover tips to see what works, what doesn't, and if it's possible to plan a hangover remedy the night before.

How to prevent a hangover altogether: If you're going to go all out this NYE, you're probably going to pay the price: our bodies aren't designed to binge on bad stuff and feel great the next day. There are a few things that you can do that may prevent a hangover from happening - or, at least make it less painful. Check out these tips for preventing a hangover.
Too late, the hangover hit: If you aren't able to take our advice on preventing a hangover this New Year's holiday, there are ways to make it more bearable. Remember: lots of water, but mostly just time. Here are five fixes to help you better cope with a hangover. And from a sour stomach to a pounding headache, here are specific fixes for common hangover ailments.
Common hangover myths busted: From hair of the dog to raw eggs, there's a lot of commonly held hangover cures. But do they really work? Here's everything you need to know on the truth about hangovers and which hangover myths are just that - myths.

Hangover Cures That Work (and Ones That Don't)

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:17:53 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

You know you shouldn't, but sometimes a girl just can't help herself. You plan to meet up with friends for a drink after work, and one drink turns into many more, which then turns into a rough next morning. We hope you don't have a hangover reading this, because we bring you some not-so-good news. "There are a lot of myths about hangover cures," says Ruth C. Engs, RN, EdD, a professor at Indiana University who has done extensive research on the effects of drinking. "Essentially there is no cure other than consuming water and liquids like juice (i.e., not spiked) in the morning." The reason? Hangover symptoms are a product of dehydration, hypoglycemia, and the poisonous side effects from toxins in our drinks (sounds great, right?). Water will not only help hydrate your muscles and organs, but will also aid in flushing out the toxins. Juices such as orange juice accomplish both while replenishing your body with missing sugars.

That said, if you swear by a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel or a five-mile run after a night out on the town, you're not alone. We got the scoop on which remedies seem to prove real, and which ones are just part of the rumor mill.

Find out which hangover cures work after the break!

How to Prevent a Hangover

Michele Foley — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:47:22 PDT

If you were out late last night wining and dining with friends, it's not until the next morning that you realize that last glass of pinot was a bad idea. Your head is pounding, the room is spinning, and if it's really grim, you have the urge to throw up every time you move: hangovers suck.

If you're going to go all out, you're going to pay the price; our bodies are not designed to binge on bad stuff and feel great the next day. But, there are a few things that you can do that may prevent a hangover from happening - or, at least make it less painful.

Continue reading to see what you can do to prevent a hangover.

5 Morning-After Hangover Fixes

Heather Dale — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:23:54 PDT

Boozing is all fun and games until you wake up the next day with a pounding headache. Excessive drinking causes hangovers because it dehydrates the body; it irritates the lining of the stomach, causing nausea; it overworks your liver, which is trying to metabolize all the alcohol; it overexcites your central nervous system, which causes sensitivity to light, sound, and touch; and it confuses your pituitary gland, which gets confused and releases the wrong amount of hormones that regulate sleep . . . no wonder you feel like crap! Your body is in revolt! Help is on the way with these five quick fixes. Check 'em out!

How to Hide a Hangover

Daily Makeover — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:01:13 PST

Makeup artist Gina Brooke has created looks for Madonna, Anne Hathaway, and Gisele Bundchen, and has a wealth of beauty knowledge. We're excited to share this Daily Makeover story by her:

The holidays are a joyful time, but also a time where we tend to overindulge - whether it's by eating too many sweets and salty snacks or drinking to the point of regret. We especially seem to notice it the next morning when we look in the mirror and see the lovely side effects of our late night filled with excess - skin appears dry, tight and sallow, and our eyes are puffy from too much salt intake. Fortunately there are some quick and easy home remedies and makeup tricks to resolve these problems. Get the scoop after the jump.

Too Many Bubbles? How to Deal With a Hangover

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:00:46 PST

If you aren't able to take our advice on preventing a hangover this New Year, here are a few tips on making it more bearable. Remember: lots of water, but mostly just time. Or, if you're PartySugar, your remedy might be another cocktail. We suggest a Bloody Mary; the vitamin C, lycopene, and hot pepper might be what it takes to get you up and moving!

Hydrate - We cannot stress this enough. Since dehydration is a major component of a hangover, it's important to replenish with water - lots of it. If you feel like you really overdid it, have a non-sugary drink like coconut water, which will help replace lost electrolytes.
Kill the pain - If you have a headache the next day, take an OTC pain reliever. If you can, take it after you've eaten so that you don't upset your already aggravated stomach.
Eat - Eating food will help break down and process the alcohol in your system. It will also provide energy if you're feeling sluggish. Here are YumSugar's picks for the best hangover foods.
Take a nap and then get up and go - Depending on how bad your hangover is, you may just need to sleep it off a little more. If you can, try and get up and get moving to sweat out all of those toxins.

Beyond Moderation: The Hangover

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:00:25 PST

I have heard it said that the best cure for a hangover is to drink in moderation, but there are times when we all go a bit overboard . . . like New Year's Eve. If you had a few drinks too many, let me explain what is going on with your body and offer a few suggestions to help your get over your hangover.

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! I have found Nuun tablets help too.

To see why your stomach feels off and what you can do about it,

.
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 mild foods like bananas (which also help with dehydration).

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. Foods high in fructose are thought to speed up the body's ability to remove the alcohol from your system.

Symptom: Jangled Nerves
Your central nervous system becomes chemically overexcited, 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, but avoid ones containing acetaminophen, like Tylenol, because it may cause liver damage. If you take some form of ibprofen, make sure to not take it on an empty stomach, since it can upset your tummy and harm the lining of your stomach.

Symptom: Sleepiness and Sleeplessness
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 aftereffects of your partying should only linger for about 24 hours. Tomorrow is another day.

How to Cover Up a Holiday Hangover

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:10:39 PST

Hey there, party girl. Have lots of social obligations over the next couple weeks, with too much vodka and nary a good night of shut-eye in sight? Don't fret - it happens to everyone this time of year. But there's something you should know: the difference between a small hangover no one notices and a total disaster is a matter of preparedness. I've got a six-step plan to help you cope and look great, no matter how much your head and stomach are gonna hate you. So pop an ibuprofen, grab a glass of water, and read more.

Quiz: The Truth About Hangovers

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:05:14 PDT

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 PDT

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?