At this time of year, a good percentage of us will indulge in a little tipple or 4 and a staggering 82% of the UK drink alcohol which may well rise during the festive season.
Alcohol is considered a social activity but it doesn’t come without side affects, the dreaded hangover
Drinking “too much” for your own body composition, can bring several side affect being;
Increase in urination frequency which leads to dehydration
Trigger inflammatory responses
Irritates the lining of the stomach
Causes hypoglycaemia - sudden drop in blood sugar
Causes dilation of blood vessels
Causes sleepiness
The above symptoms we experience whilst still “enjoying” ourselves is one thing, but it’s the day after, and as you get older, the day after that, when you need to counteract the symptoms.
Some hangover cure tips;
Hair of the Dog – there is some truth to this as a hangover is actually a withdrawal symptom from the alcohol so having another drink can sometimes set you straight. Although not recommended if you intend on driving that day.
Plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic ones) – this promotes urination because it inhibits the release of vasopressin, a hormone that decreases the volume of urine made by the kidneys. If your hangover includes diarrhoea, sweating, or vomiting, you may be even more dehydrated. Although nausea can make it difficult to get anything down, even just a few sips of water might help your hangover.
Carbs - drinking may lower blood sugar levels, so theoretically some of the fatigue and headaches of a hangover may be from a brain working without enough of its main fuel. Toast and juice is a way to gently nudge levels back to normal, although my remedy I swear by is a good helping from the golden arches as its backed full of carbs.
Avoid the hangover in the first place – Science has shown that clear alcohols, such as vodka and gin, tend to cause hangovers less frequently than dark ones, such as whiskey, red wine, and dark rums. The main form of alcohol in alcoholic beverages is ethanol, but the darker alcoholic drinks contain chemically related compounds (congeners), including methanol.
B Vitamins & Zinc - A group study evaluated the diets for 24 hours before and after excessive drinking occurred. It was a study based on the participants saying what they ate. They did find that people whose food and beverage consumption contained greater amounts of zinc and B vitamins had less severe hangovers.
Whatever your alcohol intake is during the festive season, please drink responsibly.