The Best and Worst Foods to Cure a Hangover | IV League (2024)

FAQs

What is the best food to stop a hangover? ›

Something like Coca-Cola has lots of sugar and fluids and will put those back into your body to get your energy levels up.

Bananas are full of potassium which is something your body will be lacking after frequent urination and they also have a lot of vitamin B6 which is proven to help reduce hangover symptoms.

No food can erase the effects of a night of drinking alcohol, but the best hangover foods are hydrating and anti-inflammatory. Rest helps, too. Try to avoid greasy foods, sugar, and caffeine which can make your symptoms worse. Instead, stick to water and foods like bananas and crackers.

Load up on (healthy) fats

Foods with a higher fat content remain in the stomach for longer – so the longer the belly is 'lined', the slower the alcohol will be absorbed into your blood (and hopefully the less likely you are to feel like death the next morning). Salmon, avocado and nuts are all great options.

Moving around will only prompt your heart to beat faster as it tries to make your body send more oxygen to your muscles. Practice deep breathing to flood your body with oxygen. This will help slow your heart rate, as it makes each pump more efficient at moving oxygenated blood throughout your body.

"Darker alcohol — like red wine, scotch, whiskey and bourbon — will have higher levels of conjoners. "[They're] more likely to cause hangovers the following day," he continues. "Clear liquors — like gin and vodka, for instance — are less likely to have these compounds and less likely, therefore, to cause hangovers."

“Eggs contain amino acids which can help break down acetaldehyde when you're hungover. Eggs also carry helpful nutrients and minerals, and are gentle on your stomach.” Acetaldehyde is a chemical compound which occurs when the body breaks down alcohol.

High-protein foods, rich in amino acids may also help settle a pounding head and unsettled stomach. Eggs, lean meats, cheese and peanut butter are all good options.

Which fruit is best for hangover? ›

Veach recommends chowing down on foods like red meat, chicken, shellfish, avocados, mushrooms, and whole grains, which are rich in zinc and nicotinic acid, two nutrients that were shown to reduce the severity of hangover symptoms in a 2019 study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

Obviously, the only sure way to avoid a hangover is to not drink alcohol. But if you are going to indulge, Tabakoff says the tried-and-true advice — eat something before you drink, and while you drink, makes good sense. "Food is very good for the purpose of slowing the absorption of alcohol," he says.

A big glass of water might be the easiest hangover solution. Alcohol dehydrates you by boosting the amount of urine your kidneys make. You also lose fluid when you sweat, vomit, or have diarrhea after a night of bingeing. And alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you pee a lot and lose a lot of liquid.

Drink lots of fluids, including water, electrolyte beverages (Gatorade® or Pedialyte®), broth and other non-alcoholic beverages to reduce dehydration. To be sure you're getting enough hydration, drink fluids until your urine is clear. Get sleep to counteract fatigue. Take antacids to help settle your stomach.

What drink helps with a hangover? Water. It's close at hand and helps relieve dehydration. You also can try electrolyte-rich sports drinks, juice, broth, and other liquids that your stomach can tolerate.