7 evidence-based ways to avoid the "aftertaste" after a hangover (Hangovers)

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“After a hangover” known in English as Hangovers, this is a term used to describe the unpleasant condition after drinking excessively. This term is also known by the folk name "rebound drunkenness". There are many effective hangover remedies, but in terms of scientific evidence, these remedies are still limited or only hypothesized. Even so, a few strategies show potential in improving hangovers.

1. What is a hangover?

Hangover is a condition consisting of various unpleasant physiological and psychological effects following the consumption of alcoholic beverages, such as wine, beer and spirits. Hangovers can last for several hours or more than 24 hours. Typical symptoms of a hangover may include headache, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue, gastrointestinal disturbances (eg, vomiting, diarrhea), feelings of hunger, psychosis sensitivity, depression, sweating, nausea, irritability, irritability, and anxiety.
While the cause of this Hangover is still poorly understood, several factors are known to be involved, including acetaldehyde accumulation, changes in the immune system and glucose metabolism, dehydration, metabolic acidosis metabolism, impaired prostaglandin synthesis, increased cardiac output, vasodilation, sleep deprivation and malnutrition. The side effects of additives or by-products such as ethanol homologous molecules found in alcoholic beverages also play an important role. Symptoms typically occur after the intoxicating effects of alcohol begin to wear off, usually in the morning after a night of heavy drinking.

2. Avoid drinks with a lot of addictive substances

Ethanol is the main active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, but they also contain several other chemical analogues of ethanol.
During alcoholic fermentation, starch will be converted by yeasts into ethanol. At the same time, several substances belonging to the chemical homologous series of ethanol are also formed in this process.
These molecules can be toxic to the body, including methanol, isopentanol and acetone. Alcoholic beverages with high levels of these chemicals increase the frequency and intensity of hangovers. Two studies showed that methanol, a homologue of ethanol commonly found in alcohol, was strongly associated with hangovers.
Beverages with many of these homologues include whiskey, cognac, and tequila. Bourbon whiskey has particularly high concentrations in homologues of ethanol. On the other hand, colorless alcohols such as vodka, gin and rum have lower levels of these homologues. In fact, vodka almost does not contain these isoforms.
In studies comparing the effects of vodka (low homogeneity) and whiskey (high homogeneity), both frequency and severity of hangovers were greater in the whiskey group than in the whiskey group with the vodka group.

You can significantly reduce the severity of hangover symptoms by drinking alcohol containing low levels of ethanol isomers such as vodka, gin or rum.

3. Drink an alcoholic beverage the next morning

Treating a hangover by drinking another alcoholic beverage sounds paradoxical. However, this is a well-known method of alleviating the symptoms of hangovers. Although this method has not been proven effective, there is some interesting science behind using alcohol to reduce hangover symptoms.
Simply put, heavy drinking is thought to affect the metabolism of methanol, a common homologue found in small amounts in some alcoholic beverages.
After drinking, your body converts methanol into formaldehyde, which is extremely toxic to the body. Formaldehyde can be the main cause of hangover symptoms. Therefore, when you use an extra amount of alcohol containing ethanol the next morning after you have drunk too much, it can inhibit this harmful metabolism, preventing formaldehyde from forming, which is toxic to the body.
Instead, methanol is eliminated from your body through your respiratory and urinary tracts. That is why ethanol is often used to treat methanol poisoning. However drinking an alcoholic beverage in the morning is not strongly recommended as a treatment for a hangover. This method simply has the role of delaying and prolonging the absorption of methanol, helping the body to eliminate these toxins from the body.

Morning drinking may help alleviate hangover symptoms, but will increase the risk of alcohol dependence and health effects more than the harmful effects of ethanol itself. Drinking an alcoholic beverage the next morning is a well-known hangover remedy. However, this method may do more harm to health than the benefit of reducing hangover symptoms.

4. Drink lots of water

Alcohol is a diuretic, which will make you pee more often. Therefore, alcohol can contribute to increased dehydration of the body. While dehydration is not considered a major cause of hangover symptoms, it can contribute to symptoms such as increased thirst, headaches, fatigue, and dry mouth.
However, dehydration is an easy problem to correct as just making sure to drink enough water will help reduce this condition significantly. A good rule of thumb is to drink a glass of water or another non-alcoholic beverage while drinking and drink at least one large glass of water before bed.

5. Get enough sleep

Alcohol can interfere with your sleep. It can reduce both the quality and duration of sleep. Heavy drinking can disrupt your entire sleep schedule if you drink too late. Although insufficient sleep does not cause hangover symptoms, it can contribute to the increased fatigue and irritability commonly associated with hangovers.
Sleeping a lot after drinking a lot of alcohol can help the body recover. If you can't sleep and sleep uncomfortable the next day, drinking excessively may not be a healthy choice for you.

6. Eat a nutritious breakfast

Hangovers are sometimes associated with low blood sugar, aka hypoglycemia. This condition tends to be more severe in people with pre-existing low blood sugar.
Although low blood sugar is not the main cause of hangover symptoms, it can contribute to symptoms, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and headaches. After drinking alcohol, having a nutritious breakfast or eating a late-night snack can help maintain your blood sugar.

7. Consider supplementing with functional foods

Inflammation can help your body repair tissue damage and fight infection . Evidence suggests that many symptoms of Hangover are caused by abnormal levels of these inflammatory substances. In fact, some anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to be quite effective for hangovers.
Many plant and herbal foods can also reduce inflammation and help prevent hangovers. Supplements that have an impact on hangover include red ginseng, ginger, and prickly pear.
Prickly pear is a high value and healthy food. This is the fruit of the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica, which is believed to be native to Mexico. In a study in 55 young, healthy people, taking pear extract five hours before drinking alcohol reduced the risk of severe hangover symptoms by 62%.
Although these supplements do not completely prevent hangover symptoms, plant-based supplements can significantly reduce your symptoms.

8. Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all

The severity of hangovers increases with the amount of alcohol you consume. For this reason, the best way to prevent hangovers is to drink in moderation or to abstain completely. The amount of alcohol required to trigger hangover symptoms varies from person to person.
Some people drink as little as 1 to 2 glasses of alcohol to cause this condition, but most cases develop symptoms that require more alcohol consumption. About 23% of people are unlikely to experience a hangover regardless of how much alcohol they consume.
To summarize, an alcohol hangover is a condition in which unpleasant symptoms such as dizziness, headache, fatigue, and nausea appear, usually appearing the next morning, after you drink too much. Several strategies can help reduce the severity of hangovers, including getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious breakfast, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding beverages high in ethanol's homologues. But the best way to avoid a hangover is to drink alcohol in moderation, or better yet, not drink at all.

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Reference source: healthline.com