Hangover Remedies
N E W Y O R K, Jan. 1 -- If a happy New Year's Eve has left you feeling unhappy this New Year's Day, there are some remedies that might help get rid of your heavy head and furry tongue.
People have invented various treatments in an attempt overcome the killer headaches, churning stomachs and dry throats that come with hangovers.
Some are purely practical, like drinking a lot of water to combatthe leading cause of hangovers — dehydration. Others are less helpful, though certainly entertaining.
More of the Same?
Does another beer or Bloody Mary in the morning help a raging hangover? Experts say more alcohol only prolongs the agony.
Coffee may wake you up, but it will also make your hangover last longer. Like alcohol, coffee is a diuretic, which flushes fluids from the body.
Silently Smiling
Honey is rich in fructose — a natural sugar which hastens metabolism and therefore helps body burn off alcohol faster. If you spread it on a bit of toast, it might help you feel better a little more quickly. Fruit juices, high in fructose, will also burn off the alcohol quickly.
Gatorade sports drink can replenish electrolytes lost when dehydrated, which occurs from drinking.
Experts say concentration and technical skills may be diminished the day after heavy drinking. So if you have a hangover, try to stick to simple tasks.
Next Year
Medical experts say the best hangover advice is to eat a banana and drink 16 ounces of water before heading to bed to avoid a hangover. They are an excellent source of potassium and they are high in magnesium, which can help relax those pounding blood vessels causing that nasty hangover headache.
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