This story was originally published on July 6th, 2015.
Whether it’s one-too-many beers at a BBQ or a night of serious celebration, many of us have experienced the debilitating effects of being “over-served.” Hangovers continue to plague the masses (see: Fireball shots), but any legitimate prevention methods seem to be nothing more than old wives’ tales. So why can’t we crack the case?
The truth is, up until now, hangovers have largely been ignored by science. In journalist Adam Rogers' recent book, Proof: The Science of Alcohol, he notes that there are “658,610 cites over the last five decades on the subject of alcohol...Hangovers got 406 studies.”
What do we know? Are hangovers preventable? Curable? Or is this just another one of drinking’s many myths? And more importantly, are the preventative measures you're taking actually doing more harm than good?
Here, we’ve compiled some common theories to hangover prevention and the sobering truths behind them.
Theory 1: Vodka-sodas are better because they’ll hydrate you while you drink.
False. We’ll get into the drinking water with alcohol thing in a second, but this is actually wrong on two accounts. Counterintuitively, using water or soda water as a mixer can actually increase the absorption of alcohol into the system faster than drinking the booze on its own. Not to mention the ease with which a vodka-soda goes down.
Instead, Steven Richardson, a physician assistant with Synergy Medical Group, who has helped treat hangover symptoms in homes and hospitals throughout California, suggests drinking a triple-distilled vodka on the rocks. The clear liquor has few congeners, distillation removes harmful impurities, and skipping a sweet mixer means no extra sugar.
Illustrated by Sydney Hass.
Theory 2: Drink lighter drinks instead of darker ones.
This is, in fact, true. Congeners — a substance produced during the fermentation process of alcohol — make dark drinks dark and give them some of their flavor (like tannins in wine). But higher levels of congeners in a drink could increase the severity of your hangover. One study showed that drinking whiskey — which has 37 times the amount of congeners in vodka — rather than vodka made people feel sicker the next day.
Illustrated by Sydney Hass.
Theory 3: Drinking a glass of water between drinks will ease the pain.
Not really. In Proof, Rogers writes that if dehydration is the sole cause of a hangover, then re-hydrating should be the antidote. But when you drink a glass of water, you’re re-hydrated and your hangover is still there.
Richardson agrees. It’s not just dehydration, it’s a combination of things: blood sugar levels, dehydration, and oxidative damage to cells. Many studies show that drinking causes an increase in lipid peroxidation and the modification of proteins. In other words, it increases the chance of free radicals floating around the body.
That’s not to say you should just stop drinking water altogether. Keri Glassman, Registered Dietician, Certified Dietician Nutritionist and owner of Nutritious Life, says drinking water (in addition to offering some hydration along the way) will at least slow you down. Another piece of solid advice: sip alcohol, don’t gulp.
“Take your time with a drink,” she offers, “Drinking a full glass of water after each alcoholic drink will help you consume less alcohol.” Which ultimately, is the best way to prevent a hangover.
Illustrated by Sydney Hass.
Theory 4: Take aspirin and water before bed.
Sorry, wrong again. Richardson says not only will this not work, he advises against it.
“Motrin or aspirin can give you gastric ulcers when mixed with alcohol,” he says. “If you do decide to try this, make sure to take [the pills] with food.”
He does, however, recommend a few over-the-counter nutrients that will help prevent hangover symptoms and are naturally good for you.
He recommends taking 100mg of thiamine (vitamin B1), an essential nutrient that helps convert carbohydrates into glucose. When you deplete the thiamine in your body — which happens when you drink— it causes the shakes and anxiety. So taking a 100mg dose (no less than that) will give you a fighting chance in the morning.
The thiamine plus a Zantac or Prevacid (acid reducers) can pave the way to a better tomorrow, he says.
Illustrated by Sydney Hass.
Theory 5: I’ll replenish my electrolytes with Gatorade!
Richardson says not to drink Gatorade, Powerade, or anything of the like – these drinks are loaded with sugar.
Instead, he suggests regular water to help re-hydrate without ingesting more carbohydrates.
Another thing that can help relieve oxidative stress to the cells is green tea. It’s loaded with antioxidants, including flavonoids like catechin, theaflavin, and thearubigins. Drinking causes oxidative stress to cells, so drinking a cup of green tea before you go out and another cup or two before you hit the pillow will help restore the body of antioxidants, which can help alleviate a headache.
Speaking of consuming things before bed, Glassman recommends staying away from anything fried, even though it’s what you’re craving after a night of drinking. Since alcohol is a poison, the body prioritizes getting rid of it, she explains, so your liver is already working overtime on that. Add fried food to the mix and it needs to break down all the fat, carbohydrates, and salt, which can prolong a hangover and make you feel worse.
“Healthier sources of protein will work just as well [to satiate you],” Glassman adds. And they’re better for you and your hangover — what you need are the amino acids in protein, which help the liver function. Eggs, turkey, chicken, fish, nuts, and leafy greens are good sources of essential amino acids.
Broth, bananas, and coconut water are also good for before or after a hangover, Glassman says, because they contain electrolytes, which need to be replenished after a night of drinking.
Theory 6: Drinking alcohol will make me feel better the next day.
This one is interesting. The answer is yes and no. While some experts say this is horrible advice, there is some evidence that suggests the hair of the dog works. But before you go on a next-day bender, realize there’s more to it than just getting drunk again.
In Proof, Rogers writes, “Ethanol (the principal alcohol found in alcoholic beverages) might help a hangover because it stops the body from breaking down methanol.”
Richardson agrees the theory does hold water. Methanol, or methyl alcohol, is a highly toxic chemical that when consumed in large doses can be fatal. However, most alcoholic beverages you buy contain non-toxic amounts of it. For example, a typical glass of wine can contain from 0.0041 to 0.02% methanol by volume.
About a day after methanol gets into your system, an enzyme called ADH breaks it down into formaldehyde — a substance that can make you feel really sick (nausea, vomiting, the works). These effects are short-term, since formaldehyde is broken down so quickly, but one way to counteract the side effects is consuming ethanol, which is in fact an antidote for methanol poisoning. The reason is, ADH binds to the ethanol rather than the methanol. Then, you pee or exhale the methanol and don’t feel as sick.
This will really only work if you have one drink, says Richardson. More than that, and you’re back to where you started.
Last, but definitely not least, Richardson emphasizes over all these tricks and tips that withdrawal is a huge deal. So if someone has been drinking alcohol excessively for several days, or has an alcohol problem, they should go to a treatment center right away.
For everyone else, please drink responsibly and have a merry time.
Illustrated by Sydney Hass.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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