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Beat the Booze: The Best Foods To Cure A Hangover

Had a few too many jägerbombs or vodka & Red Bulls last night? Now your head is pounding and your stomach is spinning. You've re-hydrated yourself with buckets of water and mugs of tea or coffee. You've thrown a few painkillers down your throat and have been waiting out the worst of your hangover from hell hidden under your bedclothes with Netflix. Then the tummy rumbles. You're absolutely starving but don't know if what you're going to eat will help or worsen your situation. It's a difficult one to call, but you've got to eat at some stage. So, make sure you include some of these in your weekly shop/scavenge from your mum's presses, and next time you're down in the dumps try some of these out.

1. Eggs.

There's a reason why eggs are included in all breakfast meals and brunches. Eggs are loads with amino acids cysteine and taurine, which will boost liver function and help get rid of headaches. Plus they're packed with protein. However, you enjoy eggs, fried, scrambled, boiled, poached, they can only help get rid of your hangover. Also, they're super tasty.

2. Soup.

Chicken Noodle soup has water to re-hydrate, protein, sodium and carbs to re-energize and replenish lost nutrients. Add some veg to replace those lost vitamins from last night's drinking session. You'd think vodka and orange juice wouldn't be bad for you, there's fruit involved. But it's all lies.

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3. Toast or Crackers & Honey.

These dry and bland carbs are easy on the stomach and fill you up by helping to raise blood sugar. Honey is full of fructose which helps the body burn alcohol faster, which means it will be out of your system sooner and you'll feel better. Steer clear of that Manuka honey stuff though. I don't care how healthy its supposed to be, that stuff is rank. But if you like it, you go ahead. Why not make some French toast to add some egg into your breakfast? Or put banana or avocado on your toast instead?

4. Fruit.

Bananas, kiwis, and spinach are packed with potassium which counteracts the diuretic qualities of alcohol. If your stomach is up for it, chuck them all in a blender - with maybe a couple blueberries - add some yogurt and make yourself a smoothie. Not everyone's cup of tea I'd wager, but it will definitely help replenish lost vitamins and minerals. Fruits that are very acidic, like oranges and grapefruit, can be tough on the stomach in juice form so you're better off eating the actual fruit rather than the juice.

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5. Oats.

Porridge is really good for you but also kind of looks like vomit so proceed with caution. Oats are full of B Vitamins, calcium, magnesium and iron to give you an extra energy boost. Load porridge with berries and honey to make it a bit more appetizing. If you can't stomach porridge, add oats to your fruit smoothie.

6. Quinoa - for you health nuts.

This South American grain which has catapulted into popularity during the past year is packed full of amino acids and protein, plus it's gluten free if that applies to you. Make yourself a quinoa salad and feel like you actually have your life together. You probably aren't even that hungover because you're body is a temple and beer is full of gluten anyway.

7. Tomatoes.

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Bloody Mary anyone? If you don't want some hair of the dog have some tomato juice by itself instead. Tomatoes are full of antioxidants, healthy sugars and vitamin C. Not up for drinking the juice? I'm right there with you, try tomato soup instead, almost basically the same thing except warmer and comforting. But hey, if you want a Bloody Mary, you go right on ahead. You may be delaying the inevitable, but it's your body.

8. Traditional fry up!

I don't care what anyone says. Yes, its fatty and greasy and not healthy for you but its been working for centuries in Britain and Ireland. If it ain't broke! Who doesn't want and need bacon in the morning? Excepting vegetarians of course... Don't want the whole full fry? That's cool have some bacon and eggs and maybe some blueberry pancakes. There's berries involved so it must to be good for you, right? Why not try huevos rancheros, the Mexican version of the full fry. Eggs, tomatoes, salsa, rice, potatoes: loaded with carbs and protein. This will definitely sort you out. Maybe steer clear of hot sauce, that won't do your stomach any favours. Try a breakfast burrito, the tortillas will be gentle on your stomach and eggs are involved!

9. Grilled cheese.

Gooey cheese on buttery bread, warm and satisfying. I have yet to find a problem that grilled cheese sandwiches can't solve. Except for lactose intolerance, that one stumps me. Don't want a grilled cheese? Try a chicken fillet roll. All those carbs and protein, you can't go wrong. And if you do throw any of these up at least you'll be one step closer to being recovered. Feel better soon!

Orlaith Costello
Article written by
Orlaith is a Creative Writing graduate from NUI Galway. Hailing from the low lying fields of Athenry, or at least what’s left of the low lying fields. She enjoys the internet as a means of living vicariously through others from the safe confines of her own bed. She will initiate a dance off after at least two drinks on any given night out.

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