21 Best Foods to Prevent and Get Rid of Hangover Faster

“It’s not a hangover, it’s a wine flu.”

This opens up a normal discussion of a drinker with her doctor. The former may be a chronic or casual drinker but that does not differentiate between the experiences of a hangover that her body may be reeling under. You might think that popping in some paracetamol tablets and taking a lot of bed rest would set the issue right, but that is just one-half of a temporary solution.

The more important thing is to stay away from consuming liquor in excess. We are not saying that any consumption of alcoholic beverages is inappropriate- yes, it has its advantages too. For example, one could have better cardiac health and a reduced chance of diabetes too, but oftentimes people go overboard which makes consuming booze such an abhorrent topic to talk about.

But it is an excess and a habitual routine that causes issues. So, we are talking about some of the best foods that you could have every day to enjoy better health and fitness. They will also help you cut down your preference for booze and dealing with hangovers in the first place. Best of all, it would offer you a way to shut down the terrible feeling that comes after knowing that you have made a mistake.

How to Prevent Hangovers When Drunk?

This is a difficult question to answer because nobody knows the exact cause of a hangover. People have different biological, medical, and genetic issues, and so are their mental frames. A correct diagnosis is also affected by one’s lifestyle and dietary preferences, and one’s cultural practices.

However, there is one thing we know for sure. Alcohol mixes with our bloodstream and the trick is to eat foods that will take a longer time to get digested. A "heavy" food, preferably one that is rich in nutrients and vitamins, might just delay the effect of intoxication or drunkenness.

Note: We would recommend placing a limit on the quality and quantity of the alcohol you consume. A major part of it has to do with disciplined drinking habits.

Best Foods to Eat before Consuming Alcohol

Some people believe that eating salty foods and popping soda drinks will lead you to drink less alcohol. Or you might believe that eating any fatty food would soak up the alcohol in your stomach. These beliefs are largely unfounded.

The following foods are considered good to eat before drinking alcohol:

Eggs

Rich in amino acids, eggs are a powerhouse of proteins that can run your digestive system on overdrive even before you take to booze. Eating them creates a reservoir of glutathione, a natural antioxidant that is reduced after every sip of alcohol.

Meat

The levels of amino acids can fall rapidly given our hectic lives, especially for chronic drinkers. Consuming meat and other protein-rich non-vegetarian foods can help you get over that barrier with ease. Cured meat is the best form of non-veg food that you could eat.

Fish

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and certain oils, some fish species can replenish your body’s reserves of nutrients after a binge-drinking episode. They soak up traces of alcohol in the bloodstream and digestive system so you could recover faster.

Nuts

The severity of intoxication is inversely related to the presence of magnesium in the human body. Chronic and binge drinkers always lack this element in their bloodstream and bones, and the best way to replenish these reserves is to eat almonds.

Cereals

Are you diabetic or someone who often suffers from irregular blood pressure? If yes, then having cereals the first thing in the morning can help you contain the losses rather quickly. Cereals are high in vitamins, sodium and fiber too and they make a complete meal in themselves.

Avocados

Counted as one of the best remedies for hangovers, avocados are rich in monosaturated fats that slow down the digestive process. If you eat them with high-protein foods before drinking some from that bottle, you could cut down a great deal of intoxication.

Bananas

Rich in potassium and sodium, bananas can kick start the formation of depleting electrolytes in the bloodstream. They also relieve the liver and kidneys, besides freeing up a hormone that tells us of our thirst. This hormone is suppressed by consuming alcoholic beverages.

Chia pudding

Chia pudding serves to replenish the dearth of nutrients including fiber, protein, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, and calcium. Each of these is responsible for keeping the motor or nervous controls and digestive system in order.

Asparagus

If you are a chronic drinker, the least you can do is to drink more water and eat enough asparagus every day. Since your liver might be at absolute risk, you should not make the matters worse by pushing your liver cells to the wall.

Berries

Do you love fruits? If yes, then you should count on berries to fight all the inflammation in your internal organs and to draw out the toxins from the bloodstream. You might want to know that alcohol severely dehydrates the inner lining of the blood cells, thus inflaming them.

Oats

Oats double up as healthy breakfast meals and an anti-booze agent. The best way to cut out alcohol is to mix it with water and sugar, and this is just where oats come to help you. Starting your day with a bowl of oats can also help you start your day with a lot of energy!

Bread

Yes, but only wholegrain bread because it is rich in multivitamins and fiber. As a special case, its high vitamin B content detoxifies your blood rather quickly. You may also count on this bread to relieve you of symptoms like nausea, sleepiness, and loss of appetite.

However, you should note that these foods will only delay the assimilation of alcohol in your bloodstream but they can’t stop it altogether. You could still feel symptoms like nausea, giddiness, intoxication, and trembling in limbs if you go overboard. Our healthcare experts advise that there is no substitute for drinking responsibly.

Does alcohol dehydrate you?

Yes. Alcohol dries you up from inside. The only reason why people go on tanking themselves with drinks and drinks on end is that they feel thirsty. They keep on drinking more of it believing that consuming more of it would cure their thirst, even when it works the other way around.

The more they drink, the worse it gets. It taxes their metabolic system, strains their liver and kidneys, and dilutes their bloodstream so much that they lose their inhibitions. This leads to a cyclic process of drinking more and getting into an abysmal state of drunkenness.

Waking up makes it way more terrible!

What is the best cure for hangovers?

Best foods to eat after consuming alcohol

Our healthcare and wellness experts advise the following foods to get rid of a hangover faster. These foods are rich in potassium, an important mineral that gets slashed after binge drinking. It works as a strong electrolyte that drives out toxins from the bloodstream and sets your nervous system in motion.

Avocado

This green pear-shaped fruit is rich in healthy fats that keep you full for longer (because they take time to get digested). Before you go drinking, you should have a few avocadoes to reduce the desire of having more alcohol and ward off the consequences. (It may be taken before or after consuming liquor).

Cereal

Cereals are rich in fiber, especially ones like grape nuts. They provide a good buffer for the alcohol and slow its absorption. It is recommended to have these mixed with low-fat milk to increase their effectiveness.

Hummus

You can try this chickpea dip with a bunch of raw veggies. It is a smarter way to get all the macronutrients in the right quantity. Since it is going to load you up with nutrition you are likely to effectively balance the alcohol intake.

Milk

The cow’s milk is an excellent option for an effective pre-game on its own. Alcohol leads to excessive urination, which results in a loss of potassium from the body. This is where milk comes in as an extremely nutrient-rich food alternative. It’s made of 90% water and can replenish the lost water content and potassium levels.

Salmon

Salmon offers high content of vitamin B-12 and Omega-3 fatty acids. These B-vitamins have many physiological functions in the body that include the promotion of short-term memory and general neurological function, which makes them a great option to eat before you plan to drink.

Note: Following the Mediterranean diet will help you stay away from a possible hangover. However, it would be best to consult a nutritionist virtually before adopting this diet.

Chicken

Foods like chicken are rich in protein and take a longer time to digest. This helps in slowing down how fast your blood alcohol level goes up. A chicken sandwich is the premier mix of protein and carbs so you should go with a poultry portion about the size of your palm to avoid more calories.

Low-Fat Yogurt

Yogurt is a great snack option before you go out, just top this creamy stuff with a sprinkle of granola and you’ll get all the important macronutrients in one food item: carbs, protein, and fat. The selected food item will digest slowly in more than 4-6 hours which will help in lowering the impact of alcohol intake.

Quinoa

Quinoa is extremely rich in protein and fiber. A high fiber meal that includes quinoa results in slowing down the stomach’s emptying time, which ensures that alcohol’s effects don’t sneak up as a surprise.

Spaghetti

Alcohol changes your body’s stores of glycogen, a quick energy source stored in the liver. Carbs help your glycogen levels stay full, as well as your stomach. It is suggested that you pre-game yourself with spaghetti (made in lighter sauce like Aglio e olio) to minimize the negative impact of alcohol.

How to Stay Sober after Drinking?

Here’s a secret trick to stay sober even after you have consumed some alcohol or even if you are a bit high already.

1. You should eat foods that hydrate you and thus work opposite to the way alcohol works. The fruits that are high in water content like watermelon, cucumber, tomato, and cantaloupe may safeguard you and prevent dehydration.

2. If you give your body back the things that it needs and the things that it loses when you drink, you’re going to feel better no matter what. Bananas are good- they are rich in potassium and have strong electrolytic properties, and can help prevent dehydration.

Caution: It is better to eat while being intoxicated than to not eat at all while consuming alcohol.

Alcohol Has Some Health Benefits Too, Provided You Take It in Moderation

Consuming alcohol seems trendy to most people and it is a way of life in several colder regions of the world. Taken in moderation, it does offer several health benefits over a period of time. These include a reduction in heart ailments like blocking of arteries and irregular pulse rates, besides lowering the rates of heart strokes and onset of diabetes.

The issue is when people take it in excess and end up being an addict. Please note that consuming excess alcohol and fatty foods can create havoc on your digestive system and cause several health risks. Drinking in moderation is the best cure for drunkenness and its long-term consequences.

Consulting a Wellness Expert for Behavioral Issues and Drinking Problems

We recommend you talk this out with a wellness expert (a nutritionist and a mental therapist) to get a personalized assessment of the situation. They would be the best persons to offer you a more medically qualified opinion about the issue.

Consulting a mental therapist is important because she can see through your psyche and decipher certain patterns in your personality that lead you astray. Some people take refuge in booze because they find their troubles overwhelming and most of these behaviors take shape during the formative years. It is best to get them rectified before the habit of drinking turns chronic.

Nothing beats living in a loving family where a person feels cared for all his near and dear ones, and alcohol seems like an unnatural addition to the happiness that flows abound!