Beating Holiday Hangovers
By: NBC News
Updated: December 31, 2012
Too many champagne toasts on New Year's Eve could leave you feeling crummy the next morning.
"The reason why we have hang overs is because our body is having a hard time dealing with all of the toxins from the alcohol," explains "Quickie Chick's Guide To Life" author Laurel House.
She says before a night of partying, eat a hearty meal, drink lots of water and try some asparagus.
"Asparagus has also shown to break down alcohol faster," House says. "It'll actually help to minimize and then completely help to make your hang over non-existent."
If you didn't plan ahead, sip on some fruit juice if you wake up feeling sick.
"Fruit juice is filled with fructose and fructose helps to minimize the hang over by pulling out the toxins faster and processing them through the liver and getting them out of your body," House explains. "Banana is a great hang over food because it's filled with potassium and also electrolytes so when your drinking your pulling the electrolytes out of your body it helps to refill them and refuel you."
Coconut water is also full of electrolytes, and poached eggs are a great option for pain relief.
Other long-held hangover cures may not be as effective.
"For some reason people think that having fried fatty food and spicy food actually helps to get rid of their hangover, it doesn't. It's actually going to aggravate your stomach even more," House warns.
The "hair of the dog" theory of drinking more alcohol to help your headache is deceiving as well.
"A Bloody Mary is spicy and acidic, two things that you don't want when you have a hang over, as delicious as they may be, maybe have it when your not hung over," House says.
Of course the only sure way to prevent a hangover: Don't drink!
Still, if you do imbibe drink responsibly and don't drive.
NBC News
