Beer Hangover: Does More Beer Cure The Pain?

Drinking alcohol to cure a hangover is known as the hair of the dog method. While this may provide temporary relief by boosting endorphins and slowing the creation of toxic compounds, it only delays the hangover, which will return once you stop drinking. This method may also increase the risk of alcoholism and is not recommended. Instead, staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep, eating a good breakfast, drinking in moderation, and taking certain supplements or medications are all ways to prevent or relieve a hangover.

Drinking more alcohol to cure a hangover

The "hair of the dog" theory suggests that drinking more alcohol will raise your blood alcohol level, which may provide a numbing effect and delay the onset of a hangover. However, once you stop drinking, your blood alcohol level will eventually return to zero, and the hangover will come back, possibly even worse than before.

Additionally, drinking more alcohol can lead to an increased risk of alcohol abuse and can normalise unhealthy drinking patterns. It is important to note that the only guaranteed way to avoid a hangover is to drink in moderation or not at all.

If you are already experiencing a hangover, there are several evidence-based strategies to prevent or relieve symptoms:

• Drink water: Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more, leading to dehydration. Drinking water can help to rehydrate your body and reduce hangover symptoms such as thirst, fatigue, headache, and dizziness.
• Eat a good breakfast: Eating a nutritious meal can help stabilise blood sugar levels and provide important vitamins and minerals. It can also help reduce symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, and weakness.
• Take supplements: Certain supplements, such as red ginseng, prickly pear, ginger, borage oil, and eleuthero, have been studied for their potential to reduce hangover symptoms. However, more research is needed.
• Take pain relievers: Over-the-counter pain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can help alleviate hangover symptoms like headaches and muscle aches.

Hangover remedies recommended by brewers

While drinking more beer may provide temporary relief from a hangover, it will likely worsen your hangover once the alcohol wears off. This method is not recommended by experts, who suggest that it may increase your risk of alcoholism and is not an effective long-term solution. Instead, here are some hangover remedies recommended by brewers:

Rehydration and Electrolytes

Rehydration is key to combating the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Aim to drink plenty of water, coconut water, or electrolyte-rich beverages like Pedialyte or Gatorade.

Food

Eating a hearty breakfast can help stabilize blood sugar levels and provide important nutrients. Opt for foods like eggs, avocado, or a greasy breakfast sandwich. Carbs can also help bring your blood sugar levels back up.

Vitamins and Supplements

Vitamin B and milk thistle pills are popular choices among brewers to take before or after drinking. Vitamin C and ginger are also recommended to combat inflammation and nausea.

Sleep

Getting a good night's sleep can help alleviate hangover symptoms. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep, and consider taking a nap during the day if possible.

Hair of the Dog

While not recommended by experts, some brewers swear by the "Hair of the Dog" method, which involves drinking more alcohol to temporarily relieve hangover symptoms.

Bloody Mary

A few brewers suggested a spicy Bloody Mary as their go-to hangover cure, sometimes paired with a noon nap.

Ramen

Ramen is recommended for its ability to replace sodium and aid in rehydration.

Coffee

Drinking coffee or strong iced coffee can help wake you up and boost your energy levels.

Natural Sunlight

Exposing yourself to natural sunlight can help motivate you to get out of bed and start your day.

While there is no one-size-fits-all cure for a hangover, these remedies suggested by brewers can help ease the unpleasant symptoms and get you back on track. Remember that prevention is always better than cure, so drinking in moderation and staying hydrated are key to avoiding severe hangovers.

Natural hangover remedies

While drinking more beer may provide temporary relief from a hangover, it will only delay the inevitable, as the hangover will return once you stop drinking. This method may also increase your risk of alcoholism and is not recommended.

• Drink water — Alcohol is a diuretic, which means you will need to pee more. Drinking water will help to rehydrate you and slow down the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol.
• Eat breakfast — Eating a nutritious breakfast can help maintain your blood sugar levels, provide important vitamins and minerals, and reduce hangover symptoms. Opt for foods that are rich in antioxidants, such as green and black tea.
• Take supplements — Although research is limited, some studies suggest that certain supplements, such as red ginseng, prickly pear, and ginger, may help ease a hangover.
• Get plenty of sleep — Alcohol can disrupt your sleep, so getting a good night's rest can help alleviate symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and irritability.
• Take pain relievers — Over-the-counter pain medications, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin, can help reduce hangover symptoms like headaches and muscle aches. However, avoid pain relievers containing acetaminophen, as they can increase the risk of liver damage when combined with alcohol.
• Drink caffeine in moderation — Coffee and other caffeinated drinks can improve feelings of fatigue associated with a hangover. However, caffeine is also a diuretic, so it may worsen dehydration.

The best foods to eat after a hangover

While drinking more beer may provide temporary relief from a hangover, it is not a cure and may worsen your hangover. The only real cure for a hangover is time, but there are foods and drinks that can help alleviate the symptoms.

• Fruit and vegetables: Many fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients and natural sugars, which can help reduce hangover symptoms. Bananas, for example, are high in potassium and can help replenish your body's stores. Eating oranges may help prevent your body from losing glutathione, an antioxidant that helps rid your body of alcohol.
• Eggs: Eggs are rich in cysteine, an amino acid that your body uses to produce the antioxidant glutathione. Drinking alcohol decreases the body's stores of glutathione, so eating eggs can help improve hangover symptoms.
• Chicken noodle soup: Chicken noodle soup is a good way to rehydrate due to its high sodium content. It can also help replace sodium lost during a night of drinking.
• Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes contain several nutrients that may aid in hangover recovery, including vitamin A, magnesium, and potassium. Vitamin A may help fight inflammation associated with hangovers, while magnesium and potassium are needed to replace what is lost during alcohol consumption.
• Avocados: Avocados can help raise low potassium levels caused by alcohol consumption and dehydration. They also contain compounds that protect against liver injury, which is especially beneficial for hangovers as drinking in excess takes a toll on the liver.
• Oatmeal: Oatmeal contains complex carbohydrates that provide a slow and steady release of sugar into the bloodstream, which may help with hangover-related fatigue or low blood sugar.
• Pickles: Pickles are high in sodium, an electrolyte that is depleted during excessive drinking. Eating pickles or drinking their brine may help boost sodium levels and aid in hangover recovery.
• Coffee: Coffee may be beneficial in beating a hangover, especially if you're looking to improve your alertness and reduce fatigue.
• Water: Drinking water is crucial for rehydration, as alcohol has a diuretic effect and increases urine production, leading to fluid loss.
• Ginger: Ginger has anti-nausea effects, making it a possible treatment for an upset stomach associated with hangovers.
• Dairy: Dairy foods such as milk and yogurt are excellent stomach liners. Eating dairy before a night of drinking can help slow the absorption of alcohol.

The worst hangover cures

While drinking more beer may provide temporary relief, it is not a cure for a hangover. In fact, it may worsen your hangover. This method, known as "hair of the dog", involves drinking more alcohol to reduce hangover symptoms. However, it only delays the inevitable, as the hangover will return once you stop drinking.

• Drinking pickle juice: While this remedy is believed to replenish and recharge the body with its high concentration of electrolytes, it is not a pleasant option for many.
• Haejangguk: A beef broth soup made with pork spine, coagulated ox blood, cabbage, and vegetables is not a typical cure for a headache.
• Prairie Oysters: This remedy, which includes a raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and Tabasco sauce, is said to do nothing to cure a hangover and may even make you sick.
• Licking sweat: This unusual remedy, involving exercising, licking sweat, and spitting it out, is definitely not a pleasant or effective way to cure a hangover.
• Bacon fat: Consuming pure bacon fat is unlikely to provide any relief from a hangover and may even induce vomiting.
• Deep-fried canary: While this may have been a popular practice among ancient Romans, it is unlikely to be an effective or appealing cure for a hangover today.
• Bull's penis: This unusual cure, believed by Sicilian men, is not based on any scientific or causal mechanism and is unlikely to be effective.
• Rabbit dung tea: With a high percentage of poop and very little nutritional value, this "cure" is definitely one to avoid.
• More booze: While it may be tempting to reach for another drink, this will only make your hangover worse.

Instead of these unusual and ineffective remedies, it is best to focus on well-known strategies such as staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep, eating nutritious foods, and taking appropriate supplements or medications to alleviate hangover symptoms.

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