What drinks should you avoid with a hangover?

While excessive alcohol consumption is the sole cause of a hangover, some beverages you consume the next day can make symptoms like headache and nausea even worse. It is crucial to know what drinks should you avoid with a hangover to promote faster recovery and alleviate discomfort.

Quick Summary

This guide explains why certain beverages like coffee, sugary drinks, and more alcohol can worsen hangover symptoms. It covers how these drinks affect hydration, blood sugar, and stomach irritation, providing a clear rundown of what to avoid for a quicker recovery.

Key Points

• Avoid more alcohol: The "hair of the dog" is a myth and only prolongs your symptoms by delaying recovery.

• Skip caffeine: Coffee and other caffeinated beverages are diuretics that worsen dehydration and can irritate an upset stomach.

• Stay away from sugary drinks: High-sugar sodas and juices can cause blood sugar crashes and further dehydrate your system.

• Choose hydrating fluids: Opt for water, coconut water, or low-sugar electrolyte drinks to replenish lost fluids and minerals effectively.

• Focus on rest and bland food: The best remedy involves time, sleep, and eating gentle foods like toast or crackers to settle your stomach.

• Be cautious with pain relievers: Avoid acetaminophen with alcohol due to the risk of liver damage; aspirin and ibuprofen can irritate the stomach.

Why Certain Drinks Worsen Your Hangover

After a night of heavy drinking, your body is in a state of turmoil. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urination and leads to dehydration, a major contributor to hangover symptoms like headaches and fatigue. Furthermore, your liver is working overtime to process the alcohol, converting it into acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct that can cause nausea and inflammation. Choosing the right drinks the morning after can either aid your body's recovery or exacerbate the problem. The following sections break down why some popular choices are the wrong ones.

More Alcohol: The 'Hair of the Dog' Myth

One of the most common myths is that having another drink, or the "hair of the dog," will cure your hangover. While drinking more alcohol might temporarily dull the symptoms by raising your blood alcohol level again, it's a deceptive and counterproductive strategy. This practice simply delays the inevitable, and when you eventually stop drinking, the hangover will likely return with a vengeance. Furthermore, relying on this method can normalize unhealthy drinking habits and increase your risk of alcohol dependency. Instead of curing the hangover, it essentially prolongs the period of toxicity for your body, putting additional strain on an already overworked liver. The only true cure is time and letting your body metabolize the existing alcohol.

Caffeine: A Double-Edged Sword

Many people instinctively reach for a strong cup of coffee to combat the fatigue of a hangover. However, relying on caffeine can have a number of negative effects. Here's why you should be cautious:

• Worsens Dehydration: Just like alcohol, caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it makes you urinate more often. Combining it with the dehydration already caused by alcohol is a recipe for intensifying headaches and lightheadedness.
• Irritates the Stomach: Alcohol already irritates the lining of your stomach, increasing acid production. Coffee, being highly acidic, can further inflame your stomach, potentially worsening nausea and indigestion.
• Masks Intoxication: Caffeine is a stimulant, which can make you feel more alert and awake. This can mask the depressant effects of alcohol, creating a false sense of sobriety and potentially leading to dangerous decisions, like driving while still impaired.

Sugary Drinks and Fruit Juice

That sugary soda or fruit juice might seem appealing, but it can make your hangover worse. Here's the science behind it:

• Blood Sugar Crash: Large amounts of sugar can cause a rapid spike and then a sharp drop in your blood sugar levels. This can contribute to the fatigue, irritability, and headache you already feel. The liver is also busy processing the leftover alcohol and has a hard time stabilizing your blood glucose levels.
• Exacerbates Dehydration: While fruit juice might seem hydrating, the high sugar content requires your body to use more water to metabolize it, worsening the existing dehydration. Certain fruit juices, particularly citrus, are also highly acidic and can further upset your sensitive stomach.

Energy Drinks

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol is a dangerous combination that can have severe consequences for your health. Energy drinks contain both caffeine and a large amount of sugar, creating a perfect storm for worsening hangover symptoms. As mentioned above, both of these ingredients should be avoided. The stimulants in energy drinks mask the effects of alcohol, leading you to drink more and potentially increasing the risk of alcohol poisoning. The high caffeine content also adds extra strain on your heart and intensifies dehydration.

Comparison of Drinks to Avoid with a Hangover

Drink Type	Primary Mechanism for Worsening Hangover	Associated Symptoms	Alternative Recommendation
More Alcohol	Delays the body's recovery process by re-intoxicating the system.	Prolongs headache, nausea, and fatigue.	Water, herbal tea, or coconut water.
Coffee	Acts as a diuretic, worsening dehydration and stomach irritation.	Intense headaches, nausea, anxiety, rapid heartbeat.	Water, decaf coffee, or soothing ginger tea.
Sugary Sodas / Juice	Causes blood sugar spikes and crashes, and worsens dehydration.	Fatigue, irritability, shakiness, upset stomach.	Water, low-sugar electrolyte drink, or bland fruit.
Energy Drinks	Combines the negative effects of high caffeine and high sugar content.	Heightened anxiety, heart palpitations, worsened dehydration, increased risk of alcohol poisoning.	Water, herbal tea, or a low-sugar sports drink.

Conclusion: The Path to Recovery

Ultimately, the only surefire way to avoid a hangover is to drink in moderation or not at all. However, if you find yourself with the morning-after blues, avoiding certain beverages can significantly improve your recovery. The temptation to reach for a quick fix like coffee or another drink is strong, but these options will only prolong your discomfort and may even be harmful. Focus instead on gentle, hydrating choices like water, herbal tea, or broths. Prioritizing rest and time is the most effective medicine, allowing your body to naturally detoxify and restore its balance. Staying hydrated with non-irritating fluids is the cornerstone of a smoother recovery. For more information on dealing with hangovers, you can refer to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's recommendations.

The Best Drinks for a Hangover

• Water: The simplest and most effective way to rehydrate and flush toxins from your system.
• Coconut Water: A natural source of electrolytes like potassium, which can help restore balance lost through urination and vomiting.
• Electrolyte Drinks: Products like Pedialyte or low-sugar sports drinks can help replenish lost electrolytes and fluids more effectively than plain water.
• Ginger Tea: Can help soothe an upset stomach and alleviate nausea, which is common with hangovers.
• Bone Broth: Helps to replenish lost sodium and other minerals while also being gentle on the stomach.

The Worst Drinks for a Hangover

• More Alcohol: The "hair of the dog" method is a myth that only delays and worsens the hangover.
• Coffee: A diuretic that intensifies dehydration and an irritant that worsens stomach issues.
• Sugary Drinks: Cause blood sugar instability and worsen dehydration.
• Acidic Juices: The high acidity can further irritate an already sensitive stomach.
• Energy Drinks: Combine the dehydrating and stimulating effects of caffeine with the sugar crash from high-sugar content.

Actionable Hangover Recovery Steps

1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
2. Eat Bland Carbs: Toast or crackers can help raise low blood sugar and settle your stomach.
3. Get Rest: Sleep is one of the best cures, as it gives your body time to recover.
4. Avoid Irritants: Stay away from fatty foods, spicy foods, and acidic substances that can aggravate your gastrointestinal system.
5. Listen to Your Body: If you feel dizzy, nauseous, or have a severe headache, take it easy and avoid strenuous activity.

Final Thoughts

Recovering from a hangover is a matter of time and giving your body what it needs to heal. By steering clear of drinks that will make things worse, you can support your body's natural recovery process and get back to feeling like yourself much faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can drinking coffee help a hangover?

No, coffee can actually make a hangover worse. Both alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, meaning they increase urination and lead to greater dehydration. The acidity of coffee can also further irritate a stomach already sensitive from alcohol consumption.

Why is the 'hair of the dog' a bad idea for a hangover?

The "hair of the dog," or drinking more alcohol, is a myth. It temporarily postpones the inevitable hangover symptoms by keeping your blood alcohol level elevated. Once you stop drinking, the symptoms will return, potentially more severe, as your liver struggles with the additional alcohol.

Do sugary drinks worsen a hangover?

Yes, sugary drinks can make a hangover worse by causing blood sugar spikes followed by crashes, contributing to fatigue and irritability. The body also uses water to metabolize sugar, worsening dehydration.

Are electrolyte drinks helpful for a hangover?

Yes, electrolyte drinks like coconut water or sports drinks can be beneficial. Alcohol consumption can lead to the loss of electrolytes through increased urination. Replenishing these minerals helps restore the body's fluid balance and can alleviate some symptoms.

Is it better to drink water or eat a greasy breakfast for a hangover?

While food can help, drinking water is the priority. A greasy breakfast can irritate your stomach, which is already sensitive from alcohol. Plain water or a low-sugar electrolyte drink is the best first step for rehydration, followed by bland, easy-to-digest food like toast or crackers.

Why should I avoid energy drinks when I have a hangover?

Energy drinks combine caffeine and high sugar content, both of which should be avoided. This mix can intensify dehydration, put a strain on your heart, and mask the level of your intoxication, which can lead to further risky behavior.

What is the best way to speed up hangover recovery?

The best way to recover is to rehydrate with water or electrolyte drinks, eat bland food to stabilize blood sugar, and get plenty of rest. Avoiding further irritants like caffeine, sugar, and more alcohol is key.