From health experts and pro-drinkers alike, here’s how to cure the morning after a night you can’t remember.
We all know the feeling. You’re out too late and drink a little too much, and when the “hangxiety” hits, the hangover punches a little harder. While we can’t offer any solution to this “hangxiety,” we can offer some remedies to ease a hangover.
“Hangovers are caused by alcohol, which is then metabolized into acetaldehyde, which is slowly broken down and excreted from the body. But it contributes to hangover symptoms,” said Dr. Joanna Oppenheim, a physician with the Salinas Valley Health Lifestyle and Metabolic Program.
Acetaldehyde is a toxic compound that is more harmful than ethanol, causing that “poisoned” feeling in the morning. Hydration and liver enzyme boosting foods like leafy greens can help ease the worst of these symptoms.
You know that whole “breaking the seal” saying? It actually has some truth to it. Drinking blocks vasopressin, which is a hormone that regulates water pressure. This blockage leads the body to release more water into the bladder, ultimately causing dehydration.
Fixing hydration at its core is actually fairly simple. If you are feeling preemptive, drinking water as your final act of the night is smart, but if you can’t make that happen, make it your first act of the morning.
A trick to speed up hydration is adding electrolytes to the mix. Pedialyte, Gatorade or Liquid I.V. will do the trick. But if you don’t have the mighty strength to crawl to the market, a pinch of salt and sugar in your water should go the distance.
Dr. Oppenheim also added, “When you do drink, to reduce hangovers, drink slowly on a full stomach, don’t drink too much [and] drink water between each drink.”
Adding water into the mix and limiting the amount of alcohol your body has to process will cause rehydration on the spot, leaving you with a less miserable morning.
Unorthodox Advice
Everyone seems to have their own method to deal with hangovers. College students might say they wake up, take two to three Advils, nap, eat comfort food and chug a bottle of water as a general rule. Some people add their own twists, though.
Some drinkers, like Josie Church, a college junior, said, “I go to the gym and sweat it out in the sauna.”
Others, like Briar Spungin, a college senior, said, “I smoke a joint when I wake up, but if it’s been a really bad night, I keep lighting up all day.” Spungin also mentioned that her current personal antidote is lemonade mixed with Liquid I.V.
“Hair of the dog” is also a saying for a reason. This is the practice of picking the bottle back up the morning after, just to hold you over. This is why some drinkers might swear by a “red beer” — a beer mixed with tomato juice — to ease the morning’s pain. Tomato juice contains electrolytes, sugar and vitamins, which all weave together to ease hangover symptoms. The beer, on the other hand, is just temporarily lifting your alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It’s not exactly a doctor-recommended approach.
“It is not advisable because you are just kicking the can down the road,” Dr. Oppenheim said.
Eat Your Way Out
The actual perfect hangover meal — to treat your symptoms, not your cravings — depends on the type of hangover the morning has brought to you. When nauseous: plain toast, a banana and ginger tea are the way to go. This combination is gentle, but also potassium-rich, so instead of inducing a morning hurl, it will calm your body.
If you are craving savory and don’t mind a heavier meal, a breakfast burrito loaded with eggs, avocado, salsa and potatoes is a fine carb-fat-protein balance to kickstart your body in this time of strife.
For the quickest recovery, try blending a banana, spinach, Greek yogurt and coconut water. This combo hits the body with electrolytes, vitamins, and protein all at once, perfect if you have a morning class — or even worse, a job.
The only thing that truly helps a hangover is treating your body right. Hydrating properly, eating nutritious, vitamin-filled foods and taking some time to rest are the best ways to go about curing that hangover. While the perks of a good night out seem phenomenal in the moment, the effect it will likely have on your body is not so fun.
Whether you take a doctor’s or a seasoned drinker’s word for how to cure a hangover, one thing is clear: When your body is put through the ringer, the best thing to do is try to help it. Because while the memories from last night might have faded on their own, that pounding headache won’t.
Remember to drink responsibly. If you’re worried about your drinking habits or a friend’s, reach out to the Sandler Center in the Whitten Student Center, or the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357, which provides free, confidential support.
words_birdie church. photo_julia campbell. design_olivia diaz & jay moyer
This article was published in Distraction’s Winter 2025 print issue.
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