I know they say that the best cure is to prevent a hangover in the first place, but there are times that the good times just get the best of us. Although my time as a dietitian hasn’t made me immune the effects of those nights with one too many glasses of vino with the girls, it has given me a few tricks up my sleeve. So if you’ve found yourself reading this post, I’ve got you.
Hangovers often leave you with a combination of less than desirable symptoms. Nausea, stomach upset, headache…no thanks. These are the result of a combination of factors including dehydration, low blood sugars, and inflammation caused by our body trying to metabolize the alcohol byproduct (acetylaldehyde).
Unfortunately there is no magic pill, but there are a few things that will hopefully help to get your body back on track ASAP!
Tip: I find that having smoothie recipes and ideas on hand helps for those days you can’t think straight—especially when you’re hungover! So I created a list of healthy meal prep smoothies for those days here.
Does Hydration Cure a Hangover?
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it triggers the loss of fluids from our bodies. Where water goes, electrolytes flow, so along with this loss of water, we are also losing minerals like potassium and sodium. This combo makes for a killer headache, as well as that groggy, shaky, lethargic feeling.
What Are The Most Hydrating Fluids for a Hangover?
- Water
- Hydration Drinks like a hydration tab you can mix in water or a sports drink
- Coconut Water. This drink is known for its hydration powers with a high potassium (one of the electrolytes lost with drinking) content. On the flip side it is relatively low in sodium so not quite as hydrating as the above options.
- Vitamin Infused drinks like Emergen-C or Ener-C. Often with electrolytes they also provide a heavy dose of Vitamin C, a cell protecting antioxidant
- Teas. If you prefer something warm, teas are a good option. See below for my top tummy taming picks. Broths are another way to get some fluid and electrolytes into your body
The Role of Fructose to Help a Hangover
Fructose is a natural sugar found in fruit that may play a role in speeding up alcohol metabolism. Fruits that are particularly high in fructose include
Food Sources of Vitamin C
This antioxidant helps fight off free radical damage to cells that can be caused by alcohol. Vitamin C rich foods include
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
Gut Friendly Foods to Help Cure Hangover Nausea
- Greek Yogurt has probiotics that support the healthy bacteria in your gut for good digestion
- Kefir, a fermented dairy drink is an even more potent probiotic source. Swap the milk or yogurt in your smoothie with kefir for an extra dose
- Kombucha, another fermented drink is another great option to get those fluids in
- Ginger is a tried and true staple to soothe stomach upset and relieve nausea
- Peppermint is another good option to soothe indigestion, although you might want to skip it if you’re experiencing any reflux or heartburn as it can make it worse
Try ginger or peppermint tea, or blending any of these ingredients into smoothies or fresh juices.
Nutrition Benefits of Healthy Fats to Help Cure a Hangover
Fats have the ability to slow digestion and therefore help keep blood sugars stable (aka, help with the shakes and mood stability).
Healthy fats that help cure hangovers:
Blend into smoothies, slather on toast or drizzle on whatever solids you can get down.
Additional Tips to Help Cure a Hangover
You may consider taking a multivitamin, vitamin C or B complex Supplement before going to bed and upon waking. Although evidence is limited, drinking alcohol does deplete our bodies of these nutrients so supplementing may prove beneficial!
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes:
- Matcha Green Smoothie
- Strawberry Basil Smoothie
- Chocolate Chia Seed Shake
- 5 Minute Everyday Green Smoothie
- After 8 Chocolate Mint Smoothie
Orange Ginger Hangover Cure Smoothie
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 smoothie 1x
Description
This Hangover Cure Orange & Ginger is everything you need to start you on your way to feeling alive again! Hydration to tackle that headache with a boost of potassium to replenish electrolytes, ginger for nausea and stomach upset, and protein and Vitamin D from Greek Yogurt to get those blood sugars balanced and start lifting that mood!
Ingredients
- 1 banana, frozen is best but fresh will do too
- 1 orange, frozen or fresh
- 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt (I like 5% for a super creamy texture)
- 2 tsp minced ginger
- 1/2 cup of cold water, coconut water or cold green tea
- 1 tsp vanilla *optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth, about 30 seconds.
Notes
- Leave out the water, coconut water or green tea for a thicker milkshake like texture
- Yogurt – use a non dairy yogurt like coconut yogurt to make this smoothie vegan
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverages, Breakfast
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: American
Sit back and enjoy!
Sarah Tadros says
Works a treat! Thank you!
Lindsay says
Awesome! So happy it did the trick Sarah 🙂
NTG says
tasty combo of ingredients. Thanks
Lindsay says
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it Nicole! Thanks for sharing!
Julie Green says
Love this!! Thanks for sharing
Lindsay says
Oh so happy to hear Julie! You are so welcome! Enjoy!
Della says
Thank you…..I really needed this. Felt to bad to drive anywhere and get one but happened to have the ingredients for this. Tasty too.
Lindsay Pleskot says
Oh good! I’m so happy you enjoyed and found it helpful Della! xo