St. Patty's Day Remedy

Hangover Help.

There are few holidays that give us the unabashed excuse to overindulge in alcoholic beverages no matter what day of the week it if falls on the calendar. St. Patrick's Day is one of those days. Sure you may have celebrated this weekend by watching your city turn the river green or throw a really big parade...but tonight there is a very good chance that you'll still have a Guiness or Jameson in honor of our Irish friends.

My goal today is to help to prevent you from making the somewhat inevitable Shamrock Shuffle to the bathroom tomorrow morning after said overindulgence. So I did a little research on what is scientifically proven to help curb a hangover...or at least lessen its ugly effects.

Fried and Fatty Foods
Though I swear by a Spicy Chicken value meal from Wendy's the day after as a cure, studies show that eating fried and fatty foods before or during drinking is what works. In fact, Mediterraneans have been known take a spoonful of olive oil before drinking to ward off a hangover. So load up on those sliders and nachos tonight. It's good for you in the long run.

Eggs

Eggs contain large amounts of cysteine, the substance that breaks down the hangover-causing toxin acetaldehyde in the liver's easily depleted glutathione. So basically, eating that egg sandwich first thing in the morning can help mop up the extra toxins left in your body.

Water

No surprise here. As a prevention method, try drinking a glass of water with every glass of alcohol. Don't worry...you'll still be feeling "cheery" even if you do. And drink a big glass right before you go to bed too. In the morning, drink water liberally to rehydrate. Sports drinks and other non-carbonated drinks with a little sugar will help replenish your system even faster.

Fruit Juice
Personally this hurts my stomach just thinking about it. However studies show that juices increase the rate in which bodies get rid of toxins. Plus you are filling yourself with vitamins to boot.

Aspirin or Acetaminophen

If your stomach is sensitive to aspirin, stick to the acetaminophen. But all studies show that you should pop a dose of these pain relievers before heading to bed. Your symptoms tomorrow morning should be lessened...and who doesn't want that.

Moral of the Story:

Before: Eat some greasy food.

During: Drink lots of water.

Before bed: Drink a glass of water and have 2 aspirin or acetaminophen.

Day after: Have some eggs and juice and drink water all throughout the day.

Slainte! Have a Happy St. Patty's Day!!!