Myths and truths about hangover remedies

The damage is done. You try to heal your battered body looking for some spell on the Internet that will make the pressure you feel in your head disappear.

Unfortunately, doctors have not yet agreed on a single way to "cure the hangover," so you must accept a myriad of wives' tales and marketing tactics.

To get a better idea of where to start, we've talked to numerous people, including Mike McAdams of the website "The Healthy Drinker" and Rob Walker, who wrote a book to improve hangovers ("Resacas solved: a simple solution to prevent torture. the next morning "). They have bravely endured headaches, nausea and unexplained body aches, all in the name of science, so that the rest of the people can live without hangovers.

The fatty breakfast
"Your body has already processed - or is still trying to process - the alcohol you have consumed the night before, and the few vitamins and minerals that cling to the fat in that chorizo sandwich will not make a difference," says McAdams. "The best thing you can do about food is try to replenish those essential nutrients that have already been used up."
Fortunately, some fatty breakfasts also have essential nutrients. "The eggs contain amino acids that help the liver in detoxification, including cysteine, which helps neutralize the acetaldehyde toxin," says MacAdams.
"What's better, eating fatty foods before going out at night really helps." Fat and fatty waste provide additional support to the layers of the stomach and decrease the absorption of alcohol. "

Bananas
Despite its density, bananas contain 75% water and can help you start the morning by rehydrating and rehabilitating you. "They also have high levels of vitamin C and B6, which can help neutralize free radicals and prevent liver damage," says MacAdams.
"In addition, bananas contain healthy amounts of magnesium and potassium, which are depleted with alcohol and cause the melancholy of alcohol. Also, they are loaded with natural sugars that the body needs to replenish after a night of partying. "

Coconut water
If you are dehydrated after a long night of partying, your body may have depleted electrolytes. "We have a blind faith in coconut water as a cure for a hangover," says Holly Kulp of Healing Lifestyles & Spas. "It contains a large amount of nutrients and electrolytes that the body needs, including vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and calcium. It's like a sports drink, without the acidity or the fake aroma. " You can drink it alone, or mix it in a shake and take it as a snack.

Tomato juice
Because it contains some salt, tomato juice (or vegetable juice) will help you retain the fluids you're replenishing, says Dr. Linda C. Degutis, assistant professor of emergency medicine and public health at Yale. Also restore some nutrients lost the previous night with vegetables and tomatoes. Unfortunately, apart from reintegrating the basic nutrients you must consume, tomato juice is not a cure in any way for a hangover.

Raw eggs
Eating raw eggs can help your machismo, but it will not save you from a hangover. "Unless the unpleasantness of having to eat raw eggs makes you forget the hangover," says Dr. Jeffrey G. Wiese, an adjunct professor of medicine at Tulane.

Sport drinks
Athletes drink sports drinks to recover between games, so if your sport is drinking, you should replenish. "Alcohol exhausts electrolytes by making demands on the body that cause it to have a great need for them," says MacAdams. Sports drinks are full of electrolytes. "The next morning, after losing the electrolytes to convert the toxins from alcohol and eliminate them in the urine, you need a replenishment to feel good again," says MacAdams.

Aspirins or ibuprofen
After waking up with an excruciating headache, you may be tempted to search for the analgesic of your choice. "Taking an analgesic can help reduce the discomfort of the hangover, but it will not hurt to take the medication along with a glass of water and a meal," says MacAdams.
"This fact, however, must be qualified with the reality that mixing analgesics with alcohol can be very dangerous. Medications containing acetaminophen can damage the kidneys and the liver, as well as aspirin can cause stomach irritation.

Dog hairs (or keep drinking alcohol)
As tempting as it may be, do not look for the nearest Bloody Mary. Having a bit of "dog hair that bit you" can help alleviate the problem of alcohol withdrawal, but it will make your hangover worse, says Dr Degutis.

Bacon sandwich
A bacon sandwich is not good for your heart or for the line of your waist, but it can be good for a hangover. "Bread is high in carbohydrates and bacon is full of proteins, which are transformed into amino acids," says Elin Roberts, science development manager at The Center for Life in Newcastle, in an interview by The Mirror.
"Your body needs those amino acids, so when you eat them you'll feel good. Drinking too much alcohol also depletes neurotransmitters, but bacon contains a lot of amino acids that restore them, leaving your head clearer. " There you have it. A good reason to set aside your New Year's resolutions.

Fruits and berries
"Fruits such as bananas or a bowl of berries are easily digested and add useful vitamins and antioxidants," says Vonalda Utterback, certified nutritionist, specialist in holistic health and nutrition. In addition to increasing vitamins A, C and E, berries are also known to fight cancer, so you can help heal your body now, while preventing future diseases, all in one bowl.

Milk bath
Use ingredients from your refrigerator and your fruit basket to give yourself a bath worthy of a spa to eliminate your ailments. "Start with a warm bath," says Jane Ross, director of Ananda Spa in the Himalayas. Add a handful of sea salts, a cup of milk, 3 drops of grapefruit, juniper, cypress and essential oils. "Sea salts will help you remineralize your body and essential oils will help your body eliminate toxins. Grapefruit will raise your spirits and milk will help moisturize and nourish the skin, "says Ross.

Ginger tea
"If you feel dizzy, take some ginger tea or one of chamomile and mint to soothe the stomach," says Ross. For the headache, apply cold compresses of lavender and mint. Take a bowl of cold water and add ice cubes, a drop of peppermint essential oil and one of lavender essential oil. Put a cloth in the water, drain it, lie down and apply the compress for 15 minutes. This is especially soothing and will alleviate the discomfort. "