WHAT IS THE BEST DRINK FOR A HANGOVER?

THE HARSH SYMPTOMS OF A HANGOVER

Although the path that leads to a hangover may be fun there is nothing fun about experiencing a bad hangover. Symptoms of a hangover can vary from person to person, depending on various factors, along with how much alcohol you drank and the symptoms of a hangover can be pretty harsh. 

Symptoms can include:

  • Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Headaches and body aches
  • Excessive thirst and dry mouth
  • Decreased ability to concentrate
  • Increased sensitivity to light and sound
  • Dizziness or a sense of the room spinning
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Mood disturbances, depression, anxiety, and irritability

You may find that you have just a few of these symptoms or symptoms may be light, but take your hangover seriously. It’s the dehydration that is a serious health threat. 

WHAT CAUSES THE HANGOVER?

Yes, how much you drink will determine how severe your hangover will be, but did you know that “what” you drink is also a main factor? 

ETHYL ALCOHOL:

Ethyl alcohol, or simply referred to as alcohol, causes stress on the body, especially the liver. Obviously, the amount of alcohol you drink, the more severe your hangover will be.

CONGENERS:

Congeners also contribute to the severity of a hangover. Congeners are a chemical by-product of the fermentation process in certain alcoholic beverages. It is what the distillery is adding to the pure ethyl alcohol to create flavors.

The good thing about these congeners is that they make up the flavor profile in the spirit. When you smell or taste certain tones of fruit or smoke, it’s the congeners at work. Without congeners we would not have these flavor profiles.

The bad thing about congeners is that they are the cause of the hangover. Sometimes congeners are referred to as additives or impurities. The highest concentration of congeners are found in dark-colored liquors such as bourbon, whiskey, and red wine. Clear liquors have much lower quantities of congeners, with vodka having almost no congeners at all. 

CONSIDER ALCOHOL BY VOLUME:

The percentage of alcohol in a spirit is expressed on the label with "Alcohol By Volume" ("ABV") or sometimes simply "Vol". Many people see this number and think how strong or weak the spirit is. They then choose the lesser ABV % if they don’t want to get too drunk and the higher ABV % if they do.

If you are thinking about how to curve your hangover you must think the opposite way. The higher the ABV % means the more pure the alcohol content is in that bottle. The higher the alcohol content is, the lower the congeners will be. Remember, congeners equal hangover. 

Sticking with clear colored alcohol can certainly lessen the severity of a hangover.


THE FASTEST WAY TO RECOVER FROM A HANGOVER IS BY REPLENISHING YOUR ELECTROLYTES

Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals and compounds that help your body do much of its work. Producing energy and contracting your muscles are just two examples. Some of the most common electrolytes are Sodium, chloride, potassium, and calcium. We get them from what we eat and drink.

Most hangover symptoms result from dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and blood sugar imbalance, which can be further impacted by vomiting.

So, it makes perfect sense to do two things. Replenish your electrolytes and avoid sugar.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR BODY IS LOW ON ELECTROLYTES

Electrolytes directly impact the regulation of some critical bodily functions. So critical, in fact, that severe dehydration can lead to death.

I know that sounds harsh, but it's crucial to understand the importance of staying hydrated. When your body becomes low on electrolytes, it can debilitate your body's functions, such as fluid regulation, blood clotting, muscle contractions, and acid balance. Remember, your heart is a muscle, so that means electrolytes also help regulate your heartbeat.

THE BEST DRINK FOR A HANGOVER IS AN ELECTROLYTE DRINK

When you have a hangover your primary goal should be to rehydrate, but rehydration is more than just drinking water. It’s electrolytes your body needs, not just water. Drinking water is great for hydration, but almost all drinking water does not contain electrolytes.

Electrolyte drinks such as HYDRATE are your best bet for replenishing electrolytes. HYDRATE electrolyte powder mix has 100% organic “real” ingredients. It is a great electrolyte drink for a hangover and it has no added sugar. 

Remember what I said, it makes perfect sense to do two things. Replenish your electrolytes and avoid sugar.

Many people reach for sports drinks and energy drinks to restore electrolytes; however, the high sugar content, artificial ingredients, and caffeine content in these drinks are likely to make you feel worse.

If it’s water you’re going to drink, then drink “spring” water. Spring water has natural minerals and electrolytes in it. Most drinking water like tap water, distilled water and purified water have had natural electrolytes stripped from it.

OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO HELP WITH A HANGOVER

EATING FOODS HIGH IN ELECTROLYTES HELPS WITH HANGOVERS

Eating foods that are high in electrolytes is another way to quickly recover from a hangover. Here are some foods that are high in electrolytes:

  • Milk (calcium)
  • Yogurt (calcium)
  • Bananas (potassium)
  • Avocado (potassium)
  • Coconut (potassium and sodium)
  • Watermelon (natural sugars, potassium, water)

If you plan a big night out on the town, be sure to stock up on some of these nutritious snacks to have before you head to bed.

SLEEP HELPS WITH HANGOVERS

Research shows that alcohol is known to interfere with the quality and length of your sleep. To avoid undue misery, make sure that you may room in your schedule for sleep. You'll need some extra hours to sleep off the effects of a night of drinking, so be sure to plan ahead.

WRAPPING UP

Focus on hydration and replenishing your electrolytes during and after drinking to reduce the symptoms of a hangover. An oral rehydration solution like HYDRATE is the best option because it comprises whole, organic ingredients and unprocessed electrolytes. Best of all, it has only 1 gram of sugar from dehydrated lemon juice.

If there were a magic bullet to cure a hangover, HYDRATE would likely be your bullet.

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