Whether it was the Christmas morning mimosas or New Years festivities that got slightly out of hand, hangovers seem to be a natural part of the holiday season. And while it’s fun to indulge in a few more drinks than usual while spending time with friends and family, it can sometimes leave you feeling worse for the wear the following day.
If you’ve woken up with a hangover, it can be tempting to over-indulge in anything greasy, carby and less than healthy with the hopes that it will “soak up the alcohol.” As much as we might wish that were true, the foods that will make you feel better are actually ones you might typically include in a healthy diet. Sorry to say it, but you might want to think twice before placing that pizza order.
Fueling your body right will not only ease you out of the hangover slump, but it will also help you recover faster —so put down the hot chips, and let’s do this the right way. Nobody likes feeling less than one hundred per cent, so we’ve done a little research to figure out which foods will help you recover in no time at all.
To find out the top foods for curing hangovers, keep reading for a full list below. Odds are you might even have a few of these in your pantry right now.
Best Foods for Curing a Hangover
- Bananas: The yellow, potassium-rich fruit should become your new-best-hangover-friend. Because bananas contain 12% of your daily potassium, they will help you recover from dehydration and electrolyte loss.
- Pickles: High in sodium, pickles also help restore your electrolyte levels after a night on the booze. If you’re really desperate, you might even consider drinking the brine; Just 75 ml will cover 20% of your daily sodium needs, according to Healthline.
- Oatmeal: If solid foods sound like a no-go to you on a hungover morning, oatmeal is an easy way to pack a punch with some essential nutrients. Vitamin B, calcium, iron and magnesium will help you feel back to your old self, according to Greatist. Add a few berries and nut butter for extra vitamins and fat, and you’ve got yourself a pretty wholesome (and easy) breakfast.
- Avocado: Do your liver a favour and spread a little avo on your morning toast. In addition to being a great source of potassium, avocados also contain liver-protecting compounds, Healthline reports.
- Nuts: When you’re hungover, it’s sometimes difficult to pack in too much food — even if you know it will help. In such instances, nutrient-dense nuts might be your best bet. In addition to providing a lot of health benefits in a small package, nuts are chock full of magnesium which gets depleted with alcohol consumption.
Now that you know which foods to eat to help cure your hangover, you can get rid of the post-party guilt. Instead of eating bad-for-you foods and feeling sorry for yourself all day, these options will replenish nutrients lost while drinking and leave you feeling ready for action (and round two) once again.