Discover Which Hangover Cures Work The Best!

Elizabeth AdamsIf you’re looking for the best hangover cure, you’re going to be happy you just found this site!

We’re the only website we know of that actually has its bloggers go out and drink alcohol, just so they can test all the different hangover cures out there!

You see, we understand why people are so desperate to learn how to cure a hangover.

After a great night partying, having a few drinks at happy hour or drinking some wine with dinner, there’s nothing worse than waking up the next day feeling tired, irritable and with a huge headache.

That hangover keeps us from being effective at  work, enjoying time with our family, getting in a good workout or just concentrating  on a day-long  Netflix marathon!

For these reasons and more, we’re all looking for that perfect hangover cure.

Problem is, there’s a lot of conflicting information out there on what actually works to get rid of a hangover.

So we decided to do something unique…

Our editors go out and actually try all of today’s most popular hangover cures, and then review and rank them right here on this website.

We’ll tell you which hangover cures and strategies actually work, and which ones you should probably avoid.

So keep reading if you want to learn more… or click here to go straight to our list of the 9 best hangover cures.

What Exactly Is A Hangover And Why Are They So Horrible?

Before we get into the specifics of how to deal with a hangover  and all the different hangover cures, let’s take a minute to define exactly what a hangover is.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a hangover is “a group of unpleasant signs and symptoms that can develop after drinking too much alcohol”.

In other words, you drink alcohol at night– you wake up feeling horrible.

And by feeling horrible, here’s what we mean:

  • Fatigue, Weakness
  • Headache
  • Thirsty, Dehydration
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea, Vomiting
  • Gastric Problems, Diarrhea
  • Insomnia
  • Sensitive to Light, Sound
  • Sweating
  • Rapid Heartbeat
  • Mood Disorders

Now, we all know what the symptoms of a hangover are, but what’s going on in our bodies to cause all these crappy symptoms?

Although scientists disagree on the exact cause, the most likely culprit is the inflammatory response to alcohol by your immune system.

Once you start drinking alcohol, your body releases cytokines, which are proteins that communicate directly with the brain.

The build up and release of these immune system agents are what cause hangover symptoms.

In studies, when otherwise healthy subjects are injected with high levels of cytokines, they start to feel nauseous and fatigued, get headaches and chills, and have gastrointestinal distress.

Do those symptoms remind you of anything?

And if you can’t remember all the embarrassing acts you committed the night before, guess what?  Cytokines have also been linked to memory impairment.

Now, in addition to immune response, it’s also believed that disrupted biological rhythms, a mini-alcohol withdrawal, blood vessel expansion and poisonous side effects from congeners (chemicals added to dark-colored drinks) also play a role.

Whatever the cause, we can all agree that hangovers suck, and since we know that 77% of all drinkers report suffering  from them, it’s time to start talking about the cures and remedies!

I Heard Hangover Cures Don’t Really Work, Is That True?

When people say hangover cures don’t work, we understand where they’re coming from…

When you hear the word “cure” you think of some magical pill or drink that will make all of your hangover symptoms instantly disappear.

Unfortunately, there isn’t any “cure” that works like that (we all wish there was, believe me!).

However, we do believe there are things you can take (and things you can do) before, during and after drinking that will lessen the overall impact of your hangover.

There are ways to minimize the damage done on your body, reduce the intensity of the symptoms of a hangover and speed the recovery process.

We know because we’ve tried them.

And whether the results are from the placebo effect, or real science, you can feel the difference the next day!

So bottom line is there a 100% absolute “cure” for the hangover?  No.

But are there things you can do and take to lessen its impact?  Yes.

So now let’s go take a look at some of the things that are thought to help with hangovers…

Also, check out these really dumb ideas on how to get rid of a hangover!

What Are All The Different Types of Hangover Cures And How Do They Work?

Ok now we’re going to get into the different things that are touted as hangover “cures”.

Before we get to them, realize that everyone is different and has different chemical and genetic makeups.  You also have to take into account differences in age, sex and weight.

So that means some things will work better for some people, and maybe not at all for others.

You really have to experiment and find out what works best for you!

And remember,  the only sure-fire way not to get a hangover is to not drink (duh).

But since that’s not an option for most of you (it’s estimated that over 50% of all Americans drink some form of alcohol on a regular basis), let’s dive into what works… and what doesn’t!

Keep in mind this list is in no particular order :)

1.  Water/ Sports Drink
This is the tried-and-true, #1 thing most people recommend for hangovers. While it’s true that dehydration is a symptom of hangovers, it’s not the cause.  But alcohol serves as a diuretic, so it does pull fluids out of your body.  To help replace those fluids, it’s a good idea to drink plenty of water– before, during, and after drinking.  And as for sports drinks, the jury is mixed.  Some studies say it’s no more effective than water.  But others think the electrolytes and sugar help replenish the body and metabolize alcohol.  Bottom line, drinking these things will help you feel better, and that’s why we’re all here!

2.  Coffee
This one is a toss-up. Conventional wisdom says this perks people up and makes them feel better (that’s what we believe and experience).  But many experts will tell you coffee narrows your blood vessels and bumps up your blood pressure… two things that could make your hangover worse.  One thing they do agree on, if you’re a regular coffee drinker, skipping it may give you a bit of a caffeine headache in addition to your hangover.  You definitely don’t want that!

3.  More Alcohol
Called “hair of the dog” this strategy involves drinking more alcohol as soon as you wake up the next day.  We probably don’t have to tell you that this one doesn’t work very well.  All it does is delay the inevitable and will eventually make your hangover even worse… much worse.  Stay away from this dumb idea if possible.

4.  Food (Either Greasy or Bland)
This is another remedy where we differ from the so-called experts. For us, eating a high-fat, high-protein meal at any time before, during or after drinking seems to help.  That late night run to taco Bell or In-N-Out and that “eggs and bacon” breakfast the next day always seem to help lessen the impact of a hangover.  And eating a big meal right before drinking seems to help slow the absorption of alcohol.  But hey, maybe that’s just us!  Many experts advise eating very bland food like toast and bananas in the morning once you already have a hangover.  That sounds like good advice, especially if you’re super nauseous and can’t stomach anything “heavier”.  Also check out what may be the ultimate hangover food.

5.  Pain Relievers
Things like aspirin can definitely help ease the pain of a brutal hangover. They’re not something you want to use too often however.  And if you are going to use a pain reliever, make sure it’s an NSAID like aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen.  Acetaminophens like Tylenol can cause liver toxicity.  Many people swear by popping a few Advil right before bed, and then again in the morning.  That’s truly one remedy we believe in!

6.  Vitamins and Herbs
Although there’s not a ton of research yet on how well vitamins and herbs work for hangovers, there’s a lot of attention being paid to them right now by the medical and business community. We’ll talk more about that in #10 below.  But for now, keep in mind that many doctors suggest taking a multi-vitamin the day after drinking to help replace those that are lost during a heavy bout of drinking.

7.  Exercise
This is another one where personal experience and preference come into play. Because you tend to be dehydrated the morning of a hangover, heavy cardio is probably not the best idea.  However, if you’re one of those people who gets an endorphin boost or whatever from exercise, and it makes you feel better, then have at it!  This also explains why some people like having sex the morning of a hangover (when do we NOT like having sex though?).

8.  Sauna
Some people suggest sweating out your hangover in a sauna. This is probably one we’d stay away from as excessive sweating when you’re already dehydrated can be dangerous.  Plus, the extreme heat can cause blood vessel and blood flow issues that can be troublesome.  It seems like a good idea but I’m not sure it has much merit.

9.  Sleep
This one works so well I’d probably call it the #1 thing you can do to help along a hangover. Sleeping is when the body heals and there’s no better time to heal than after a heavy night or partying and drinking.  Although it can be difficult to sleep well when you’re hungover, it really does work wonders!

10.  Hangover Products: Powders, Pills and Drinks
This is one area we’re really going to focus on at this website.  There are a ton of supposed hangover cures available online and at stores.  They all work in different ways but basically boil down to some combination of vitamins, minerals and herb extracts.  And they claim to do things like detoxify your liver, protect your organs, boost your immune system, soothe your stomach lining, and/or help the body block and neutralize alcohol.

I’m sure your next question is, “do any of them work”?

After testing tons of them, the answer is yes and no.  Some of them seem to work pretty well at reducing hangover symptoms and the severity of a hangover.  And some of them do nothing at all.  It really does depend on the individual product!

So if you’re wondering which ones work the best , then check out the next section…

So What Are The Best Hangover Cure Products For 2019?

Best Hangover CuresHere’s what you really came here for!

We’ve put together a comprehensive ranking and review of the best hangover cures currently available.

In addition to all the other things we’ve talked about, we’re going to help you find remedies that can both lessen the severity of your hangover and hopefully minimize any symptoms you’re experiencing.

To do that, we actually go out and buy all the different hangover cures we can get our hands on… pills, drinks, effervescent tablets, and whatever else we can find.

Then we test them on ourselves after a night of moderate to heavy drinking.

We test how they taste, how they smell, how easy they are to use and of course, how well they work.

In addition, we’ll tell you what symptoms they work on, the science behind their claims and any side effects.

Finally, we take a look at the price, the quality of the ingredients and how it’s made.

All of these factors are taken into consideration to give each hangover cure an overall rating.

Then we take all of our hangover cure reviews and data and create the most up-to date, comprehensive ranking of the best hangover cure products on the market today!

We do all the work and get hungover (and spend a bunch of money) so you don’t have to!

So click here to see our list of the best hangover cures.

How Do I Keep Up-To-Date On All Of The Latest Hangover Cures and Strategies?

Believe it or not, the search for a hangover cure is a very exciting and promising subject right now!

As more and more studies are being done, we’re starting to see some real results in what these cures can do for your hangover symptoms.

As these studies teach us more and more about how hangovers work, it’s important to stay on top of the research in order to keep your hangovers at bay.

And that’s exactly what we’re going to do for you right here.

All you need to do is subscribe to our social media profiles…

Simply like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, circle us on Google+, and subscribe to our Pinterest board.

Remember, all of these things are 100% free!

By keeping in touch, we’ll let you know whenever we change our rankings, find a great new product or discover a tip that’ll make that “morning after” a little easier!

Sincerely,

Your friends at HangoverCures.com