From the dog's hair to a fries … science reveals if your hangover REALLY heals the job

When it comes to curing a hangover, we all have our indispensable remedy.

Some swear by coffee, others drink gallons of water while others simply can not cope with the day until they have had a greasy fry.

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Whatever your recipe, you swear it works and you stick to it.

But do you know if it really works? Or is it really the comfort of these remedies that makes you go?

The experts at the University of Bath have put to the test the five most popular hangover remedies, and the answers may surprise you.

"An evening of excessive drinking can lead to inflammation of the stomach and intestines, poor sleep, and the production of toxic substances that cause vomiting, sweating, and increased heart rate," writes Sally Adams. professor of health psychology. The conversation.

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"Research also suggests that a hangover can hinder the ability to focus and remember information.

"What the research did not give us, however, is credible evidence of a" cure for hangover "."

1. True: water

After a night of heavy alcohol consumption, you must replace the liquids that you have lost.

"Dehydration is one of the most commonly reported symptoms of a hangover," Sally said.

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"Alcohol is a diuretic, that is, it makes us urinate more often.Using about four glasses can remove between 600 and 1,000 ml of water from your body.

"High alcohol consumption can also cause sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea, which also cause fluid loss in the body.

"Therefore, dehydration causes symptoms such as thirst, weakness, dry mouth and dizziness.

"Drinking water can relive some of these symptoms, but dehydration usually accompanies an electrolyte imbalance.

"A combination of water and an extra electrolyte can therefore treat some of the symptoms of your hangover – but not all of them."

2. False: coffee

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If you are regularly looking for coffee to cure your hangover, we have bad news.

"One of the reasons we feel so awful after drinking is due to the effects of alcohol on our sleep," Sally explained.

"Alcohol-induced sleep may be of lower quality and lower quality, but the feeling of tiredness you feel can be reversed by the nation's favorite stimulant: caffeine.

"The evidence suggests that people who regularly drink caffeine develop a physical addiction to the drug, which is why some people need their morning dose.

"But for these people, a cup of tea or coffee during the hangover may not be enough to fill the gaps in thought processes and reaction times.

"There is also evidence to suggest that people who do not usually have caffeine do not have the same effects on improving performance and alertness among regular users."

3. True: a greasy fries

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Hooray! It's good to eat bacon.

"Perhaps one of the most traditional remedies for a hangover is a plate of bacon and oily eggs," Sally said.

"But is fries the holy grail of the remedies it promises to be?

"Foods such as bacon, eggs and even broccoli contain an amino acid called cysteine, which scientists say can reduce the amount of acetaldehyde, a toxic chemical that is produced when your body metabolizes it. alcohol.

"Acetaldehyde contributes to the symptoms of hangover such as increased heart rate, nausea and vomiting, but research on the benefits of certain foods as a hangover are very limited .

"Having said that, eating a meal containing protein, fat and carbohydrates before drinking alcohol slows the absorption of alcohol.

4. False: dog's hair

If the remedy you have chosen for a hangover is another drink, this can be a sign of an underlying alcohol problem.

"During a hangover, many people will say" I never drink anymore "- but others swear by the" dog's hair "to relieve their symptoms," said Sally.

"The fact is that drinking during a hangover can be downright dangerous.

"Vital organs such as the liver need time to repair the damage caused by excessive consumption of alcohol.

"Government guidelines recommend that you avoid alcohol for 48 hours after heavy consumption of alcohol.

"In addition, the use of alcohol to" heal "the hangover could be a sign of an alcohol problem.

"The data suggest that living more often with a hangover is associated with an increased likelihood of developing alcohol problems.

"It's unclear whether the hangover itself is what causes the problem of alcohol consumption or excessive consumption of alcohol over and over." Regardless of the hangover, this one it's not recommended. "

5. False: drugs against hangover

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There are more and more drugs that claim to cure a hangover, but there is very little evidence to suggest that they work.

"Recently, it seems that more and more pharmaceuticals are being marketed to drinkers who claim to relieve the symptoms of a hangover," Sally said.

"These products often claim to work by increasing the rate at which the body gets rid of acetaldehyde, a toxic chemical.

"These remedies also claim to reduce inflammation and remedy the chemical changes in our brain caused by alcohol, which can impact our thought processes.

"It should not be surprising that there is currently no evidence that conventional or complementary drugs can cure a hangover.

"It's unclear if it's because these treatments are not working or because their effectiveness has not been fully tested."

"So while these folk remedies may relieve the symptoms of a hangover, there is no evidence-based treatment or treatment," added Sally.

"The hangover is a complex combination of physical and psychological symptoms caused by many different processes in the body and brain.

"In addition, few hangover treatments treat impairments in concentration, memory and reaction times, or the moderate mood and increased anxiety frequently reported by patients.

"The only sure way to avoid the next morning is to drink alcohol in moderation – or not to drink it at all."

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