8 Best Foods to Eat and Drink When You're Wildly Hungover
It happened again. That all too familiar feeling of waking up prematurely around 6am-ish. Your head? Pounding. Your stomach? Nauseous. Your mouth? Parched as the Sahara Desert in its driest season.
Nothing and I mean nothing feels like it’ll revive you. Not even a text from Kevin in Sigma Apple Pie saying he wants to be exclusive.
You throw on your oversized Hangover Hoodie and somehow muster the energy to stumble to your kitchen pantry and you look in, eyes glazed over, at what food or drink will cure you from this purgatory.
Don’t worry girlfriend, we've got you.
Below we’ve listed the 8 best hangover foods/drinks from registered dietitian, nutrition, and fitness consultant Dana Angelo White that’ll get you back in peak condition — just in time for that 2pm darty.
1.) Coffee
There's just one caveat to this — If you’re nauseous, drinking coffee could make you feel worse. But if you’re just drained, coffee with some food can perk you up and make you a little more functional.
2.) Smoothies
Smoothies are so easy to make (just cover your ears during the whole insanely loud blending part), and they can be really filling. They help with dehydration, and adding in berries—like strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries) as well as flax seeds and chia seeds, which are high in antioxidants, can make a great alternative to an unhealthy meal. Make sure to get a pic for your snap-story in your vintage HH to let people know you're okay.
3.) Eggs
Not only are eggs easy to make, but they’re a good source of protein. You’re gonna need that protein to process all the alcohol in your system. Just stick with eggs and maybe some toast and steer clear of any greasy toppings like sausage or bacon.
4.) Chicken Noodle Soup
A good ol' bowl of chicken noodle might just do the trick! You might only be gravitating to salty, fast foods because you want comfort food. Chicken noodle is perfect because you’re going to get the protein from the chicken, electrolytes from the broth, and easy-to-digest carbs.
5.) Salmon
Salmon is high in antioxidants, which can combat the inflammation that comes from drinking. "If you're hungover and you've done a lot of drinking, you're likely inflamed," White said. "In some cases, you're dehydrated, you're puffy. You can actually see it visually." This'll help with that. Salmon is also high in Omega 3, making it a good food choice.
6.) Carbs
Carb-heavy foods like bread, crackers, sandwiches, and pasta are typically easy to digest, which is what your body needs at this point. The myth that eating tacos, pizza, and burgers will help "soak up" the alcohol is just wrong. "Greasy food doesn’t soak up anything, it's not soluble in water," White says. However, bread and things of that nature have high sodium content, so you're eating something digestible and you're also getting the electrolytes your body needs.
7.) Water-Rich Foods
Wondering why drinking the night before can make you so thirsty in the morning? It’s because you're dehydrated and your body is craving liquids. White suggests having watermelon because of its high-water content as well as its amino acids. "Your liver is obviously affected when you consume alcohol, and when you take in some type of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, then that might help because the liver has been too busy dealing with all that alcohol," she says. Other fruits and veggies that can help include strawberries, cucumbers, cantaloupe, and zucchini.
8.) Bananas
If you're feeling weak or just plain out of whack, it might be because you need some potassium. Bananas are a great source of it. They're also easy to digest, so your stomach won't feel upset. On another note, coconut water is a great option and is high in potassium (and will give you some fluids) as well as orange juice and avocados.
