All about …HANGOVER

WHAT CAUSES A HANGOVER?

• The ethanol contained in alcoholic beverages has a dehydrating effect which causes headaches, dry mouth and tiredness. This effect can be lessened by drinking plenty of water before and throughout your night of drinking.

• Your liver breaks ethanol down with the aid of enzymes produced by liver cells. These chemical reactions do many things including impairing the liver’s ability to supply glucose to tissues, in particular to the brain.
• Glucose is responsible for the brain’s energy and the lack thereof results in fatigue, weakness, moodiness and decreased attention.

• Cheap spirits have fewer of impurities removed and are more likely to cause a hangover.

HOW TO CURE A HANGOVER?

• Sleep. Rest is your best friend at this point to give your body a recover.
• Replenish your body with fruit juice and water.
• Drink orange juice for Vitamin C.
• Eat mineral rich food like pickles or canned fish.
• In Poland, drinking pickle juice is a common remedy.
• Drink a Bloody Mary. While your blood is dealing with the new alcohol it is ignoring the old and in the mean time tomato juice and celery are full of vitamins. If you drank the last of the vodka make a Virgin Mary. Another spicy morning after drink option is Hair of the Dog, in which gin and hot sauce are sure to bite your hangover back.
• Take a shower, switching between cold and hot water.

NOT TO DO
Avoid caffeine. A weak cup of coffee may be okay but a lot of caffeine will continue to dehydrate you, the opposite of what you want right now.

The side effects of aspirin, Tylenol and ibuprofen can be magnified when alcohol is in your system, so it is best (even though it may be the first thing you reach for) to avoid them to kill the hangover pain. Aspirin is a blood thinner, just like alcohol, and can intensify its effects and Tylenol (or acetaminophen) can cause more damage to your liver. Ibuprofen can also cause stomach bleeding. So be cautious when going for the quick relief.

Bloody Mary Ingredients:

• 3 oz tomato juice
• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1 dash of Worcestershire sauce
• celery salt
• ground pepper
• hot pepper sauce to taste
• celery stalk and/or pickle spear for garnish
• lemon and/or lime wedge for garnish

Hair of the Dog Cocktail Ingredients:

• 6 oz Bulldog Gin
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 2-3 dashes Tabasco sauce
• slice of chili pepper

Virgin Mary Ingredients:

• 3 oz tomato juice
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1 dash of Worcestershire sauce
• celery salt
• ground pepper
• hot pepper or Tabasco sauce
• celery stalk for garnish
• pickle garnish