Your Cart is Empty
Take our quiz and find which supplements your body is craving.
As we buckle up for another holiday season packed with festivities, family gatherings, and date nights, that bottle of expensive booze you’ve been saving up for special occasions might get its time to shine. But before you wake up one morning and realize you can’t handle your alcohol the way you did in college, you might want to grab a few useful tips on your way to another friendsgiving or holiday soiree.
We’re not going to discuss the negative effects of alcohol on your well-being—you’re already well aware of that. What we will focus on in this hangover survival cheat sheet are top hangover remedies that are natural, effective, and generally beneficial to your health.
Let’s figure out how you can avoid or minimize those dreaded hangover symptoms that make you want to curl up in bed, cancel all your plans, and wallow until dinnertime.
We promise not to get too technical here, but understanding why we get hangovers is an important strategy in preventing and managing them. Naturally, a hangover follows the day after alcohol consumption and represents a mix of adverse physical and mental symptoms.
Depending on the person, a hangover’s severity may vary, but commonly, it affects cognitive processes, mood, and physical function.[1]
Apart from large doses of alcohol, known causes and contributors to this unpleasant state include[2]:
Let’s talk a bit more about acetaldehyde, ethanol’s (alcohol) evil derivative. When metabolized by the body, acetaldehyde is converted into acetic acid. However, before it leaves our system, it does wreak significant havoc, significantly contributing to the negative effects of hangover.[3]
The body’s ability to metabolize acetaldehyde, and the severity of its effects, largely depend on genetics.[3] The genetic factor, at least in this case, is absolute and unchangeable. Dehydration and hypoglycemia belong to the category of hangover symptoms that can be managed.
Methanol is a highly toxic fermentation product in alcoholic beverages, though its amounts are usually negligible. Unfortunately, even in small amounts, methanol magnifies the consequences of alcohol consumption.
The good news is that the same enzymes metabolizing ethanol are responsible for methanol processing. The bad news, however, is that enzymes prioritize ethanol, and only after they’re done metabolizing them can they focus on methanol. This usually happens the morning after drinking—hence the dreaded consequences we feel upon waking up.[3]
There’s no guarantee that one specific product or even routine will eliminate your hangovers. However, the silver lining is that, with the knowledge we have today about alcohol metabolism, we can even act preemptively. In addition, we can modify our drinking behaviors and employ carefully crafted strategies to mitigate their effects.
Glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant, is unprecedented when managing your hangovers, no matter how excruciating and debilitating they get. Since alcohol promotes oxidative stress, and glutathione is a known free-radical-suppressing agent, it’s no wonder it plays a vital role in hangover management.
When combined with cysteine, glutathione has been shown to promote ethanol metabolism and limit serum alcohol levels, significantly reducing hangover symptoms.[4]
What’s more, this antioxidant powerhouse contributes to detoxifying one of the main culprits for those nasty hangovers—acetaldehyde.[5] Glutathione is the most effective in its liposomal form, as it is easily absorbed and highly bioavailable.
Read more about Liposomal Glutathione’s role in mitigating hangovers.
Since hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is one of the consequences of alcohol consumption and, therefore, causes of hangover, magnesium plays a key role in alleviating its negative effects. Magnesium is crucial in blood sugar regulation, in addition to helping navigate the inflammatory response of the body.[6]
What’s more, heavy drinking can lead to magnesium depletion, which comes with a series of repercussions, hangover included. Therefore, it's necessary to promote magnesium levels with a high-quality magnesium complex the following day to minimize adverse effects.[7]
Magnesium is also known to promote quality sleep, relaxation, and stress relief[8], which is particularly beneficial if you’re experiencing a bad case of hangxiety!
Since dehydration is one of the root causes of hangovers, it is a common belief that hydrating with plain water can do wonders after a rough night. Unfortunately, many studies show that increased water intake before and after alcohol consumption does not affect the severity of your hangovers.[9] What may make a difference, though, is an electrolyte-packed drink, supplement, or even an IV.
Due to increased urination during excessive alcohol consumption, electrolyte levels are at some of the lowest the next morning. Keep in mind, however, that electrolytes may be a dehydration remedy for some people, while they don’t target adhering to uncomfortable symptoms such as anxiety, digestive discomfort, and brain fog.
Omega-3 fatty acids have significant inflammation-managing properties, which may aid in decreasing the impact of drinking alcohol.[10] Alcohol has been shown to trigger a drastic inflammatory response, mainly by disrupting the gut microbiome, promoting oxidative stress, and suppressing the activity of immune cells.[11]
Including an omega-3 supplement in your regimen can also reduce anxiety symptoms, which are often pronounced after a night of heavy drinking.[12] Furthermore, these powerful fatty acids play a key role in cognitive health, promoting blood flow to the brain and optimizing memory and focus while aiding in the prevention of neuronal cell death.[13]
While Tylenol might be your go-to choice for pounding headaches, you don’t want to take it after drinking alcohol. Tylenol (acetaminophen), in combination with alcohol, is considered toxic to your liver and could cause serious damage. Instead, opt for NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen to treat hangover migraines.
While you may not appreciate this answer, the quickest way to recover from a hangover depends on many factors, including the severity of your symptoms.
It is important to:
It is never a good idea to drink on an empty stomach, as it will not only worsen your hangover symptoms but also likely cause significant nausea and digestive discomfort. Another firm “no-no” is sticking to dark-colored alcoholic beverages as your drinks of choice, especially if they have a high sugar content. Mixing nicotine with alcohol is also very frowned upon, as it can make the next day even more miserable.
Explore more all-natural supplement options to optimize your stack and supercharge your wellness this holiday season.
Find holiday-inspired beverage options with a healthy twist:
Collagen-Infused Mulled Wine! Yes...It's For Real.
Haunted Apple Cider Cocktail with Liposomal Vitamin C
Collagen Infused Cocktails - Yes, We Did.
Diabetes-Friendly Mocktails & Cocktails
Strawberry-Lime White Wine Slushy With Liposomal Glutathione
