How to Get Rid of a Hangover Fast

Hangovers are the worst, but they happen. We all get a little carried away from time to time, and a fantastic night can sometimes lead to a miserable morning. Your hangover is an unfortunate reminder that alcohol is a toxin and if we don’t pace ourselves (or eat a good meal first) our body and brain will need a minute to bounce back.

Hangovers can be minor, showing symptoms like a small headache or nausea, or they can be gripping. You might have trouble keeping food down, have a pounding headache, fatigue, brain fog, physical weakness, or even anxiety.

Hangovers are partly due to inflammation and oxidative stress from consuming more alcohol than your body is able to process. Most seasoned imbibers know what they need to eat or do to get through a hangover, but if you’re looking for ways to cure your hangover ASAP, here are a few things to try.

How To Get Rid Of A Hangover Fast

#1: Drink plenty of water.

Drinking water is foundational to any healing process that your body undertakes, hangovers included. New research suggests that alcohol isn’t as dehydrating as we once thought, and while drinking water won’t cure your hangover, it’s an essential piece of every wellness plan.

Drinking water helps your body process oxygen and nutrients and speeds along the process of waste elimination. So be sure to drink plenty of water every day, hungover or not. But if you’re nauseous, sometimes water doesn’t sit right. In this case, try cold water or even better—sparkling water.

#2: Curb nausea with carbonated beverages.

But try to avoid loading up on sugar in the process. A little sugar from fruit can help alleviate a hangover, but sugary, caffeinated drinks won’t do you any good. Have soda water to stay hydrated or to really tackle nausea, drink ginger ale or ginger beer. Ginger is proven to be effective at settling an upset stomach and aiding in digestion.

#3: The bartender’s cure: Angostura bitters.

The tried-and-true elixer of bartenders everywhere is soda water with a few dashes of Angostura bitters, a staple of every bar. But you can get it at the grocery store and keep it in your cabinet for desperate mornings like this.

Why do bitters work on settling the stomach? Because they’re macerated botanicals. Bitters were once used as medicinal cures for all kinds of ailments. Today, they still prove effective at calming your stomach down and acting as a digestif.

While the bitters do their work, the soda water will hydrate you. For extra credit, a squeeze of lemon or lime will add Vitamin C, a necessary vitamin for getting your sanity back.

#4: Or have a virgin Bloody Mary.

Bloody Marys are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that you need to get your body and brain working again. Bloody Marys are made with tomato juice, lemon juice, and if you’re at the right place, fish sauce. These ingredients are excellent sources of electrolytes that will replenish your body. Keep the garnishes; pickles and olives are also rich in sodium. That means even more electrolytes for you.

Just pass on the vodka, trust us. Hair of the dog isn’t a thing.

#5: Eat the right foods.

Mustering up the courage to get some food down? You might find that you’ve suddenly become picky about what you will and won’t touch. The important thing is to get food down, so if the thought of a smoothie is making you run for the bathroom, stick with something that feels calming and neutral.

But if you feel up for the task, there are certain foods that will help cure your hangover. You might feel like a brand new person after eating a meal with these ingredients.

• Make sure to include berries, bananas, and yogurt. For even better results, add leafy greens, nuts, or nut butter. This will replenish your body with vitamins and protein that will act together to process the leftover toxins in your body.
• Eggs are packed with vitamins like vitamin D, B1, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and zinc. If you can only stomach something greasy, egg on toast will do you wonders.
• Bananas or other potassium-rich foods. Bananas are packed with potassium, a nutrient that becomes depleted when you drink too much alcohol, leading to a hangover. Reverse these effects by loading up on bananas or other foods like avocado, dried fruits, squash, beans, or potatoes.
• Toast, oats, bagels, crackers, quinoa, or sweet potatoes—whichever one sounds the most appealing, go for it. Carbs help to raise your blood sugar which is lowered when you drink. This leads to fatigue, brain fog, and physical exhaustion. To get an added benefit, add a protein like an egg, salmon, or nut butter.
• Asparagus has caused quite a buzz in the hangover conversation. New research shows that asparagus is loaded with amino acids that not only support liver function but lessen hangover symptoms. An omelet with asparagus and a slice of toast might just be what the doctor ordered.

#6: Get your electrolytes.

Whatever you do, get your electrolytes. Drinking alcohol drains your sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium levels. These nutrients keep your body balanced, and you can replenish them by drinking sports drinks, Pedialyte, bone broth, chicken soup, or miso soup.

But as we’ve mentioned, you can also get electrolytes through food. Drink plain water and eat dark leafy greens, beans, potatoes, berries, fish, or bananas.

#7: Get your vitamin C.

Proteins, carbs, and electrolytes all replenish your body. To get rid of your hangover fast, add vitamin C into the mix and watch the magic happen. Vitamin C helps maintain an antioxidant called glutathione. Glutathione helps your body process alcohol, and after a night of drinking, it tends to be depleted. Add some vitamin C to your body to give yourself the boost you need to make it through your day.

Have a glass of orange juice, a banana and berry smoothie, or simply add a lemon wedge to your water to get more vitamin C. Eggs, yogurt, chicken, salmon, and oatmeal are all proteins that can be amplified by a vitamin C boost.

#8: Try some light exercise.

The last thing you want to do is move, but some light movement will help pump oxygen to your brain and the rest of your body. If “hangxiety” is a problem for you, a light walk or gentle yoga will also do wonders by elevating your mood and clearing brain fog.

Be sure to drink water and electrolytes if you exercise.

Pro-tips: How To Prevent A Hangover Next Time

The art of not getting a hangover takes a little time to perfect. If you’re new to drinking, you’ll learn quickly from your mistakes if you never want to feel the humbling effects of a hangover again. If you’ve ever muttered “never again” to yourself, take these necessary steps the next time you plan to go out drinking.

Hangover prevention starts hours before you take your first sip, so if you really want to support your body, get a head start. Here are some pro tips for missing the hangover completely next time.

#1: Drink plenty of water and electrolytes the day before.

Make sure you’ve had plenty of water all day leading up to your night out and give yourself an electrolyte boost. One very easy way to do this is by drinking cucumber-lemon water. The lemon has vitamin C and the cucumber has vitamin B, vitamin K, and potassium that you need to stay replenished throughout your night.

#2: Eat a good meal before you go, and snack throughout your night.

Your night will be made or broken by your eating habits before you start drinking. If you don’t already know this, you’ll learn. The best way to avoid a hangover is to eat a balanced meal before you start. Be intentional about getting the right nutrients into your body, and it’ll be smooth sailing.

Some foods to eat before you take your first sip are asparagus, cauliflower, beef, eggs, avocado, bananas, seafood, pickles, and olives. But another secret pro tip that you’ll want to keep in mind is snacking throughout your night out. This will keep prevent your stomach lining from becoming irritated, and support your liver as it processes the alcohol.

Some excellent snack ideas are oysters, pigs in a blanket, cheese and charcuterie, guacamole, fries, nachos, or dried fruits.

#3: Pace yourself.

There’s no hacking this one: pace your drinking. Opt for lighter drinks with lower alcohol levels so you can make it through the night. Take breaks between drinks to have a snack or drink soda water or a mocktail.

#4: Drink quality alcohol products.

One way to make your hangover even worse is to spend the night consuming sugary drinks or wine with additives in it. At the end of the day, alcohol is a toxin, and by spending a little more on a quality product, you’re investing in your long-term health.

If you drink liquor, skip the sugary mixers and the bottom-shelf brands. If you’re drinking wine, opt for organic wine made by sustainable producers. Natural wine is made with minimal intervention, and that means that you’ll be missing the additives and sugars that can make your hangover worse.

Want to try natural wine? Shop our selection of organic, vegan wine made with minimal sulphites.