5 Best Hangover Cures

We’ve closed the blinds, laid out your coziest blanket on the couch and are here with our top 5 hangover cures to help you recover from last night. Whether you enjoyed a virtual happy hour for your alma mater or hosted an intimate wine tasting with your SO, the next day can be rough if you’re fending off hangover symptoms like nausea, headache or just a general hit-by-a-bus feeling.

While there are no full-blown cures for hangovers (fun/terrible fact: experts still don’t really know what causes them), taking care of your body properly after a fun night can help you recover faster. We’ve got you covered so you can feel better ASAP and go back to enjoying your memories. Get comfy while we use our quietest inside voice to share our best hangover remedies.

1. Food

“Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food,” said ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, probably the morning after enjoying several deep cups of Mediterranean wine. 

Eating a healthy combination of carbs and protein can help you recover from a hangover more quickly. Drinking alcohol can cause blood sugar to drop, making you feel tired and weak. While the myth is that we sometimes crave fat and grease while hungover, it’s actually your body’s need for carbs and protein that makes eggs and bacon sound extra tasty the next morning. We also think a hangover is a great excuse to treat yourself to a delicious brunch if you’re feeling up to it.

If the thought of food is still making you queasy and you prefer to avoid medications, you can also try a few tummy-friendly foods. Some chronic acid reflux sufferers swear by ginger chews or apples to neutralize stomach acids and reduce inflammation. We like to eat the apples with peanut butter and a mild cheese for an easy-on-the-stomach shot of protein.  

2. Drinks

If you woke up with a headache and are feeling thirsty, you might be a little dehydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic—a classy way of saying it makes you pee a lot—because it reduces the amount of the hormone vasopressin your body produces, and vasopressin helps your body hold on to water. To replenish your stores, it’s time to go to the source of all life and drink a big glass or bottle of water.

You may also need to restore your electrolytes, the minerals that regulate your pH levels and muscles. Pedialyte and sports drinks can help you rehydrate and balance your electrolytes. Chicken noodle soup is also chock full of nourishing electrolytes.

3. Medications

The right medication for you (if any—remember to talk to your doctor first) will depend on your hangover symptoms and your body’s unique needs. Alcohol can irritate your stomach and prompt it to ramp up your acid production. If you’re feeling nauseous or have heartburn, your best bet may be an antacid like Pepto Bismol or Tums.

For a splitting headache, try Advil, Motrin or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that will calm down the inflammation from alcohol. Just make sure you follow the instructions and take the right dose so the medication doesn’t irritate your stomach more. You’ll also want to steer clear of acetaminophen, which can tax an already hard-working liver.

If the hangover lasts more than 24 hours or gets worse, please consult a medical professional. Take care of yourself!

4. Exercise

This tip isn’t for everyone, but here we go: After you’ve successfully eaten a good breakfast and rehydrated, you may be ready for a relaxed workout. Exercise tells your body to release endorphins that boost your mood and can help reduce pain—both offer welcomed relief when you’re hungover. 

Be careful not to overdo it, though. “Sweating out” alcohol is a myth. Instead, try a few minutes of gentle yoga or a walk around the block. Taking it easy will also keep you safe if you’re still a little clumsy or foggy from the night before.

5. Sleep

Sometimes you just need to ride out your hangover with self-administered TLC. Alcohol can disrupt your sleep and exhaustion can worsen other hangover symptoms, including headaches and irritability. When in doubt, take a hot shower, put on a soothing face mask, snuggle up under that cozy blanket we talked about and take a nap. You’ll feel better tomorrow. We promise.