Hungover? Grab some water and go back to bed.

Since the weekend is finally here I felt like some advice on a special subject was appropriate, such as this particular scenario:

You’re out with the squad. You’re having some drinks. You’re having a good time, have more drinks. Everyone starts ranting and raving, so you have a couple more….and then Tiffany wants to do shots for her birthday……next thing you know you wake up on your bathroom floor with nothing but a headache and a MASSIVE HANGOVER.

What is it? What can I do about it? Good question, thanks for asking.

What exactly is a hangover? No one actually knows for sure, but it has to do with multiple factors including dehydration and toxicity from the breakdown of alcohol.

Alcohol causes dehydration, both because it acts as a diuretic, increasing urine output, and because people who are drinking heavily most likely aren’t drinking much water.

A build up of a toxin called acetaldehyde can also contribute to hangovers. Acetaldehyde is a byproduct of alcohol breakdown, and is estimated to be between 10 and 30 times as toxic as alcohol itself. In controlled studies, it’s been found to cause symptoms such as sweating, skin flushing, nausea and vomiting.

Other factors such as the amount/type of liquor drank, and the quality/ duration of sleep can also play a role in your feelings of absolute liquor decimation.

What can I do feel better?

1. Rest
2. Drink WATER
3. Rest s’more

Since the causes of hangovers are dehydration, toxicity and sleep deprivation, the only thing that will help is rest and replacing your fluids (aka water).

Okay so water is good, but Gatorade/Pedialyte must be better!

       (“See the Lyte”, Pedialyte ®)

Pedialyte’s new marketing campaign to adults, promotes that its “the secret to rehydration” so you can have a “brighter day”. The marketing campaign has been a success with 1 in 3 Pedialytes being drank by adults. Is it the secret, we’ve been looking for?

Studies have shown that there is actually no change in the level of electrolytes in the blood after a night of heavy drinking.

Pedialyte and Gatorade have been heralded as “cures” due to their sport and medical connotations and the fact that they contain fluids with added electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and magnesium. However, they also contain between 6 – 38g of carbohydrates (aka sugar) per serving…..Studies have shown that there is actually no change in the level of electrolytes in the blood after a night of heavy drinking. Sweetened rehydration beverages make people feel better simply due to the fact that they rehydrate the body the same as water. Therefore, these heavily marketed beverages are NO BETTER than water for rehydrating the body after a night of drinking.

So next time you need something to bring you back from the brink of tequila fuelled collapse, choose water and catch a few extra Zzzzs.

– J