Is Water a Natural Hangover Cure?

After a night out on the town, you might wake up with a headache, nausea, and dizziness—and you’re not alone. If you’ve had one too many drinks, it’s more than likely that you’re suffering from a classic hangover. But luckily, you don’t have to deal with it for long. There are a few natural hangover cures you can use to help improve your symptoms, so you’ll be feeling better as soon as possible.

What Causes a Hangover?

After a night of drinking, you may start to experience hangover symptoms as your body’s blood alcohol level returns to zero. As your body processes alcohol, it releases a toxin called ethanol that starts to flood your system. As the ethanol breaks down, it turns into acetaldehyde—an even more toxic chemical—which is usually the cause of traditional hangover symptoms like nausea, dizziness, or a rapid pulse.

Certain types of alcohol, like red wine or whiskey, are often high in congeners which can also add to your hangover symptoms. These chemical byproducts are typically metabolized at a slower rate than ethanol, which can lead to more severe hangovers. Drinks darker in color tend to be higher in congeners, while clear drinks, like vodka or gin, are lower in congeners which helps minimize these intense hangover symptoms the next day. 

Can Water Actually Cure a Hangover?

The only true cure for a hangover is not drinking in the first place. But if you want to enjoy a few alcoholic beverages now and then, water serves as a natural hangover cure that can help you speed up your recovery and serve as a natural hangover cure by minimizing intense hangover symptoms that can ruin your day. 

Upping your water intake can help your hangover in a few important ways.

Minimizes Headaches

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it causes your body to lose fluids through urination. As you continue to consume drinks throughout the night, your body becomes more and more dehydrated. Hangover symptoms, like headaches, are often a result of this severe dehydration. Drinking water the next morning will help replenish your body’s fluids and can help improve your headache symptoms. Try drinking a glass of water between every alcoholic beverage to help avoid a headache in the first place.

Helps Fight Fatigue

Hangovers are often associated with lethargy. Your body is filled with toxins that can make you feel sluggish—especially if you spent a late night out on the town! Luckily, drinking plenty of water can help you fight signs of fatigue and start to feel more like your usual self. Adding electrolyte powder to your water can also help by giving you a boost of any electrolytes your body may be missing.

Prevents Nausea

Water is also proven to help fight nausea. Though you may not want to put anything in your stomach when you’re feeling hungover, taking small sips of water can minimize any queasiness by helping keep you hydrated. You can also try infusing your water with ginger and lemon to help neutralize the stomach acid and prevent inflammation. 

How Can I Stay Hydrated Before and After Drinking?

Properly hydrating before and during a night out can help reduce the effects of a hangover. Swapping in a water between beverages can help ensure you stay hydrated, as drinking just 3.5 alcoholic drinks can result in up to a quart of water loss over several hours.

When you’re not feeling your best, it’s important to have an easy way to stay hydrated throughout the day. HidrateSpark water bottles are a convenient option that will help you rehydrate and beat your hangover symptoms as fast as possible. With the HidrateSpark App, you can input different types of beverages to determine hydration levels as you sip.

These smart hydration companions glow throughout the day to remind you when it’s time to take a drink. The matching app also keeps track of your progress, so you know exactly how much water you’ve consumed. You can choose from a traditional stainless steel chug bottle or instead opt for a tumbler with a straw. The best part? There’s even a 32-ounce style, so you don’t need to fill it up as often. 

Find your favorite HidrateSpark water bottle today to help fight your next hangover.

Sources

Orlando Health - Congeners: How These Chemicals Contribute to How You Feel After Drinking

Eating Well - Do Electrolyte Drinks Actually Help Prevent a Hangover?

Yahoo - 3 kinds of drinks that actually dehydrate you — and why