GUD BLOG: SINGLE POST
Three tasty hangover remedies
New Years Eve is upon us and by now you’ve likely cemented your plans to get shit-faced drunk somewhere with your friends. But do you have a strategy for dealing with the costs after a long night of heavy drinking?*
The obvious approach is to proactively reduce the effect of overconsumption of alcohol by drinking a glass of water between libations and eating plenty of food to soak up some of that booze. Nevertheless, there is a point when we can be overcome by the evening’s mirth and, somewhere deep in the drunken subliminal, decide to damn the consequences and live in the moment. One should always be prepared for such an occasion.
Were it summer I would suggest, after waking and brushing the hair off of your teeth, that you eat a half of a watermelon while watching a cheesy 80s movie. I have no evidence, other than high water content for rehydration, that watermelon is particularly suited for killing a hangover. It is, however, my personal favorite in-season remedy and has been successful more than once.
Some claim that a couple of Coney dogs with a side of chili fries will get you back on track but this can be a dangerous proposition depending on your level of pain. Use this method only in the case of mild hangovers.
Kombucha tea has everything you need to fight morning-after sickness: B vitamins to increase metabolism, caffeine to restore alertness, and even a wee bit of “Hair of the dog” to re-establish balance. A sparkling kombucha with ginger will also help to settle the stomach. The issue here may be price. Unless you brew your own, drinking four pints of kombucha could cost as much as $16, though this setback might not matter to the truly afflicted.
My most recent discovery in the quest to alleviate binge-drinking symptoms hails from the tropics. Coconut water, the clear, refreshing liquid inside of young, green coconuts, has the faint taste of almonds and ocean breeze. One cup contains more electrolytes than most sports drinks and more potassium than a banana. In fact, it is sometimes used as an intravenous hydration fluid in developing countries where medical saline is unavailable. It is also purported to soothe nauseated tummies. It’s practically a miracle.
A lightly sweetened version with jelly-like bits of pulp is available in many of the local Asian and Mexican groceries. I have purchased it at Kim Nhung Superfoods in Madison Heights as well as Mexicantown Bakery in Southwest Detroit. A 16 ounce can usually sells for about $1. Naturally, I wonder how it could be used in a cocktail.
You’ll often hear that the only cure for a hangover is time. While presumably true, we’ll never stop looking.
*Disclaimer: I am not a scientist, merely a drinker with little self-control.
2010.12.28 Todd Abrams at 12:13 pm
This entry was posted in GUD Blog. Bookmark the permalink.
4 Responses to Three tasty hangover remedies
I’m stocking up on coconut water this week at Honey Bee and of course there is always gallons of kombucha at our house. I say we do a little coconut cocktail mixing Saturday around brunchtime.
Honeybee might be where I first discovered coconut water years ago. I was attracted to a brand packaged in a clear glass bottle. When you shook it, the bits of pulp made it look like a snow globe — delicious and entertaining.
Pingback: Tweets that mention New blog post: 3 tasty hangover remedies - -- Topsy.com
I spent New Years in LA and my sister bought those coconuts the next morning. I thought it was a rather delicious way to begin the New Year. I’m not sure I’d trust the canned versions for the same healing properties… I wish I could post a picture of Missy with her morning coconut.