Mankind has been searching for the perfect hangover cure more or less since the invention of alcohol, but even after a few thousand years we haven’t quite cracked the code.
From Pliny the Elder, the ancient Roman who suggested eating two owl eggs around 70AD, to modern solutions such as sports drinks, there are many ways to treat yourself the morning after the night before.
Here’s a collection from around the world.
1. Coconut water
Touted as nature’s recovery drink, coconut water was traditionally used for curing hangovers in Bangladesh.
But ever since a Time magazine article in 2010 citing Harvard nutrition expert Lilian Cheung, the drink has been popping up in supermarkets across the Western world.
Coconut water aids the recovering process by introducing electrolytes into the human body, which helps you absorb more water and stay hydrated.
2. Pears
Australian scientists at the CSIRO say prevention, not a cure, is the best way to combat hangovers.
While they advise not getting drunk in the first place, an unlikely food has been proven to ward off hangovers and lower blood alcohol levels.
Forget a big, carb-filled meal to line your stomach, the CSIRO says consuming the CSIRO says consuming 220ml of Korean pear juice (the fruit is used as a traditional hangover remedy) before a night of drinking can "speed up alcohol metabolism" and eliminate or inhibit alchol absorbtion.
So will snacking on some pears the next day help your hangover? Professor Manny Noakes says unfortunuately no, a morning-after pear binge has not been proven effective.
3. Coffee
Italians cure their hangovers with a strong shot of espresso. Source: Tumblr: Your Coffee Guru
They say when in Rome, do as the Romans do, so if you find yourself feeling a bit under the weather after a bellissimo party try out the Italian hangover cure- a strong shot of espresso.
Italian culture can be quite rigid around coffee, for example, many Italians refuse to drink coffee with milk in it after midday, but in almost every part of the country hangovers are tended to with strong, black coffee.
But does it work? Coffee has been shown to increase blood flow, providing some relief from those pounding red-wine headaches.
4. Blood pudding
Also known as black pudding or blood sausage, the blood pudding cure sounds a bit unappetising- it is a sausage-like dish made out of dried pig or cattle blood.
It is a cure that spans cultures, appearing in Korean hangover-recovery broths and of course, as a key ingredient in the traditional British fry-up breakfast.
There is no scientific evidence why the bloody dish might help hangovers, but with so many people around the world swearing by it, it might be worth a shot.
5. Prairie Oyster
This is another cure that is not for the faint of heart; a Prairie Oyster is a drink consisting of a raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt and pepper.
This drink is an American invention and has been seen in a number of films set in the United States, ordered by cowboys and showgirls alike.
It may be a good option for those wanting an egg but lack the energy to chew in their hungover state. Bottoms up!
6. Hair of the dog
Many cultures endorse a ‘drink through the pain’ approach, with an alcoholic beverage drunk the morning after, but the Danes embrace it with unique gusto.
In Denmark you can even purchase a drink called Reparationsbajer, which roughly translated means ‘recovery beer’.
Several scientific studies have shown hair of the dog to be ineffective, and the practice may just delay a hangover.
7. The best cure
Scientists, bartenders, and every day people across the world all agree there is one tried-and-true, guaranteed-to-work cure to hangovers: not drinking too much!
But if you choose to drink this holiday season, make sure to pace yourself, drink plenty of water,and eat properly before hand.
Cheers to drinking responsibily.
Happy New Year. (Warner Bros. Pictures) Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
