What’s common to a weekend, a birthday, a wedding, a bachelor’s and a breakup? (Zero points pints for guessing, folks). Of course, the answer is booze! (AND HANGOVER, OBVIOUSLY). So, you go out, you get drunk and it’s all fun and games until you wake up the next day, with a terrible hangover, feeling sick and cranky. And there are all those folks coming up with advice on what to eat before and after alcohol, suggesting the best hangover food and other godforsaken hangover cures, leaving you all confused. That’s where we step in, this is the last list that you will need to see for – how to prevent a hangover and what foods to eat before alcohol consumption. The best hangover cure is right in your kitchen. So, before you go on that drinking marathon keep these things handy and it will save you the trouble of waking up with a hangover the next day.
NOT eating before drinking is a rookie mistake- don’t do it. Before you line up those shots, remember to eat. It will help in slowing down the absorption of alcohol in your bloodstream and if you eat the right kind of food, you might not have to face that crazy hangover the next day AND we are not talking about that greasy pizza and fries here.
Here are some suggestions for foods which will help you avoid that hangover or at least sober up quickly. The good part is, most of these foods are absolutely healthy, so the next time someone asks how to cure a hangover, send them this link!
Eating almonds before drinking is an old native American hangover antidote, and the modern-day experts agree. It’s the one of the healthiest food and the vitamins in almonds help bind the stomach, not getting you drunk. It protects the body against intoxication, prevents that unpleasant hangover the next day and the best part? No preparation involved. Just put some in your pocket, the next time you’re heading out for the happy hour. Eazy peazy!
Turns out, Popeye was right about that spinach. Downing a green juice before a drinking frenzy is a good idea. Alcohol deprives your body with a lot of nutrients and a green juice will flood your body with minerals, boasting your defenses. Fit as many green leafy things as possible- kale, celery, cucumber, spinach etc. You can also sweeten it up using apple or lemon. These green vegetables and fruits are filled with Vitamin C, sulphur, and folic acid- all of which will decrease the hangover symptoms and you will hopefully survive the next day. And in case you did not take eat before, it is a great drink to help you sober up.
Check out the recipe, here.
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It’s not easily available and not everyone likes it, but it’s one of the best choices of food before drinking. Avocado has natural fat content (don’t worry, its healthy fat), which helps slow down the rate at which food leaves the stomach and the longer the food in the stomach, the slower alcohol gets absorbed into the bloodstream (that’s some science, right?). Just put it on a toast and you have the perfect pre-gaming food. Get Avocado Slicer
Proteins/ Grilled chicken
Eating a protein-rich meal is your best bet and helps controlling blood alcohol levels. So, you’ll have fewer crashes and spikes while drinking. Any kind of protein will build a layer in your stomach and will do the trick. It will also keep you full for a longer duration and help you avoid those fattening bar munchies. Skip that chicken burger, and opt for a well cooked/grilled chicken breast with your favorite sauce or just turn into a salad with some veggies.
Get the recipe here.
Interesting option, right? Drinking robs our body of Vitamin B and that’s where hummus steps in! It’s made of chickpeas, which is full of natural vitamin B and it’s delicious too (win-win, guys). Ditch the chips, and eat it with raw veggies like carrots and cucumber or just put it on a multi-grain toast. The amino acids in the hummus are considered helpful in preventing hangovers (that’s a double win-win!).
It’s widely available on the market now but you can easily make it home using this recipe.
Eggs are not only easy to make and great for hangovers, they are also a good choice before that crazy night out so don’t wait until the next day to eat them. Apart from being high in protein, eggs are also a great source of cysteine; an amino acid that helps breaks the toxins found in alcohol and gives the liver a boast (you’ll need that, won’t you?). It also limits the amount of time of that nasty hangover, so go on, and whip yourself that omelette quickly.
Get an interesting step by step recipe, here.
Milk (Seriously?!)
We know, we know. Why would somebody want to drink milk before that cocktail? But one glass or even half a glass of milk can do wonders. It has high protein and fat content and it lines the stomach, slowing the absorption of booze. So, the next time you’re pre-gaming, have a glass of milk before you sip on that cocktail.
Drinking knocks down essential B12 vitamins, which is important for the brain, needed for a healthy metabolism, liver, short-term memory and cognitive functions (you’ll need all that memory in the morning, won’t you?). Salmon has high levels of B12 vitamins and omega 3, which is why you should have it beforehand.
Make your own herbed salmon, using this recipe.
It’s not just a sad breakfast but a good option to eat before you go out. Yogurt will provide you with all the important things: carbs, fat and protein. It’ll stick to your gut and will stay in your stomach for hours since the body digests it slowly. Hopefully, that’ll save you from some negatives of drinking and let’s just agree its way better than downing that glass of milk (No?). It’s easily available and definitely one of the best hangover cures.
Sweet potato
Another surprise on the list! This veggie is packed with proteins and carbs. The reason we get high when we are drinking is because of the spikes in our blood sugar levels. Sweet potato keeps that sugar level balanced and gives you tons of energy (now you can party all night long 😉)
Get your sweet potato fix in 15 minutes, using this recipe
If you are not too conscious about the calories, this option might be your favourite. When it comes to preparing your stomach for a night of binge drinking, carbs are your best friend. Alcohol changes your body’s stores of glycogen, which is a quick source of energy stored in the liver. Carbs will help refill those glycogen levels. You can add some meat for a dose of protein. If you’re prone to acid reflux, ditch that tomato sauce for the cream-based sauce.
Make your own healthy pasta sauce using this recipe.
If experience has taught us anything, it’s that drinking on an empty stomach is a terrible idea. When you have no food in your stomach, alcohol reacts on the empty stomach, leaving you drunk. Eating is absolutely essential and so is hydrating yourself before, during and after you are done drinking. Also, no matter how much you’re eating and hydrating, drinking will give you that horrible hangover and chances are, you won’t be able to make it for that breakfast date in the morning if you don’t drink in moderation. Not a lot of people know that if you consume some healthy food, you will be able to drink more too (I bet now you’re going to pay attention to this list). So if you love to drink and you still want to be able to get out that bed the next morning for that 9 am office meeting or your mother’s birthday brunch, eat away.
You’ll thank us later!
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