What is a hangover?
A hangover is the experience of various unpleasant physiological and psychological effects following heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. Common symptoms include headache, nausea, thirst, dizziness, fatigue, depression, irritability, anxiety, sensitivity to light and sound, and trembling. These effects begin when the concentration of alcohol in your blood starts to fall considerably and are at their worst usually the morning after an episode of heavy drinking.
Hangovers are caused due to the toxins and byproducts created as alcohol is broken down by the liver. These byproducts irritate the body and brain causing the unpleasant hangover symptoms. Other contributing factors include dehydration, sleep deprivation, electrolyte imbalance, low blood sugar, and the toxic effects of congeners – toxic compounds found in alcoholic drinks.
What helps with a hangover?
There are a few things you can do to alleviate the symptoms of a hangover:
– Rehydrate – Drink water and electrolyte drinks to restore fluids and minerals lost through excessive urination and sweating when drinking.
– Eat something – Food helps absorb toxins and stabilize blood sugar. Go for complex carbs and protein. Greasy foods may help settle the stomach.
– Take it easy – Rest up to allow your body to heal.
– Painkillers – Over the counter meds like ibuprofen and aspirin can relieve headache and muscle aches.
– Antacids – For nausea and heartburn.
– Vitamins – Replenish depleted vitamins like B complex and vitamin C.
– Hydrating fruits and veggies – Watermelon, berries, tomatoes, spinach help with hydration.
– Ginger – Contains compounds that ease nausea.
– Coffee – Caffeine provides temporary relief from fatigue and headaches.
– Electrolyte supplements – To restore electrolyte balance.
– Time – Hangovers eventually subside on their own as the toxins are cleared from your body.
Are smoothies good for hangovers?
Smoothies can be an excellent way to help you recover from a hangover. Here’s why:
Hydration
Smoothies have high water content which helps replenish fluids lost through frequent urination when drinking alcohol. They restore hydration and ease symptoms like headaches, dry mouth, dizziness and fatigue.
Electrolytes
Ingredients like coconut water, milk, yogurt, fruits and vegetables provide electrolytes like potassium and magnesium that are depleted after drinking. Electrolyte imbalance is one cause of hangover symptoms.
Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, folate and zinc that you miss out on when drinking. They counter the nutrient depletion caused by alcohol. Antioxidants in fruits and veggies also help remove alcohol toxins.
Ginger
Adding ginger is a great way to ease nausea – one of the most common hangover symptoms. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe the stomach.
Protein and Fat
Protein ingredients like Greek yogurt, nut butter and protein powder help stabilize blood sugar levels. Healthy fats from avocados, nuts and seeds help absorb toxins. This provides relief from hangover symptoms caused by blood sugar fluctuations and irritating byproducts of alcohol metabolism.
Fast Absorption
Smoothies provide nutrients in an easy to digest liquid form that are quickly absorbed by the body to replenish depleted resources. The smooth texture also makes them gentle on sensitive hungover stomachs.
Best smoothie ingredients for hangovers
When making a smoothie to cure hangover symptoms, try including a combination of the following ingredients:
Hydrating and electrolyte-rich
– Coconut water
– Water or ice
– Milk – dairy or plant-based
– Fresh fruits like watermelon, oranges, grapes, strawberries
– Cucumber
– Celery
– Yogurt
Anti-nausea
– Ginger – fresh or powdered
– Mint
– Chamomile
– Lemon
Nutrient-rich
– Leafy greens like spinach, kale
– Wheatgrass
– Fresh and frozen fruits
– Vegetables like tomatoes, beets, carrots
– Avocado
– Nut butters
– Nuts and seeds
Energizing
– Coffee
– Matcha powder
– Cacao powder
Soothing and rejuvenating
– Aloe vera
– Turmeric
– Honey
– Protein powder
– Collagen peptides
– Ground flax or chia seeds
Sample hangover smoothie recipes
Here are some delicious smoothie recipes to try for hangover relief:
The Morning After Smoothie
– 1 cup coconut water
– 1/2 banana
– 1 cup spinach
– 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
– 1 cup frozen mango
– 1 tsp ginger powder
– Squeeze of lemon juice
Green Recovery Smoothie
– 1 cup almond milk
– 1 cup kale
– 1 kiwi, peeled
– 1/2 green apple
– 1 cup pineapple
– 2 tbsp avocado
– Small handful mint leaves
Tropical Refresh Smoothie
– 1 cup coconut water
– 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
– 1/2 frozen banana
– 1 tbsp coconut butter
– 1 tsp maca powder
– 1 tsp honey
– 1 tbsp aloe vera juice
Morning Detox Smoothie
– 1 cup almond milk
– 1/2 lemon, juiced
– 1 cup spinach
– 1/4 cucumber
– 1/2 avocado
– 1 tbsp chia seeds
– 1 tbsp collagen peptides
The Hangover Helper
– 1 cup orange juice
– 1 carrot, chopped
– 1/2 banana
– 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
– 1 tbsp almond butter
– 1 tsp turmeric
– 1 tsp honey
– Ice
Are smoothies better than juice for hangovers?
Smoothies are generally a better option than juice when you’re hungover because:
– Smoothies retain all the fiber from fruits and vegetables. Fiber helps sweep toxins out of your system. Juice filters out most of the fiber content.
– The thicker, smoother texture of smoothies is easier on sensitive stomachs compared to thinner juices.
– Smoothies keep you fuller for longer thanks to protein ingredients like yogurt and protein powder. Juice offers quick absorbable nutrients but won’t keep you satiated.
– Smoothies have a more balanced nutritional profile with protein, carbs, fat and fiber. Juice is all fast absorbing carbohydrates and sugars.
– You can customize smoothie ingredients to target specific hangover symptoms like nausea or dehydration. It’s harder to do this with juice.
– Pre-made juices may contain added sugars. Smoothies allow you to control the sugar content. Consuming too much sugar can worsen hangover symptoms.
So in most cases, a veggie and fruit smoothie will provide superior nutritional benefits over juice when recovering from a night of drinking. However, adding a small amount of fresh juice to your smoothie can provide an energy boost.
Do smoothies help you recover faster from a hangover?
Yes, drinking a smoothie can help you recover faster from a hangover for several reasons:
– Smoothies hydrate quickly. They supply fluids along with essential electrolytes lost while drinking which speeds up recovery from dehydration.
– The natural sugars in fruits provide an energy boost to counter fatigue and lethargy.
– Smoothies give your body back nutrients like vitamins, minerals and antioxidants depleted by alcohol which helps restore your system to balance.
– Ingredients like ginger, lemon and mint help calm nausea, one of the most debilitating hangover symptoms.
– Blending breaks down fiber from fruits and veggies into more easily digestible form. This makes nutrients available faster to remedy deficiencies.
– Protein and healthy fats in smoothies also help stabilize blood sugar levels disrupted by alcohol consumption.
– The meal-like texture and balance of carbs and protein keeps you fuller longer than juice and reduces cravings for greasy fast food.
– Smoothies are fast and easy to make compared to cooking a meal. You reap nutritional benefits without exerting too much energy when you’re already feeling run down.
So enjoy a veggie and fruit smoothie the morning after a night out. All the nutrients enter your bloodstream rapidly to replenish the resources your body needs to bounce back quickly and get you back on your feet.
Should you drink smoothies for hangovers regularly?
Drinking smoothies regularly to prevent or treat hangovers is not necessarily recommended. Here’s why:
– While smoothies do help replenish depleted nutrients after drinking, they don’t counteract all the effects of high alcohol consumption. They provide symptomatic relief but should not be seen as a fix for the after effects of excessive drinking on a regular basis.
– If you’re frequently drinking to excess and battling hangovers, it likely indicates an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Smoothies can help occasional hangovers but won’t address the root cause if binge drinking is a recurring issue.
– Relying on smoothies as a hangover treatment can create a psychological dependency. You may feel entitled to overindulge in alcohol knowing you have a smoothie to “cure” you the next morning.
– Regular heavy drinking has many detrimental health effects like liver damage, vitamin deficiencies and high blood pressure which smoothies cannot reverse.
– Smoothies are high in natural sugars. Having them too often to cure hangovers can backfire and cause blood sugar spikes and crashes which exacerbate symptoms like fatigue and irritability.
– The fiber content of some smoothie ingredients like spinach and kale may be harsh on the digestive system when consumed after alcohol-induced gut inflammation.
So in summary, smoothies are a quick nutritional boost to relieve occasional hangovers but should not be a carte blanche to drink irresponsibly. They cannot compensate for long term alcohol abuse. Limit smoothie intake for hangovers to once a week or so and focus on moderating alcohol consumption as well.
Hangover smoothie FAQs
Why do smoothies help with hangovers?
Smoothies help hangovers by:
– Rehydrating
– Replenishing electrolytes
– Providing easily digestible nutrients
– Containing anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea ingredients
– Stabilizing blood sugar
– Restoring vitamin and mineral balance
What time is best to drink a smoothie when hungover?
Drink your hangover smoothie first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. This allows maximum nutrient absorption when your body needs it most. Wait at least an hour after to eat solid food.
Should you add protein powder to a hangover smoothie?
Yes, adding a scoop or two of protein powder can aid hangover recovery. Whey or plant-based protein helps stabilize blood sugar and provides amino acids depleted by alcohol.
How long does a smoothie take to help cure a hangover?
You’ll feel some relief from a hangover smoothie within 30 minutes to an hour as the fluids and nutrients are absorbed. Symptoms should substantially subside within a few hours.
Will smoothies help with hangover anxiety or depression?
Smoothies can’t cure underlying mental health issues. But by replenishing depleted serotonin and dopamine levels, ingredients like banana, spinach, milk and avocado may provide modest relief from alcohol-related anxiety and depression.
Can you add alcohol to a hangover smoothie?
Adding alcohol to a hangover smoothie will diminish any health benefits and likely worsen symptoms. Let your body fully recover before drinking alcohol again.
