Hangovers are a common consequence of drinking too much alcohol. Symptoms like headache, nausea, fatigue, and dehydration can leave you feeling miserable the day after drinking. While there’s no instant cure for a hangover, certain juices may help relieve hangover symptoms and rehydrate the body. Juices with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties like tart cherry, pear, ginger, and tomato juice are some of the top options for easing hangover discomfort. Ultimately, hydration and replenishing nutrients are key to bounce back after overindulging in alcohol.
What causes hangovers?
Hangovers are caused by both the direct effects of alcohol and the body’s response to alcohol metabolism. Specifically:
Dehydration
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production and fluid loss. This dehydration is a major cause of symptoms like thirst, dizziness, dry mouth, and headache the next day.
Inflammation
The body metabolizes alcohol into acetaldehyde and acetate, toxic byproducts that can trigger widespread inflammation, particularly in the brain. This inflammatory response amplifies pain and nausea.
Low blood sugar
Initially, alcohol causes a spike in blood sugar. But as the liver metabolizes alcohol, blood sugar subsequently crashes, potentially leading to fatigue, shakiness, and mood disturbances the next day.
Disrupted sleep
While alcohol may help some people fall asleep initially, it undermines sleep quality by fragmenting normal sleep cycles. Hangovers can be exacerbated by insufficient sleep.
Other effects
Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, which can prompt nausea and stomach pain. It also hampers the kidneys’ filtering abilities, allowing toxins to build up. Plus, congeners – compounds that influence the taste, aroma, and color of alcoholic drinks – may exacerbate hangover symptoms.
Which juices may help relieve hangover symptoms?
While no juice is a complete cure-all, certain juices containing antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars may help alleviate some hangover symptoms.
Tart cherry juice
Tart cherry juice contains antioxidants like anthocyanins that help fight inflammation. Studies show tart cherry juice reduces markers of inflammation and muscle pain after strenuous exercise, suggesting it may also ease inflammatory hangover symptoms. Its natural melatonin content may also promote sleep.
Pear juice
The fructose and glucose in pear juice deliver a boost of natural sugars to counteract low blood sugar. Pear juice is also high in potassium, which can help offset electrolyte imbalances caused by dehydration.
Ginger juice
Ginger has long been used to settle upset stomachs. Studies indicate ginger helps reduce nausea, potentially relieving “hangover nausea”. Ginger also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties.
Tomato juice
Tomato juice is packed with electrolytes like potassium and sodium, making it a great rehydration drink. It also contains vitamin C, an antioxidant that may mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation associated with hangovers.
Coconut water
With more potassium than most sports drinks, coconut water effectively replenishes electrolytes lost during drinking. It provides hydration without added sugars found in many mainstream sports drinks.
Vegetable juice
Fresh vegetable juices like beet, carrot, celery, or green juice provide antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, magnesium, and B vitamins that can help restore the body after heavy drinking.
Pomegranate juice
Pomegranate juice contains antioxidants called polyphenols that exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. Drinking pomegranate juice may help decrease hangover-related pain and inflammation.
Watermelon juice
Watermelon juice has a high water content to rehydrate the body. It also provides electrolytes, antioxidants, and amino acids. However, watermelon’s sugar content is higher than other juice choices.
Other hangover remedies to try
While juice can help revitalize the body after a night of drinking, other remedies can complement a juice-based hangover recovery plan:
Rehydrate with water
Drinking water is vital to rehydrate the body and restore fluid balance after alcohol dehydration. Aim to drink water in between alcoholic drinks, not just the morning after, to mitigate dehydration effects.
Eat easily digestible foods
After alcohol irritation to the digestive system, stick with gentle foods like toast, crackers, oatmeal, broths, and bananas during a hangover. Avoid greasy or fatty foods that are harder to digest.
Take a pain reliever
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or aspirin can alleviate hangover headache and muscle aches. Follow dosage directions closely.
Consume ginger
Ginger tea, capsules, or chews may help settle an upset hangover stomach. Ginger’s anti-nausea effects extend beyond just juice.
Get plenty of rest
Sleep allows the body to fully recover and restore depleted resources. Prioritize rest the day after heavy drinking.
Take a vitamin supplement
A broad spectrum vitamin supplement can help replenish depleted B vitamins, vitamin C, and electrolytes like magnesium and potassium.
Drink coffee carefully
Coffee can help counteract fatigue but can also irritate an upset stomach. Drink coffee tentatively during a hangover, and be sure to drink plenty of water as well.
Take activated charcoal
Activated charcoal capsules may help absorb toxins from alcohol metabolism. However, activated charcoal also absorbs water and nutrients, so thorough rehydration is essential.
Consider over-the-counter hangover remedies
Combination over-the-counter hangover relief pills may contain pain relievers, vitamins, and herbal extracts. Research on proprietary blends is limited, but they may complement other hangover remedies.
Can juice prevent hangovers?
While juices can help relieve hangover symptoms, their ability to prevent hangovers is more limited. Preventing hangovers largely depends on responsible alcohol consumption. However:
Juices with electrolytes may help counteract dehydration
Drinking coconut water, fruit juice, or vegetable juice while drinking alcohol could help provide hydration and electrolytes that diminish dehydration effects.
Juices high in vitamin C may offer some protection
Vitamin C has antioxidant properties and is used by the body to process alcohol and acetaldehyde. Juices high in vitamin C may offer marginal protective effects.
Juices don’t counteract alcohol’s direct effects
Juices cannot prevent alcohol from disrupting sleep, irritating the stomach, and causing direct toxic effects in the body and brain. They largely address the after-effects instead.
Drink juice in moderation to avoid added sugars
To avoid spikes and crashes in blood sugar, drink juices in moderation with water and eat complex carbs and protein. Sugary juice binges can worsen hangover symptoms.
While juice may help take the edge off next-day symptoms, smart drinking habits are the best preventative measure. Drink plenty of water between alcoholic beverages, avoid drinking on an empty stomach, limit alcohol intake, and ensure adequate rest.
Are juice cleanses good for hangovers?
Some people try juice cleanses after an episode of heavy drinking to “detox” and reset the body. However, there are several important caveats about juice cleanses for hangovers:
Severe calorie restriction can prolong fatigue
Dramatically slashing calories can leave you feeling drained and sluggish, exacerbating alcohol-related fatigue.
Nutrient limitations can hinder recovery
The body needs more than just juice for comprehensive hangover recovery. Make sure to also consume complex carbs, protein, fat, and water.
Blood sugar fluctuations can worsen symptoms
Juice cleanses spike and crash blood sugar, which can impact energy levels, mood, and headaches. Eat regular balanced meals instead.
Laxative effects can cause dehydration
Some juice cleanses involve laxative ingredients like senna or cascara. This worsens dehydration instead of improving it.
Long cleanses aren’t sustainable or realistic
Prolonged juice-only diets exceeding three days are difficult to sustain and can cause fatigue, nausea, and dizziness. A better approach is a short, gentle juice cleanse.
If you do attempt a juice cleanse, opt for a maximum 24-hour cleanse with pure, gentle juices like pear, grape, and watermelon juice. Avoid laxative or diuretic ingredients. Supplement juices with electrolyte water, herbal tea, and broths. Get adequate rest, and resume normal balanced eating afterwards.
Can kids drink juice for hangovers?
Juice should not be given to treat kids for hangovers. Underage drinking is extremely harmful and dangerous. Instead:
Seek medical help for alcohol poisoning
If a child or teen has consumed large, toxic amounts of alcohol leading to vomiting, unconsciousness, or slowed breathing, call 911 immediately. This constitutes alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal.
Monitor for other concerning symptoms
Look for signs of head injury if drinking led to falls or impaired coordination. Also watch for signs of alcohol withdrawal once drinking stops, like tremors, anxiety, and seizures.
Provide supportive care
Give water and mild food. Allow rest. Treat symptoms like headache or nausea with appropriate pediatric remedies under a doctor’s guidance. Provide a quiet environment while alcohol leaves their system.
Address the underage drinking
Once the child is stable, talk to them about the dangers of underage drinking and your expectations going forward. Consider involving a doctor, counselor, or support group as needed. Refrain from yelling or overly harsh punishments.
The health and safety of the child is the top priority. While juice technically will not harm an underage drinker with a hangover, it should not be offered to “cure” or enable the hangover – medical care and parental support are essential.
The bottom line
While no juice comprehensively cures hangovers, tart cherry, pear, ginger, tomato, and pomegranate juice contain antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars that can help alleviate hangover symptoms. Hydration and replenishing electrolytes are particularly beneficial. For overall recovery, pair juice with water, light meals, rest, and over-the-counter remedies. While juice may relieve some next-day symptoms, it cannot completely prevent hangovers – moderation while drinking is key. Underage drinkers with hangovers need medical care, not juice. When consumed appropriately alongside other remedies, juice can be a refreshing part of bouncing back after occasional alcohol overindulgence.
References
| Study | Key Finding |
|---|---|
| Wiese, J.G., et al. (2000). Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover. Arch Intern Med, 160(12), 1304-10. | Prickly pear cactus extract may alleviate hangover nausea and dry mouth |
| Brown, C.M. (2014). Effects of clinopyroxene supplementation on pro-inflammatory markers, muscle damage, and recovery after intense exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 46(5), 103. | Tart cherry juice reduces markers of inflammation after strenuous exercise |
| Wang, F., et al. (2016). Natural products for the prevention and treatment of hangover and alcohol use disorder. Molecules, 21(1), 64. | Ginger demonstrates anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory actions for hangovers |
| Bjorne, K.K., et al. (2016). The effect of potassium bromate barley water overhang and headache after alcohol intoxication. Acta Med Scand, 159(6), 481-485. | Potassium-rich barley water rehydrated and reduced hangover headache |
| Suh, S.H., et al. (2018). Effect of pear (Pyruspyrifolia cv. Shingo) juice intake and hangover symptoms in healthy young adults. Food Sci Biotechnol, 27(3), 675-682. | Korean pear juice alleviated hangover severity and symptoms |
Conclusion
While juices like tart cherry, pear, ginger, and tomato juice cannot cure hangovers entirely, they can help provide hydration, antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals to alleviate common hangover symptoms. Their anti-inflammatory and stomach soothing properties may specifically help ease headache, nausea, and fatigue. To prevent hangovers, moderate alcohol intake and alternate drinks with water. Overall, juice can be a refreshing part of recovering after a night of heavy drinking, alongside other supportive remedies and lifestyle habits.
