Battling a head throb and a grumbling stomach after a night of celebration? You’re not alone. Millions of people experience the dreaded hangover, that unpleasant cocktail of dehydration, fatigue, and nausea. While there’s no magic bullet to instantly erase your regrets (or the taste of that last tequila shot), there are certain foods that can help your body recover and get you back on your feet faster. This article explores the best hangover foods, from rehydrating heroes to gut-soothing saviors, to help you conquer that post-party slump. And sorry, friends, having a “hair of the dog” to relieve a hangover did not make the cut.
In fact, scientists have recently determined that there is no “real cure” for a bad hangover, and those products claiming to resolve a heavy night of drinking don’t actually work. Sorry to break the news. However, a research team in Germany recently discovered that a certain combination of plant extracts, minerals, and vitamins effectively relieves hangover symptoms. Now, that’s not to say you should run out and binge drink because there’s a magic elixir for the next day. But, there are a few snacks that people swear by to relieve some hangover symptoms. StudyFinds did the research, consulting 10 well-known websites to find the best foods for hangovers as recommended across the internet. As always, feel free to share your personal favorites in the comments section below!
The List: Best Foods for Hangovers, Ranked
1. Eggs
Topping the list of the best foods for hangovers are eggs. The breakfast staple has long been a favorite among health enthusiasts and foodies alike as one of the best foods for hangovers. Eggs claim the top spot across more than half of the lists we looked at during our search for the best foods for hangovers, and for good reason. Not only do they taste great, but eggs are packed with essential vitamins and nutrients that aid your body in recovering from too much alcohol the night before.
What nutrients exactly? Apparently, alcohol depletes your body’s glutathione, a substance that helps break down toxins. According to Good to Know, eggs are rich in cysteine, an amino acid used by the body to product glutathione. Cysteine is also found in other high-protein foods, too. That’s good news for anyone who doesn’t care for eggs. Still though, this traditional breakfast item is good for hangovers, regardless of how you cook them.
So you threw a little too much confetti at the party last night, and now your head feels like a disco ball and your stomach is doing the Macarena. Don’t despair! Newsweek touts their impressive nutritional profile, packed with vitamin D, B1, and a whole squad of essential minerals. This translates to more than just a tasty breakfast – eggs can help you feel fuller for longer, curbing those inevitable hanger cravings that can send you down a greasy-spoon rabbit hole.
So next time you’re facing hangover hell, scramble up a plate of eggs and thank your lucky stars (or the chickens) for this breakfast champion.
2. Bananas
Another excellent vitamin that works to combat the effects of drinking the next day is potassium, which brings us to our next item on the list of best foods for hangovers – bananas. Bananas and other fruits that are high in potassium help your body recover from the impacts of too much alcohol the night before.
That throbbing headache and queasy stomach after a night of fun? Yeah, dehydration and lost electrolytes are likely the culprits. Alcohol puts the brakes on a hormone that helps your body retain water, leading to that parched feeling and the loss of key minerals like potassium and sodium (Healthline).
Here’s where the humble banana swoops in like a hangover-slaying superhero. Healthline highlights its superstar potassium content – one medium banana packs a whopping 9% of your daily recommended value! This potassium helps replenish what alcohol depletes, getting you back on the road to rehydration.
But bananas don’t stop at being a potassium powerhouse. Medical News Today explains that they’re also loaded with fiber and natural sugars. The fiber helps your digestive system get back on track, soothing any tummy troubles. And the natural sugars provide a much-needed energy boost to help you tackle the day, even if it feels like your world is spinning a little too fast.
We know greasy takeout might be calling your name, but trust us, your body won’t thank you later. Restaurant Clicks urges you to ditch the bacon and sausage, and opt for a banana instead. Your stomach (and your head) will seriously appreciate the switch. So next time you wake up with a hangover, skip the greasy spoon and grab a banana – it might just be your new best friend in the fight against hangover woes.
3. Avocados
The next food item to frequently make the lists of the best foods for hangovers is avocados. We get it, you might not think of avocados as being a top food choice when you’re hungover, but avocados contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that help your body recover from a late night at the bar with friends.
Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of eating avocados for a hangover is their versatility. You can blend them up to make guacamole or spread a little mashed avocado on some whole grain toast for a delicious snack.
Hangovers are no joke, and that dehydrated, achy feeling can leave you wishing you’d called it a night after the first drink. But fear not, weary partier! Restaurant Clicks reveals that avocados, nature’s creamy green gift, might be your hangover hero. Just like bananas, they’re loaded with potassium, a mineral that helps combat dehydration and those pesky muscle aches that come with overdoing it.
But avocados don’t stop there. They’re like a bodyguard for your liver, that brave organ that took one for the team the night before. Restaurant Clicks emphasizes the importance of giving your liver some TLC after a night of heavy drinking, and avocados are here to help. Women’s Health adds some scientific muscle to this claim, revealing that researchers in Japan discovered five compounds in avocados that actually protect against liver damage – like a built-in shield against hangover woes! So next time you’re facing a hangover, ditch the greasy breakfast and toast an avocado instead – your body (and your liver) will thank you for it!
4. Salmon
We know, you might not immediately think about a nice piece of fish after a long night of partying, but salmon contains everything your body needs to fight off the effects of last night’s overindulgence.
That achy, inflamed feeling after a night of merriment? It’s your body’s not-so-subtle way of telling you it’s under siege by inflammation. Luckily, Healthline reveals that salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, nature’s firefighter that helps reduce inflammation throughout your body. Since alcohol can actually increase those inflammatory compounds, a plate of salmon might be the perfect way to soothe your suffering and get you back on track.
But salmon’s benefits go beyond just squelching inflammation. Women’s Health adds how this protein powerhouse is also brimming with B vitamins, essential nutrients that often get depleted when your body processes alcohol. B vitamins are like tiny superheroes, and since your body can’t store them, replenishing them is key.
But, when you’re hungover, you don’t just want something good for you, you want something that tastes good to eat. Well, the good news is salmon is an incredibly diverse protein that’s also light on a heavy stomach.
Now, we know what you’re thinking: “Salmon for breakfast? Isn’t that a bit fancy?” Ever heard of a bagel with salmon lox on it? Yum! For later in the day, Eat First suggests treating yourself to some sushi with fresh salmon and a side of miso soup. The salty soy sauce will help with your dehydration, and the miso soup is a gut-friendly digestive aid – like a triple threat against your hangover woes!
5. Chicken Noodle Soup
You didn’t read that wrong, chicken noodle soup is great for hangovers. Chicken noodle soup is perhaps the most “traditional” comfort food to eat when you’re feeling sick with a cold or flu. So, it stands to reason this classic soup is also a top choice across lists of best foods for hangovers.
So you woke up feeling like yesterday’s news, and greasy fast food is the only thing your stomach can stomach (pun intended). Here’s a revelation: that craving might be a cry for help, not a greasy indulgence. Delish says ditch the takeout menu and opt for a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup instead. It’s the ultimate comfort food upgrade, packing protein from the chicken, electrolytes from the broth, and easily digestible carbs to help your body recover.
But chicken noodle soup goes beyond just being delicious. Eat First says the high sodium content in the broth acts like a magnet, drawing water back into your dehydrated cells. Plus, it’s loaded with electrolytes, those minerals lost when you overindulge. And let’s not forget the good carbs, veggies, and protein – a nutritional all-star that covers all the bases to get you back on your feet.
Sure, you might convince your coworkers you’re coming down with a cold with this steaming mug of goodness, but that’s a small price to pay for feeling human again. Healthline backs up the power of this classic soup, highlighting research that shows its effectiveness in sodium-powered rehydration. One cup packs a whopping 32% of your daily recommended value for sodium – that’s like a built-in IV drip in a delicious broth!
Sources:
- Men’s Journal
- Healthline
- Delish
- Eat First
- Newsweek
- Good to Know
- Restaurant Clicks
- Refinery 29
- Women’s Health
- Medical News Today
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.