Parties can be fun and full of moments worth endearing, but the aftermath of staying up late and consuming too much alcohol can be hard to bear.
Yes, I am talking about hangovers — drinkers’ version of the “morning after”.
Translated in simple terms, hangover is the effect of drinking on the physical body, normally experienced after the cessation of drinking. This includes headaches, the feeling of nausea and stomach upset, among other side effects.
Physicians will tell you the best cures include resting to let your system recover from exhaustion, consuming water to rehydrate your body, and eating good food to replenish the essential vitamins you lost overnight.
But many party revellers will claim they know the best cures after a night of binging on Fiji Gold, Rum and Cola or spirits.
Since we are in merry-making month, some of these home remedies might be of good use soon.
Below are popular alternative cures for hangovers that Samu and Rama in your corner of the street might already know.
Noodles with lemon and chillies
This may work because drinking causes dehydration and something with lots of fluid can help replace lost salts and water. Vitamin C in lemon can also help revitalise the body while chillies can boost metabolism. If there is no lemon available, use vinegar or pick me up sauce. “I like chicken flavoured noodles with a bit of lemon and chillies to treat my hangover. It stabilises my stomach and fixes my appetite,” said Sereana Roqica of Tailevu.
TIP: Clears nasal congestion
Chillies not only alleviate pain but also relieve congestion. Its fiery heat stimulates secretions that aid in clearing mucus from stuffy nose. Capsaicin in chillies has antibacterial properties that combat against chronic sinus infection. The bright red colour of chili peppers indicates its high pro-vitamin A or beta-carotene content. Vitamin A is vital in keeping a healthy respiratory tract, intestinal tract, and urinary tract. Vitamin A is also known as the anti-infection vitamin and serves as the first line of defence against infections.
Chicken and egg soup
Chicken is almost everyone’s favourite meat whether consumed as luncheon, pizza topping or spicy curry. But with a few vegetable cuts thrown in with it, chicken soup becomes one of the best things on the menu to deal with hangovers. Alternatively, you can have eggs instead of chicken. To preserve nutrients, ensure vegetables are not overcooked. “I like a bowl of soup to deal with my hangover. I guess it helps replace water lost through sweating and urinating. It just feels good on my stomach,” said Agnes Logasasa, of Tivi Road, Kinoya.
TIP: Lowers obesity risk
Some studies suggest that soup consumption is linked with lower obesity risk. Research interventions studying how people lose weight have found that eating soup can help control body weight. A recent study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that soup eaters tend to weigh less and have smaller waists than those who don’t eat soup. Researchers found that soup consumers also had better overall eating habits that included more protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, and fewer calories and fat.
Coca Cola
The benefit of this fizzy beverage is often overlooked. Some use it to clean tiles, some during grog drinking sessions while others even use it to marinate meat during barbecue parties. Some people use coke to help sooth a troubled stomach. “Having a glass of coke or any fizzy drink helps me burp and when I do, it gets rid of bloating and that gassy feeling in the stomach caused by drinking beer,” said Jane Volau of Kinoya Rd, Nasinu.
TIP: Ease digestion
Scientists and doctors have found that one of the best treatments for gastric phytobezoar, a condition where a person has difficulty with food moving through their digestive tract and suffers stomach blockages, is a glass of Coca-Cola. The high acidity in the fizzy drink acts like gastric acid and can ease severe abdominal pain, break down the blockages and get things moving
again. As the caffeine enters your blood stream, it can spark increased concentration and mental focus, so if your attention levels are dipping, a mouthful or two of Coke could get you back up to speed.
Fresh fruit juice
Drinking fresh juice loaded with vitamins is one of the best hangover “pick-me-ups”. This is readily accessible at this time of the year, when fruits are plentiful in the market, especially mangoes, pineapples and watermelon. If you have a blender at home, make use of the variety of fruits in season and create pulpy juices that are not only tasty but nutritional as well. “When I have a hangover I make sure I drink a lot of fresh kumquat juice. I use very little sugar and like it a bit sour,” said Joey Petersen of Taveuni.
TIP: Good for health
Fruit juices contain a range of minerals, vitamins and bioactive compounds, such as phytochemicals, that are important for good health. Guidelines for a healthy, balanced diet typically recommend plenty of fruits and vegetables are required to supply our vitamin and mineral needs. Consumption of fruit juices in moderate amounts (around 150-200ml per day) and as part
of a balanced diet can help you achieve recommended potassium intake levels and support the maintenance of normal blood pressure.
Ice block
Dehydration caused by drinking can leave the mouth and throat dry. Over smoking can cause a slight sore throat. Sucking on an ice block can moisten the mouth and bring a soothing cool feeling. “Each time I wake up with a hangover I go straight to the neighbourhood shop and buy myself home-made ice blocks and sun pop. I find that it helps cool me down and gives me relief
from an upset stomach,” said Vee Jay of Stage 4, Cunningham.
TIP: Cooling and soothing
Ice blocks can contribute to cooling of the body and supply the body with needed fluid. People who suffer from nausea might benefit from chewing flavoured ice. MedlinePlus, a service of the US National Library of Medicine, recommends flavoured ice cubes to cancer patients who experience nausea and vomiting. For example, frozen ice cubes made of low sugar apple or grape juice provide healthy nutrients and might help soothe an upset stomach. Other suggestions include sipping liquids slowly
or through a straw, and avoiding hot foods.
