Our liver took a good beating but we present you a guide to hangover cures
It’s 10am on a Sunday morning and you’re waking up feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck – yes, we all know this familiar feeling. As much as we like to revel in the weekend, we’re not fans of the tyrannic hangover – headache, nausea and dehydration. In the name of groundbreaking journalism, we sussed out hangover cures and put it to the test. Whether you’re a shut-in drinker or a party animal, these hangover cures will have you feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Hey, you might even make it for Sunday brunch.
First things first – Coconut water is a true miracle
We choose to believe it’s nature’s isotonic drink. Packed with vitamins, minerals, fibre and most importantly, electrolytes, your body will be rehydrated from the inside out – fresh like a daisy in no time. We suggest a 500ml bottle before and after sleep.
Hydralyte Effervescent Electrolyte Tablets
One of the reasons why you get a hangover is because of dehydration. A little science lesson: Alcohol is a diuretic, causing you to lose water – ever wondered why there’s always a snake-like queue for the toilets at bars at 1am? This nifty little effervescent tablet helps to restore your body with electrolytes. Just pop two in a glass of ice water before bed and you’re good to go!
Hydralyte Effervescent Electrolyte Tablets, available on iherb
Hanjan Jelly
Korea has blessed us with many things: KBBQ, bingsu, kimchi, soju…and now we can add hanjan jelly to the list. When we heard about this miracle jelly, we had to try it. It contains curcumin, an active compound derived from turmeric that helps with the metabolism of alcohol; milk thistle extract; a herbal remedy that is believed to support liver health and collagen which means glowing skin the night after. Trust us – if you happen to be a hooch hound, you’ll be wagging your tails with a zest for life the next day when you slurp on this before and after your debauchery. Not to mention the individual packaging is super convenient.
Hanjan Jelly, available on Instagram
1B4
This Singapore-based hangover drink brand is loaded with the good stuff – Vitamin C and B to boost the immune system and reduce fatigue and curcumin, an active compound found in turmeric (which we all know is a super ingredient with great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties). We took a chance and went out on a work night for our recent Honeycombers Breakup Party – yes, we take our reviews very seriously around here. After a night of countless cocktails paired with insufficient sleep, we were pleasantly surprised at how well this worked on us. Even though we did feel tired due to the lack of sleep, the hangover symptoms were MIA. We also have to talk about the sleek packaging that comes in the form of a nifty bottle. We popped a bottle before and after our escapade.
1B4, available online
Golden advice from bartenders
It is only apt that we get some hangover cure tips from the pros since they deal with tipples and drunk people (hopefully more funny than rude) every day.
We spoke to the duo of Lulu’s Lounge, Tertius Wharton and Julyan Phillips. “In the words of Archer: If I stop drinking now the accumulated hangovers will kill me. I always feel fine when I go to bed and awful when I wake up, my advice? Avoid sleep!”, said Teritus. “Vietnamese pho, and obscene amounts of chilli to sweat out the toxins then start all over again!”, said Julyan.
For Jorge Conde of Smoke and Mirrors, it’s fermented tomato. “I use natural fermentation where I add sugar, slice the tomatoes, put it in a vacuum bag and leave it to sit for a few days, then strain through a cheesecloth to clarify, and it’s delicious, with rich flavours. I usually have it on hand because I make big batches and keep extra to experiment with.”
The brainchild behind The Elephant Room, Yugnes Susela recommends good old exercise. “Ah, the age-old question. Every bartender will give you a different answer, but if you ask me, I’d say a run, followed by a cold shower and as much water as you can stomach. You’d be surprised how quickly you turn that hangover around.”
