I’ve got two presents for you this year… one is in the form of priceless wisdom from your partygoing Aunt LVP. The other is a giveaway, and Santa knows we can use all the free loot we can get this time of year.
Since I wrote all about booze yesterday, I figure it’s only responsible to share my knowledge about how to cure a wicked hangover. ‘Tis the season of spiked cider and mulled cider (or sangria, as it was), and while it’s all fun and games the night of (enjoyed in moderation and far away from the driver’s seat, of course), waking up feeling like you’ve been hit with a sledgehammer is no fun. 
Unfortunately, hangovers only get worse with age… I only started to feel them a couple years ago, and as an undergrad could bounce back from a night out like it was nothing. So, assuming it’s too late to un-drink your nth beer, here’s how to do a little damage control, inspired by The Hangover Diaries.*
1. HYDRATE. Ideally, alternating alcoholic beverages with glasses of water is a good way to a) pace yourself, and b) fill your bloodstream with something other than booze. Unfortunately, bars rarely hand out glasses of water with each stout, so if you forget to ask for it, you could go a few hours before realizing you haven’t had anything but beer. If you’re of sound mind when you go to bed, make sure to down at least two glasses. This will also make sure you have to get up to use the bathroom during the night, which is another opportunity to drink more water. Coconut water really helps, too, because it contains both electroyltes and potassium.
2. Take a pill. Preferably, before you go to bed, take a couple ibuprofen to help reduce the intensity of the headache you’ll most definitely wake up with. If you forget, take them as soon as you wake up- even if it’s for that 5 AM pee- with a big glass of water. I keep a bottle of softgels around because they work faster.
3. Eat a good breakfast. You may feel awful and want to do nothing more but drink Diet Coke and beat yourself up the pizza and cake you and your friends were sure was a good idea at 2 AM the night before. Don’t do this. Have a nourishing meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats to help you bounce back and get something healthy in your stomach. I find savory breakfasts to be far more appetizing; skip the yogurt and sweet yogurt. (I remember a particularly unfortunate incident in which I was in my 8 AM Pre-Calculus class over the summer, feeling extremely ill, and only had a cookie dough Larabar in my purse… it was nearly disastrous.) If you really can’t bring yourself to eat much, grab a banana, which will restore your potassium supply and help get you energized.
My favorite is eggs + toast. If you’ve been out with a bunch of friends the night before, it’s sometimes fun to meet up with them for brunch to laugh about the night. Being social will make you feel better, and so will those endless cups of coffee.
A friend also recently gifted me The Hungover Cookbook , which is divided into six stages of hangovers, from “The Broken Compass” to “The Gremlin Boogie.” It has recipes for Huevos Rancheros, Ice Cream Smoothies, Shakshuka, and a whole slew of things that sound delicious with or without a pounding headache.
4. Get some fresh air. Whether you take your dog for a walk or just walk to the corner store for a cup of coffee, it’s good to get out. You’ll get a little Vitamin D (a natural mood lifter, especially in the dark and cold months), you’ll move your body, and you’ll see plenty of “normal,” non-hungover people walking around and doing normal, non-hungover things. Although it may not feel like it right now, you, too, will feel normal again.
5. Exercise. I know it sounds like the exact opposite thing to do, but getting your heart rate up and working up a little sweat really does wonders. I’m not saying you should go run six miles or bench press your sister, but I always feel better after half an hour on the bike or the elliptical. Just make sure you bring that water bottle.
6. Sleep it off. Sometimes you really do just need to go back to sleep. Be honest with yourself about whether or not it’s really worth missing a day of work/ bailing on plans with your bestie/ missing lunch with your aunt. And remember this the next time you want to get freaky on the dance floor on a Tuesday.
*Of course, I am not a medical professional and these are merely tips for what has worked for me in the past.
Do you have any tips for curing a hangover?
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Now, onto the giveaway!
Chobani sent over three 32-oz containers of three of their Greek yogurt flavors: plain 0%, plain 2%, and vanilla 0% to help with your holiday- and post- holiday cooking. You can find all sorts of recipes on their website for ways to cook with yogurt, as well as tips for how to get your dishes just right. The yogurts are packed in new, eco-friendly containers with recipes printed right on the package!
To win your own 3-yogurt box (US residents only, please), leave a comment below. I’ll pick a winner on Monday, December 26th (let’s stretch out the holidays, shall we?).
Extra entries will be awarded if you Tweet a link to this contest and/ or like Lilveggiepatch on Facebook, and leave an additional comment to let me know you’ve done so.
Merry Christmas Eve!
These are great pieces of advice! I always think that hydrating is the most helpful, especially if you have the forethought to alternate beer/wine/your alcoholic beverage of choice with water the night before. But, then again, maybe that would be more prevention than treatment, haha. Thanks for the giveaway, I love Chobani and your blog!
Ha! These are the best. You are right, they DO get worse with age. Eating sleeping and hydrating are super important, and you are totally right about eggs. The protein and fat are super helpful. I have found that fresh air can really help too, like you said. Also, I’ve become good at finding out which beverages hit me the hardest. Certain dark beers and dark liquor are disastrous for me if I’m drinking more than one beverage in a night. When I know I’ll be going out later that night, I try my best to hydrate like crazy all day long, and then go for my “sure bets” that seem to treat me relatively kindly.
The best thing about hangovers is finally feeling normal again! LOL.
I loved “don’t bench press your sister” – my brother is turning 11 soon and he’s already almost as tall as me. I feel like by the time he’s a teenager he will be trying to bench press me! I doubt I’ll need these tips on Christmas Eve/Christmas but I’m sure they’ll come in PLENTY handy on New Years Day!
looks so delicous thanks
I agree that eggs and toast with a side of coconut water make an amazing hangover meal. There is just something about this mix of textures and flavors that just settles the stomach and makes me feel human again!
As a college student, I have definitely had my fair share of nights out, but usually bounce back with no problem the follwoing morning. But I agree, I always try to get some excercise the next day, eat a nutritious meal as well as drink plenty of water to help restore balance. great tips!!
My sister and I were having a conversation this morning about whether or not exercise helps with a hangover. It seems to work for me, but she feels the opposite! I think eggs & toast is the perfect fix too—vegetable juice helps me too. Haha last night out I bought my friend and I each a giant green juice. Don’t think we’d have even been able to cook those eggs without it!
Awesome giveaway and advice! Hope I get to see you soon:)
This post is AWESOME! So relevant for this time of year, when drinking is inevitable.
Fresh air is my hangover cure of choice. Exercise never works for me (it just makes me nauseous and my heart tends to beat irregularly when I drink too much the night before – it freaks me out). Getting outside and taking a long walk in the sunshine and brisk air ALWAYS makes me feel better, too.
Also – an everything bagel with scrambled eggs and ketchup works wonders. I’m right there with you on the savory b-fasts
love the tips! guess we’ve all been drinking more these days… yeahhhh. ha. it’s worth it
Chobani is the best!!
Awesome giveaway and awesome post!! Totally agree with #1, you just can’t go wrong with water! I always find bartenders to be really nice when you ask for water! The important thing is to ask!
I gotta look this up, but I read somewhere that it’s baaaad to mix alcohol with drugs, so be sure to leave a several hour time lag between ur last drink and when you take acetaminophen!
Best cure for a hangover? Wouldn’t know… no matter what I try, I always end up with one after just a couple drinks!!
Happy Christmas friend!
best way to cure a hangover is definitely working out – you feel like a new person! (I’m sure greek yogurt would;t hurt either..good combo of protein and carbs
I LOVE Chobani! Would love to win this!
Will share your tips with my friends – I’m usually the DD so don’t need them
Rehydration salts also work wonders! I’ve only been able to find them on sale regularly in the UK though. Hurrah for Chobani
Okay YUM! I love chobani (mainly started buying it in bulk from Sams because I saw it on your blog so often!) And i would LOVE to try some of these flavors! In my house, you can never, i repeat never, have enough greek yogurt layin’ around!
Sounds great! I would love to win!
I may or may not have to re-read this post soon..
Yum! I love Chobani, and have only seen the tubs of plain yogurt before. What a treat!
Have a wonderful Christmas, Katie.
i hate hangovers but i love choboni!! I really hope I win— I go through this stuff like crazy!
I always do 1,3, and 4. I try to do 5 and 6, but I’m always afraid I’m going to vomit :/
Great giveaway! I haven’t had Chobani in a while.
I always hydrate, but if I get a hangover at all, it turns into one of my migraines. :/ Thanks for the tips, though! I’ll definitely try eggs and toast next time.
Hope you’re enjoying the holidays!
I’m 25 and never been hungover…or really drunk! Once I downed one and a half Grateful Deads at a really skimey bar and tipped my second mostly full drink accidentally. As a normally shy individual, I didn’t even blush as a waitress scrambled to get paper towels! I think I’m pretty lightweight and I can feel even small sips in my body the next morning.
I think my co-worker would appreciate this gift (if I win)
Happy Holidays!
I LOVE Chobani! Delicious yogurt, generous company
I liked your Facebook page!
Happy Holidays! Thank you for the giveaway!
I always try to chug water when I get home but sometimes easier said than done…
I love chobani! Great yogurt; I love it atop vitatops.
Thanks for the hangover advice! I love chobani and eat it everyday! Happy Holidays!
Green chile. I think, I’ve avoided it for a while, but I’d say green chile and coffee ’til your guts are in the diner stall. Then rally. Maybe listen to early 70s Rolling Stones. And imaginary crotch-punch Mick Jagger.