How To Get Rid of A Hangover Fast: 6 Great Remedies to Consider

(Last Updated On: July 25, 2021)

It happens to the best of us. Hangovers can hit hard and can ruin our day. If you’re someone who likes to go out with friends, party or even spend a few nights of your trip enjoying local nightlife then you’ve probably at some point and faced the nauseating repercussions the next day. Hangovers aren’t pleasant both for the mind and for the body and dealing with them quickly and swiftly means you can get back to living your best life. If you’ve drunk a little too much and you’re wondering how to get rid of a hangover fast keep reading!

Hangovers can be difficult to deal with. In hotter climates, they can be even worse due to the body’s state of dehydration prior to drinking. Many times it really depends on what you drank, or precisely how many different types of alcohol you drank rather than how much you drank.

A hangover is your bodies way of telling you-you are dehydrated. Alcohol acts as a ‘diuretic’ which explains why when you drink you’re going to the toilet a lot more than usual. In the morning when the hangover sets in your body is already too dehydrated to metabolise the byproducts/toxins of the alcohol, therefore, making you feel like poo.

If you’re wondering how to get rid of a hangover fast the best thing to do at this point is to get as much fluid into your body as possible This way it can start to metabolise those alcohol toxins as soon as possible.

Here’s my list of what to do, eat and drink to help your body battle that hangover and get you up on your feet again.

PARTY DOS & DON’TS

It’s better to start thinking about how you can prevent a hangover in the first place rather than curing one. When drinking make sure to remember some of these classic dos and don’ts that can really affect the way you feel the next morning.

Alternate: By alternating alcoholic drinks with water, you’re allowing your body time to recover and time to hydrate between drinks. This also means that you end up drinking twice as much without realising that half your drinks have been water. This is a definite way to make sure that you’re more hydrated the next morning. I’m pretty sure that this technique has spared me from many hangovers in the past.

Choose one type of drink: When you alternate spirit and drink types you’re putting yourself in serious danger of a hangover. It’s best to choose one type of spirit or drink and stick with that. If you’ve started with wine don’t then have a beer and later some vodka.

Try to also avoid dark spirits and they have more toxins in them than lighter spirits and avoid sugary drinks that make hangovers worse.

Don’t drink on an empty stomach: Make sure you have a good meal before you start drinking. The ideal meal should be a balanced one full of complex carbohydrates, protein and essential fats. A balanced meal will help to slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. This is why you normally get much drunker, faster when drinking on an empty stomach.

HOW TO GET RID OF A HANGOVER FAST

DRINK WATER

The best thing you can do to tackle a hangover is to drink as much water as humanly possible. When drinking the night before, try to alternate alcoholic drinks with water. This can seriously make a difference in how you feel in the morning.

Need some more ways to rehydrate? Check out 5 Top Drinks For Dehydration

Also, try to go to sleep at night with a bottle of water by your bed so that if you wake up during the night dying of thirst you’re covered. Then, when you wake up in the morning you don’t have to go searching for water with a pounding headache. I have woken up many times, hungover, having to go searching for bottled water in a hostel and its no fun, believe me. Always be prepared.

When hydrating make sure to do it sustainably by avoiding plastic. I always have my Hydro flask or LARQ bottle on me to save plastic.

COCONUT WATER

If you’re in a country with fresh coconuts available, coconut water is my best go-to remedy for dehydration and for getting rid of a hangover fast. It’s very high in electrolytes and potassium and low in sugar which helps to rehydrate you fast while keeping your blood sugar stable.

If you aren’t in a country rich in fresh coconuts, don’t worry! Coconut water is now so popular you’ll probably be able to find it in your local high-end supermarket. Or you can order a pack from Amazon here for when you’re not travelling.

A fresh coconut may be just what the doctor ordered.

EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST

A good breakfast, high in carbohydrates and natural sugar will not only help with energy levels but also with boosting your blood sugar levels. This will make you feel a little more like your old self again. Toast with honey or pancakes with fruit, acai bowls and smoothies are all great options. Try to go for something sweet rather than savoury and an option full of essential fats, vitamins and minerals.

HOLD UP ON THE CAFFEINE

Too much caffeine dehydrates the body further so I try to ease off the caffeine in the morning. I go for a cup of tea or my favourite, a matcha latte when I can. If you are a caffeine addict remember to actually have your morning cup of coffee. You don’t want caffeine withdrawal symptoms to add to the symptoms of the hangover just make sure you don’t overdo it.

TRY GINGER

Try adding a few slices of fresh ginger to your water or morning tea. Ginger works really well for stomach issues can calming nausea and vomiting. If your stomach is feeling super fragile the morning after trying using ginger.

SLEEP

Try to get some more sleep if possible. I find that sometimes the best way to cure a hangover is just to sleep it off. Your body sometimes just needs rest in order to heal especially if you’ve had a busy few weeks. If you have nowhere to be, just go back to bed and take it easy, it works wonders.

TAKE SOME ORAL REHYDRATION SALTS

Most travellers have these on hand when travelling anyway as they are traditionally used for combating dehydration from diarrhoea. You can get them in any pharmacy. Why not use them to combat a hangover?

Made up of primarily sugar and salt, these are just what your body needs to combat a hangover. Dissolve a sachet into a litre of water and you’re ready to go. Be warned though, some don’t taste nice so they might be a little difficult to stomach but they’re worth it.

I personally use these sachets from Liquid I.V. They work really well and are low sugar and non-GMO. You can use them after strenuous exercise and hikes too.

I hope this post will help you find how to get rid of a hangover fast. Please comment below, I’d love to hear about your thoughts on hangover remedies and what works for you.