Prosecco hangovers ARE the worst – 6 ways to cure a sore head the next day
WITH dry January coming to an end, there's no doubt many people will be having a cheeky glass of bubbles to celebrate.
But while prosecco may taste great and make you feel more sophisticated - there's one big issue with fizz...
A top nutritionist has now revealed that prosecco can give you terrible hangovers. The worst in fact.
Dietitian Lee Holmes claims this is because the carbon dioxide carried in the "fizz" of sparkling wine causes alcohol to absorb faster and deeper into the bloodstream.
She told : "Hangovers are caused by two things - the first is inflammation of the brain, and the second is the brain's overcompensation due to the depressant mechanism of alcohol.
"Because prosecco is absorbed faster than other drinks, it leads to more severe hangover symptoms the next day, such as headaches, gripping nausea, increased sensitivity to light, gritty eyes and an extremely dry mouth."
And Lee revealed that the faster the rate of absorption, the higher the blood alcohol level will be, which determines the intensity of a hangover the next day.
Her warning comes after a study revealed two thirds of people get drunker faster when they drink prosecco, Champagne or other sparkling wines compared with other alcohol.
Ways to cure a sore head...
With this in mind, here we take you through some of the key ways you can cure a sore head after having probably too much prosecco...
1. Rehydrate
Alcohol is a diuretic, making you pee often and ultimately leading to dehydration.
Although dehydration is not considered a main cause of hangovers, it may contribute to symptoms like thirst, headache, fatigue and dry mouth.
That is why water is your best friend during a hangover - as it will flush toxins out of your system.
It will help top up your hydration levels, to lessen or even stop that imminent pounding head.
If you don't fancy a glass of H20, isotonic drinks can also give you an extra boost and replace lost fluids.
2. Snooze
Drinking heavily disrupts your sleep cycle, causing you to still feel lethargic even if you had plenty of kip.
Therefore it's a no brainer that going back to bed will help with this one.
If you can't get back to sleep, try having a long hot bath with magnesium salts to help you wind down.
3. Go for a run
It's probably the last thing you want to do, especially at this time of year.
But if you make sure you’ve rehydrated a bit of light exercise sparks up your metabolism and releases endorphins.
Nutritionist Amanda Hamilton said: "If you want to feel more alert, fitting in short high intensity interval training can help.
Short high intensity interval training can help
Amanda Hamilton
"It won’t speed up the rate that alcohol is metabolised or detoxified but the endorphin release can boost your mood.
"Just keep water handy so you don’t become even more dehydrated."
4. Reach for the ibuprofen
Research has shown that anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen are actually a better hangover alternative to beloved paracetamol.
But only if you take more than the recommended dose.
Instead, take an ibuprofen as soon as you wake up (as painful as it may be), followed by a pint of water and some serious carbohydrates.
Take an antacid if you have a dodgy stomach and need it settling.
5. Breakfast like a king/queen
The key is to avoid the mega-greasy versions, as fatty foods take a long time to digest.
However, the eggs in a full English, preferably poached or scrambled, can help with a hangover.
Top 10 foods to eat to beat a hangover
INSTEAD of opting for the usual greasy snacks making healthy, more satiating choices will help your body get back to fighting fit much quicker.
- Coconut water
- Greek yoghurt
- Oats
- Nut butter
- Soup
- Salmon
- Avocado
- Eggs
- Tomatoes
- Sourdough bread
This is because eggs are rich in protein and vitamin B, which aid detox as they contain cysteine, an amino acid that breaks down the toxic by-products resulting from alcohol in the body.
A cup of tea with your eggs will also help you to rehydrate - and herbal teas, like ginger tea can take the edge of the nausea.
6. Beware "Hair of the Dog"
Many people claim that "hair of the dog" - or drinking more alcohol - is the best way to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of a hangover.
However, there has never been any scientific evidence to suggest this theory has any basis and Dr Fenton says it will just make things worse in the long time.
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He told us: "We've all heard of drinking through your hangover, and whilst this always sounds like a great idea and undoubtedly does kill the pain for a short time but in practice, it only makes things worse in a few hours.
"It makes you more dehydrated, aggregates your stomach and worsens the headache. It also means you’ve very likely got a serious drinking problem.
"It's better to rehydrate and top up with electrolyte rich sports drinks and tons of water to help you rehydrate and replace the salts and sugars lost by the diuretic effect of alcohol."