I tested 8 hangover supplements and the winner was a foul-tasting drink – a few seconds pain for ZERO after effects
If there’s one thing we can pretty much all agree on, it’s that hangovers really are awful.
From nausea, to headaches, the dreaded hangxiety and general fatigue - battling a hangover is something we could all do with avoiding.
But if you're not prepared to give up the booze, and traditional hangover cures fail to work for you, you may be interested in the booming market of hangover pills and potions.
Myrkl was the first to make headline news when it went on sale in the UK last summer.
However, dozens of hangover supplements have been hitting the market over the years, some with impressive claims.
As someone who has about two drinks and gets hungover, I was keen to give these supplements a try - and a boozy summer was the perfect opportunity.
Read more on drinking
Some of the products are made specifically for hangovers, while others simply help to give a new lease of life when you’re feeling groggy and tired.
I followed the guidelines of the supplement- either taking it before drinking, during or the next day.
But naturally, the ‘study’ wasn’t robust, as I drank different alcohol on occasions.
However, I’m well aware of how I feel on a hangover and if a supplement/drink/powder has made any difference.
So how did I get on?
1. Myrkl
£30 for 30 capsules,
The hangover pills by Myrkl, which sold out in 24 hours when they first went on sale, were designed to help you have a social life without compromising the next day.
Supposedly, you’ll feel refreshed, even after a long day.
The two capsules, to be taken two hours before drinking, contain a formula containing high performing bacteria, l-cysteine and vitamin B12.
Myrkl says that this formulation is activated in the gut, which allows us to wake up refreshed the next day.
The results of a small study, published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolic Insights, reported that volunteers who took the pills had 70 per cent less alcohol in their blood an hour after two vodkas than those who didn’t have the pills.
Verdict: This. Works. I’ve used this twice now and it’s absolutely helped me avoid some hangover symptoms.
These tablets are bursting with electrolytes, which are salts and minerals, such as sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and bicarbonate.
This product was created to help prevent the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which you’re at increased risk of if you are overweight, have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and more.
However, under its key benefits, the company claims this product mitigates the effects of alcohol.
In fact, the company claim it “can help your liver process alcohol up to 15 times faster”.
Each vial - you can drink maximum of three a day - contains 17 natural ingredients, including antioxidants and phyto-nutrients, which are said to optimise liver function.
Energy drinks get a bad rep but Tenzing is made of seven natural, plant-based ingredients and, according to the brand, contains 60 per cent less sugar than other major energy drinks.
Swedish-born Vitamin Well have created a range of drinks, each packing in a unique set of vitamins and minerals to fight fatigue, skin issues or, you guessed it, a hangover.
Although not explicitly stated, the Recover drink has all the ingredients (ten in total) to rid hangover symptoms.
Vitamin B12, folic acid and magnesium contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, the brand says.
Magnesium also contributes to electrolyte balance and our electrolytes can often be depleted big time when we drink alcohol.
Verdict: For a drink, these are a pretty impressive recovery tool. As the name of the drink suggests, they do indeed help the body to ‘recover’.
The amount of sugar in these is a bit off putting at 21g per 500ml bottle.
But they definitely do provide a little boost amid the hangover grogginess. I necked a bottle one morning after a night of tequila and felt pretty chirpy.
Normally used to ease the aches and pains of the muscles, I thought I’d give Epsom salts a go because after all, dancing the night away can leave you feeling achy.
Epsom salts break down into magnesium and sulphate in water, and its thought these can be absorbed by the skin.
Although it might not help your liver, this has been designed to help ensure a deeper, more restful slumber.
It’s all thanks to the 50mg of 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a chemical which helps the body sleep, according to
This vitamin-stacked gummy is supposedly packed with everything you need to ‘bounce back after a night of celebrations.
Nourished say that the gummy contains nutrients including ginger to fight nausea, milk thistle to detox, vitamin C for energy and vitamin D for immunity and to aid recovery.
Verdict: Each gummy comes in a white (plastic-free) packet, so no matter where you are, this is easy to transport with zero mess.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
I took this the morning after a boozy wedding; I felt no different. However, it was great to know I was giving my body a hit on nutrients that it needed after a day of booze.
This tastes really good too. It’s like a big, delicious, sweetie, with loads of health benefits.