During the Christmas party season, the chances are you’ve woken up feeling less than sparkling the morning after. Modern medicine may not have come up with a cure for a hangover, but there are proven ways to reduce the symptoms.
So what do doctors do themselves? Here, some of Britain’s leading health experts reveal how they combat the side effects of festive over-indulgence ...
TRY A VIRGIN MARY
Samantha Tross, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Ealing Hospital NHS Trust
“I drink a large Virgin Mary once I get up. Tomato juice and celery are effective rehydrators, helping to replenish vitamins and restore the balance of minerals in the blood.
“A squeeze of lemon juice contains Vitamin C, to reduce your risk of catching a cold, and a dash of chilli will help dampen a headache as it contains capsaicin, which has pain-relieving properties. Don’t be tempted to add a slug of vodka - it will put more stress on your liver.”
THE REDERROCA COCKTAIL
Dr Adrian Morris, director of the Surrey Allergy Clinic in London
“I drink a litre of water with two paracetamol when I get home. You will probably have a disturbed night getting up to pass urine, but the end result will be worth it. The next morning I plonk a Berocca - to replace lost vitamins - into a Red Bull for a caffeine boost and, if there’s time, eat eggs and bacon. It might not be great for you, but it tastes good.”
HAVE A BANANA
Mr Eddie Chaloner, consultant vascular surgeon at Lewisham Hospital in London
“Avoid fry-ups in the morning - you’ll be taking in an unnecessary amount of saturated fat. I always eat bananas - gentle on the stomach and good for keeping up your blood sugar. Bananas contain a lot of potassium, a mineral lost when we drink alcohol and a lack of which contributes to the dehydration symptoms of a hangover.”
A GLASS OF MILK, THEN BED
Dr Andy Dowson, director of headache services at King’s College London
“I have a glass of milk before bed. It stops the kidneys producing urine so you can rehydrate the body but won’t need to go to the loo.”
HONEY ON TOAST
Dr Sam Bunting, dermatologist
“I have honey on toast and lots of water before bed. Fructose helps get rid of acetaldehyde, a substance produced in the body as the alcohol is broken down, giving you that morning-after feeling. I eat avocado mixed with citrus and coriander in the morning for omega-3 fatty acids to maintain hydration and Vitamin C to help make me feel refreshed.”
OATCAKES OR A CHEESE SARNIE BEFORE DRINKING
Ian Marber, nutrition consultant and director of The Food Doctor
“If you’re dashing off to a party after work, make sure you’ve eaten something that contains protein, fat and complex carbohydrates. This prevents the alcohol being absorbed too quickly.
“Oatcakes and houmous are ideal but a cheese sandwich is just as effective. It’s also worth drinking a glass of orange juice diluted with water or eating some yogurt before bed. This will keep your blood sugar levels steady throughout the night.”
GRAB A BAR SNACK
Professor Jonathan Chick, consultant psychiatrist at Edinburgh University Medical School
“Stick to clear or pale drinks such as white wine. Darker drinks like red wine contain extra flavours known as congeners which produce a toxic by-product that poisons the body cells and exacerbates the symptoms of hangover. I try to eat a handful of crisps, nuts or other bar snacks with every drink I have. This helps to avoid alcohol levels peaking in the blood, leading to a hangover.”
SAUNA OR STEAM
Dr Bessam Farjo, hair restoration surgeon
“After drinking, I go for a sauna or steam, but if you can face it, do some exercise at the gym. You will sweat out the toxins and stimulate feel-good chemicals known as endorphins in the body.”
SLEEP ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE
Dr Sarah Burnett, consultant physician
“When you go to bed, lie on your right side. This will help flush the stomach of the gastric acid that is linked to nausea in hangovers. The stomach is a bag sitting diagonally in the body from left to right. By lying on your right you can help move things along and so relieve nausea.”
CHOOSE A FINE VINTAGE
Mr Chris Eden, consultant urologist at the Hampshire Clinic
“If you’re going to drink wine, choose the most expensive you can afford. When alcohol is metabolised in the body, it produces a toxic substance known as acetaldehyde. However, amounts of this are already present in cheap wine due to the manufacturing process, so you’ll be less hung over if you opt for a nice vintage.”
TRY A PROTEIN SHAKE
Dr James Thompson, London GP
“I drink a protein milkshake before bed. Protein is a great source for slow-burn energy and will get into your system by the time the morning comes, raising sugar levels in your blood. Look for shakes that list cysteine as an ingredient - this protein is thought to assist the liver in dealing with the chemicals created when alcohol is metabolised.” - Mail on Sunday
* Interviews by Rachel Reilly and Angela Epstein