If you’re a runner, cyclist, OCR, or other type of endurance athlete there is a high likelihood you enjoy a frosty adult beverage from time to time. Nothing tastes better than an ice-cold beer after a hard training session or race. One or two isn’t going to kill you but what if you decide to go overboard and slam a 12 pack. Chances are you are going to feel like death-warmed-over the next day and have a nasty hangover.
Besides drinking copious amounts of water and “sweating” it out through exercise there are some supplements that might help you get over that hangover quicker and alleviate some of the nasty after effects. In this article, we will cover 7 of these, doses that need to be used, what symptoms they may help, and end with 24 hangover cures that are complete BS.
Gamma Linoleic Acid
Gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) is an omega 6 fatty acid that is found naturally walnuts, chia, and vegetable oils. A study conducted in 2005 discovered that GLA reduced hangover symptoms such as nausea, headache, and palpitations. Based on the research a dose of 100-300mg dose should do the trick when taken in supplement form.
Tolfenamic Acid
Tolfenamic acid is a very effective inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis. Prostaglandins can cause inflammation and pain, especially when a high amount of alcohol is drunk. A study conducted in 1983 discovered that healthy volunteers who took 200mg of tolfenamic acid before drinking and before going to bed were able to reduce the symptoms of a hangover, especially headaches, the next day.
Yeast & B-Vitamins
Yeast is essentially a fungus that has an enzyme that may be able to break down alcohol. B-vitamins, on the other hand, are depleted when alcohol is consumed but are needed to help eliminate alcohol from the body. Supplementing with both may help with hangovers. A study conducted in 1999 discovered that 250mg of dried yeast plus 1.5mg of b-vitamins decreased discomfort, restlessness, and impatience in adults who drank large volumes of vodka.
Green Ginger, Tumeric, Pepper, & Green Tea Extract
This hangover cure is not one single supplement but a combination of four all wrapped up in a product called Oh!K anti-hangover drink. In a study conducted in 2014, researchers found that participants who drank Oh!K before heavy drinking had significantly reduced hangover symptoms such as tremors and headaches. The researchers speculated that the ingredients found in this concoction were able to neutralize the free radicals formed during alcohol metabolism.
Sprite
Ok, so technically the soda that goes by the name of Sprite isn’t a supplement, but it still may help with a hangover. Two researchers from China discovered that drinking a fizzy lemon-lime beverage after excessive alcohol consumption was effective in increasing an enzyme that helps our bodies eliminate alcohol.
Calcium Carbonate & Vegetable Carbon
A 2004 study discovered that participants who consumed 615mg of calcium carbonate and 345mg vegetable carbon (while drinking) helped keep their hangovers in check while also eliminating alcohol from their bloodstreams. This only worked when participants consumed 2 tablets before drinking and 2 additional tablets every 2 to 3 hours (5 to 6 drinks). The scientists speculated that this hangover cure worked via alkalization.
After Affect
Another commercially available hangover product, After Affect was shown in a 2012 study to be effective at reducing the symptoms of a hangover.
The Best Hangover Cure Is To Not Drink At All
But what fun would that be? If you do decide to drink, try your hardest to drink in moderation. If that doesn’t happen, the 7 supplements/products listed above may help you avoid a nasty hangover the next day.
Hangover Cures That Don’t Work
Below is a list of supposed hangover cures that have no scientific evidence to back their use.
