10 Things You Need To Cure Your Holiday Hangover

Some swear by "hair of the dog" as a surefire remedy to recover from drinking. Ernest Hemingway — who was known to like the drink — is said to have preferred a beer-spiked Bloody Mary to help with his frequent hangovers; as tempting as it sounds, don't try it. 

Sons of Anarchy fans might remember Gemma giving bananas to the druggie she was helping to set straight. This isn't because she was trying to turn her on to a healthy diet. Bananas help to restore potassium levels in the body, which are depleted every time you use the bathroom while drinking. The lack of potassium contributes to sore muscles and dizziness after a night of drinking. Other side effects may include diarrhea and vomiting, so make sure you order up some Chiquitas before you turn to the margaritas.

Make sure your morning-after meal includes eggs. Eggs contain high levels of cysteine, an amino acid that helps to break down toxins, impurities, and preservatives that help cause a hangover. Emergency room doctors often give IV cysteine, or NAC (N-Acetylcysteine), to patients who have overdosed on acetaminophen, as a way to reduce liver and kidney damage, and it has been known to help with dry mouth and dry eyes, other symptoms of too much alcohol consumption.

Rehydrating your body could be the most important thing you do for yourself after a night of drinking. Alcohol dehydrates the body, leaving it weak and craving electrolytes and resulting in symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and excessive sweating. The tissues around the brain are mostly made of water. Dehydration shrinks these tissues, resulting in the pounding headache often associated with hangovers. Keep sports drinks or coconut water on hand for quick electrolyte absorption, and keep drinking as much water as you can to reduce the amount of time it takes your body to bounce back.

Getting up and moving around may feel like the last thing you want to do, but experts say that exercise is helpful to combating a hangover. Yoga is especially beneficial because it releases toxins in the body, improves circulation, and aids in digestion. Try the Vrksasana (tree pose) to help with dizziness or the Marjaryasana (cat pose) to relieve a headache.

It's one of the first things you learned when you started going to college parties, and it actually works. Drinking on an empty stomach allows alcohol to absorb more quickly into your system, so eating while drinking is a great way to prevent a hangover. Stock up on lots of carbs before bringing on the bubbly and your morning after won't be so rough.

If you're feeling nauseous after a night of drinking, you may want to start your day with ginger tea. Remember how your mom used to give you ginger ale when you had an upset stomach? It wasn't just for the bubbles. Ginger has long been considered a cure-all for stomach problems including motion sickness, morning sickness, nausea after surgery, and more. Sipping a bit the morning after a night out could help prevent a day's worth of throwing up. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, dark liquors like brandy and whiskey contain more congeners than their lighter counterparts like vodka and gin. Congeners, despite being created naturally during the fermentation and aging process, are toxic and can interfere with cell function. According to a study conducted by the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University, drinkers who drank Wild Turkey suffered more the next day compared to those who drank Absolut. So, if you plan on a heavy night of drinking, consider mixing your cocktails with lighter liquors. 

According to the National Headache Foundation, honey is a great ingredient for combating the effects of a hangover — it actually helps the body to rapidly metabolize alcohol and could help you avoid getting a headache altogether. Dr. Merle Diamond, President and Managing Director of Diamond Headache Clinic recommends eating a cracker or toast covered with honey before or after drinking to combat the aftereffects of a night out. 

There is a reason the Bloody Mary has been a favorite hangover remedy for so long, and it is not because of the "hair of the dog" inclusion of vodka. Tomatoes, and tomato-based foods like tomato juice and soup, are loaded with vitamin C. Vitamin C helps the liver process alcohol better, making next-day recovery easier.

Drinking alcohol depletes the body of nutrients. Replenish them by taking a multivitamin that pumps the body full of the good stuff. Try one that is rich in folate and vitamin B complex — B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), folic acid, B6 and B12 — to help with energy, brain, and nervous system function.