Do's and Don’ts of Curing a Hangover after New Year’s Celebrations

You shouldn't have done it, but you did – you celebrated the New Year and partied into the wee hours of the morning and consumed a bit too many adult beverages. Now you're paying for it with aches and pains in what seems like every fiber of your body.

Despite aspirin and a wealth of home remedies, most are not nearly as good as their advocates claim. However, there are certain measures you can take that may speed up the dissipation of alcohol from your system and ease the overall negative effects it may have.

Here are some "don’ts", If your stomach is upset, aspirin isn't a good idea because it's rough on your stomach lining, especially when combined with another liner destroyer, alcohol. There's some evidence that vitamins like B6 may help prevent or ease hangovers when taken before you start drinking, but it's questionable whether any over-the-counter drug or vitamin helps much afterwards. The infamous "hair of the dog" approach – having another shot of what you drank the night before – doesn't work either.

Here are some "dos’". It's hardly a remedy, but a little toast with honey may help speed up recovery from a hangover. That's because carbohydrates from the toast and the sugar (fructose) from the honey can help to replenish energy and elevate blood sugar. Drinks with electrolytes – such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium – may help replace those minerals lost to your body from dehydration brought on by alcohol.

If your stomach is upset from alcohol or for that matter, any other cause, the best thing you can do is give it a rest for a few days. Stay away from drugs and foods that can irritate it, such as aspirin; carbonated and caffeinated, alcoholic or sugary beverages. Instead eat bland, easily digested foods like applesauce, toast, boiled eggs, baked or mashed potatoes, bananas, rice, oatmeal and boiled chicken or turkey. Milk may also help ease a jumpy stomach while providing nutrients.

By the time you read this it may be too late for New Year’s celebrations, but it's worth remembering for the next time you imbibe that the best remedy for a hangover is not to have one. Eat a good meal prior to partying to slow your body's absorption of alcohol. During the party, try mixed drinks containing fruit or vegetable juices, and sip them slowly.

Dr. William Scarpa is a cardiologist at Heart & Vascular – Ashe. To request an appointment with Dr. Scarpa at Heart & Vascular – Ashe, call (828) 264-9664. Dr. Scarpa is located inside Ashe Memorial Hospital at 200 Hospital Avenue, Segraves Hall 1, in Jefferson, NC.

Here's a win-win situation; a high carbohydrate, non-alcoholic drink that's packed with flavor and has no fat whatsoever.

Curried Tomato-Celery Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 46-ounce can of tomato juice
1 teaspoon curry powder
3 stalks celery, chopped
Dash of Tabasco


Preparation:
1. Combine 2 cups tomato juice with celery, and curry powder in blender. Blend until smooth. Add remaining tomato juice and Tabasco and heat to boiling. Serve hot or chilled over ice.

Serves six