Who decided a spicy, tomato-y liquid was the best way to cure a hangover? Even just thinking about it now is making me feel sick. The basic ingredients to this disgusting drink are hot sauce, salt, pepper, spicy tomato juice, vodka, and Worcestershire Sauce with the optional celery stalk, hot pepper, and green olives for decoration. VOM.
On top of being absolutely foul, this "remedy" isn't even a good remedy! According to Men's Health, tons of other sources, and common sense, drinking more alcohol in an attempt to cure your hangover is a bad idea. Yes, it will delay and dull your hangover for a short period of time but it won't do anything to make it better. Greasy food will one up a bloody any day and it tastes a hell of a lot better.
So why waste your time and money at the bar when you could be indulging in comfort food? Stick to what feels right when your hangovers got you feeling like crap (like a giant McDonald's breakfast sandwich which, by the way, will work better than the crazy cocktail).
Here are seven hangover remedies more appetizing than a bloody mary:
1. Alka-Seltzer
I learned about this one from CNN, Health.com, and a friend who swears by it. Not only do all Alka-Seltzer products contain sodium bicarbonate, which helps to neutralize stomach acid, but the company's Morning Relief product is made specifically to help ease a hangover.
Tip: I'd recommend taking it with some bread and water to tone down the citric acid that's also in it. Combining any of the medications on this list with lots of water a bit of bread or crackers will help your body to get back to normal without being irritated by the medicine.
2. Pedialyte
Although people usually think of Pedialyte as a product for kids, these three products and the new Pedialyte AdvancedCare Plus are all made to replace electrolytes, fluids, and zinc while promoting digestive health for kids AND adults.
The company says that products are designed to prevent dehydration more effectively than sports drinks, juice, or soda.
3. Teavana's Raspberry Riot Tea With Macha
I don't know if it's the nutrients from the vitamins, the natural sugar from the fruit, or the antioxidants from the matcha but something in this drink makes a great remedy.
It's probably the combination of all these ingredients, but I've read that matcha is key. It supposedly rids the liver of alcohol's toxins AND it's pretty yummy, so matcha tea is definitely worth a shot after too many shots.
4. Bread
A Men's Health article on hangover remedies says that no food can reverse the fact that you've basically poisoned your body by drinking alcohol but carbs CAN help to bring your blood sugar back up the morning after.
The article also reminds us that, "When blood sugar levels dip, your liver reacts by producing more glucose from stored carbs. But if you've been drinking too much, your liver is busy metabolizing the alcohol and can't handle the extra work, so your blood sugar levels stay down and you can feel irritable and tired."
5. Nauzene
Nauzene chewable tablets are known to taste terrible for the very short amount of time it will take you to chew them (much shorter than the amount of time it would take you to down a bloody mary) but to work like a charm pretty quickly. Delishably author Sarah Carson calls it a "miracle drug" and suggests taking it every 3-4 hours with a big cup of water.
Nauzene is made to ease nausea or upset stomach and contains no aspirin (which can make some people nauseous), so this one's perfect for anyone whose hangovers affect their stomach more than their head.
6. A Dip In The Pool
Okay... so there's might not be a whole lot of science and reasoning behind this one but it just always seems to make me feel better. It's like drinking all the water I can isn't enough— I need to literally be swimming in it.
It's so refreshing and, paired with any of the other remedies above, works for me.
