The science of your hangover

I figure with the time of year fast approaching where people will imbibe in excess of normal, it's important to take a quick look at the science behind you feeling like 10# of crap stuffed in a 5# bag.

www.independent.co.uk...

My personal recipe for a rehydration beverage is as follows:

1 quart of water (I use well water filtered through a Berkey)
1/2 tsp of non-iodized table salt (NaCl)
1/4 tsp of salt substitute (KCl)
2.5 - 3 TB of glucose/dextrose (Use table sugar if you must but glucose is highly preferred)

It's not the tastiest thing but it will replenish your glucose supplies quickly allowing the muscles to get their glycogen levels back up as well as providing the Na and K needed to keep everything operating properly.

This isn't medical advice but merely what I use rather than the store bought things such as gatorade, powerade, etc.

I also keep this mix in my BOB for survival rehydration purposes.

i heard that prickly pear juice, consumed 6 hours before alcohol consumption, will block the cogeners that cause a hangover.

never tried

be good

if anyone tries it let me know

www.google.com... q=prickly%20pear%20hangover%20cure&ei=L4kJTZeSBMKBlAf4hIi-AQ&usg=AFQjCNGfbD3e8X5j3pPXP7xsexULYEqR1g&cad=rja

My cure for a hangover is to not drink.

The only problem is, I can never work out how to make it before I start drinking...

Red apples do me ok tho, and a lot of iced water. but one red apple, seems to really alleviate any sickness and headache..

reply to post by bozzchem


Your recipe is similar to Gatorade. Drinking throws your electrolytes off balance. The salt in the drink balances them again. Ibuprofen helps too, but only in the worst cases. For example, Detroit Santarchy.

reply to post by cmdrkeenkid


I will admit that I am unfamiliar with the recipes of the current "sports drinks". I can tell you that mine will cost half as much and be twice as effective. If you'd like to add a few drops of something tasty and colorful, by all means do so.

My recipe is based upon the biochemistry of muscle rehydration and what they require for proper functioning. It's neither tasty nor is it pre packaged but I can assure you that it will give your muscles what is required for establishing the homeostasis lost when you down a fifth of whatever you choose.

Check my science and tell me I'm wrong. Good luck with that since I'm not but I appreciate your response.

While I made mention of the salts I use, do you have any idea why? Are you familiar with the need for relegating a Na to K ratio? A quick search would give you the rudimentary reasons. Do you understand why I indicated glucose rather than table sugar?

Geezus Cripes.......follow the recipe or don't. I don't give a damn. I'm not diabetic so have found this recipe to be incredibly helpful without a plastic jug.

reply to post by bozzchem

If a disagreement over hangover cures is enough to make you fly off the handle, perhaps it would be best to stay off the sauce altogether.

Your home-made rehydration therapy is pretty good, and yes, Gatorade and its competitors are designed along the same principles. However, alcohol has complex effects on the body and rehydration isn't the only issue. The best hangover cures in the world are water, time and sleep.

Personally I like drinking iced mango juice when I'm hung over.

reply to post by bozzchem


I just did a price break down. Using your methods, you would have spent about $200 on the Berkey. A cannister of table salt is about $2. Now, the KCl is the tricky part. I've only seen that sold at hardware stores as water softener in 50 lb bags. Those cost anywhere from $10-15. A bottle of corn syrup, since I'm guessing that's what you mean by glucose, is about $5. That takes the total to about $220. For that same $220 I could buy 440 bottles of Powerade or 275 bottles of Gatorade.

While I have no issues with your survival gear or what you do in your spare time, using your method seems like a waste of money. I also never said they were wrong. In fact, if you Google homemade sports drink you will find a plethora of recipes similar to yours.

Besides, who would want to go through all that effort to make up that concoction when hung over? Especially since their "recipe is based upon the biochemistry of muscle rehydration and what they require for proper functioning." Also, it is tasty and prepackaged.