'Work hard, party harder' - we'd love to adopt this motto in life, only if someone could gives us the perfect cure for those harrowing hangovers. Finally, here's some good news. Renowned author and journalist, Adam Rogers claims to have found the best way to get rid of those forgetful morning episodes of a dry mouth, headaches, nausea and lethargy. As surprising as it may sound, Rogers suggests that more alcohol can relieve a hangover. And he gives you reasons to believe him. The author of the bestseller 'Proof: The Science of Booze', Rogers explains the science behind how 'hair of the dog' works.
"There is a theory that says that a hangover is actually the symptom of very, very small amounts of methanol. If a hangover is methanol toxicity, you are going to have another drink and the ethanol displaces the methanol and you will feel better," he says.'Hair of the dog' is actually an old theory which refers to alcohol consumed in order to lessen the effects of a hangover. It probably came from a popular belief in Scotland where if a dog bit you, applying his hair on the wound would prevent evil consequences. In case of alcohol it means that if on a fateful night you get carried away, drink a glass of the same alcohol within 24 hours to soothe the nerves.All alcohol contains trace amounts of toxic methanol which can even lead to death in high concentrations because the body converts it into formaldehyde. "Fortunately, the levels of methanol in most drinks are very low but added up over time, it can cause a hangover," said Rogers. In his book, he writes that the scientific name for a hangover is veisalgia, which is the Greek word for pain.However, for Dr. Nick Knight, a junior doctor based in London, the best way to avoid a hangover is not to drink. "Many people suffer from crippling alcohol dependence and addiction and for them, a hangover can be like a trigger for the next drink. Hangover and work absence also has a huge negative socio-economic impact affecting productivity. Remember to drink responsibly and within your limits," he advised. (More: Which hangover cures should I try?)Some health experts are of the view that "hair of the dog" is a risky habit as it merely delays the symptoms of the hangover and the increased consumption of alcohol may make things worse later. The next time you hit the bottle too hard here are some common tips that can help you get over a hangover.
"There is a theory that says that a hangover is actually the symptom of very, very small amounts of methanol. If a hangover is methanol toxicity, you are going to have another drink and the ethanol displaces the methanol and you will feel better," he says.'Hair of the dog' is actually an old theory which refers to alcohol consumed in order to lessen the effects of a hangover. It probably came from a popular belief in Scotland where if a dog bit you, applying his hair on the wound would prevent evil consequences. In case of alcohol it means that if on a fateful night you get carried away, drink a glass of the same alcohol within 24 hours to soothe the nerves.All alcohol contains trace amounts of toxic methanol which can even lead to death in high concentrations because the body converts it into formaldehyde. "Fortunately, the levels of methanol in most drinks are very low but added up over time, it can cause a hangover," said Rogers. In his book, he writes that the scientific name for a hangover is veisalgia, which is the Greek word for pain.However, for Dr. Nick Knight, a junior doctor based in London, the best way to avoid a hangover is not to drink. "Many people suffer from crippling alcohol dependence and addiction and for them, a hangover can be like a trigger for the next drink. Hangover and work absence also has a huge negative socio-economic impact affecting productivity. Remember to drink responsibly and within your limits," he advised. (More: Which hangover cures should I try?)Some health experts are of the view that "hair of the dog" is a risky habit as it merely delays the symptoms of the hangover and the increased consumption of alcohol may make things worse later. The next time you hit the bottle too hard here are some common tips that can help you get over a hangover.
- Drink a tall glass of water before going to bed, this will help flush out all the toxins the next morning.
- Wake up to a big fat breakfast complete with eggs. Eggs contain large amounts of cysteine, an amino acid that helps your body get rid of alcohol's leftover toxins.
- Dote on bananas. They are gentle on the stomach and are packed with potassium, a
a lack of which causes the dehydration symptoms of a hangover. - Green tea is high in antioxidants and may help with headache and nausea. (More home remedies)
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