Coffee Touted as Best Prevention for Hangovers
After a heavy, alcohol-fuelled night out, people often turn to common treatments such as caffeine and over-the-counter medication, in the hope of easing their headache. And now, according to a study published at the end of 2010 in the online, peer-reviewed PLoS One, a science journal, there is proof that such remedies may have a genuine effect.
This is, according to researchers, due to caffeine and regular anti-inflammatory drugs’ ability to block the impact of acetate, the chemical blamed for triggering headaches following alcohol consumption. The same study pointed out that acetate levels are at their highest around four hours following drinking, so turning to coffee and other such remedies at this point, is the ideal time to nip any potential hangover in the bud.
Unfortunately, hangovers can bring additional symptoms over and above the usual headache, such as nausea, dehydration and low sugar levels. Coffee and caffeine are also touted for their ability to curb nausea in such situations, with chocolate milk, bananas, honey, peanut butter and Vegemite also joining the list.
Alongside the growing wave of energy drinks and energy shots in the ready-to-drink beverage world, hangover solutions such as Gtox, Resurrection and Hangover Gone in the US, Outox from the Netherlands and Revamp for the Irish market, are gaining popularity. Incorporating coffee caffeine, such drinks also contain ingredients such as glucose, inositol, L-carnitine, B vitamins, Echinacea, zinc, milk thistle, ginger root and dandelion, to help combat the effects of the alcohol over-indulgence.