An evening of convivial drinking can, as is well known, have unpleasant consequences the morning after. “A hangover is a sign of mild alcohol poisoning,” said Jan Prinzhausen, a nutritionist with the German University of Applied Sciences for Prevention and Health Management. The after-effects of over-imbibing are varied. “Common complaints are headache, dry mouth, intense [...]

An evening of convivial drinking can, as is well known, have unpleasant consequences the morning after. “A hangover is a sign of mild alcohol poisoning,” said Jan Prinzhausen, a nutritionist with the German University of Applied Sciences for Prevention and Health Management.

The after-effects of over-imbibing are varied. “Common complaints are headache, dry mouth, intense thirst, nausea and fatigue,” said Jutta Saumweber, a dietary adviser at Munich’s consumer advice centre. Other frequent symptoms include aching limbs and difficulty concentrating, and sometimes shakiness, talkativeness or aggressiveness.

“It takes an hour or two before alcohol enters the bloodstream,” Saumweber said. This is what makes alcohol insidious, she said, because “the drinker doesn’t notice any effects during this time and often keeps on drinking.” Once the effects appear, a hangover is already well on its way.

Scientists have roughly determined how much alcohol is too much. “According to studies, about 50 per cent of drinkers get a hangover if they consume more than 1.5 grams of pure alcohol per kilogram of body weight,” said Peter Hilden, a physician who works for the Techniker Krankenkasse, a German public health insurance company. So someone weighing 70 kilograms stands a good chance of getting a hangover by drinking a litre of wine.

Besides the quantity of alcohol consumed, the kind of alcohol plays a role in hangovers. “A hangover can be intensified by drinks containing carbonation or glucose,” Saumweber said.

Hilden added: “The more fusel oils that an alcoholic beverage contains, the greater the likelihood of a hangover. These substances are found mainly in dark alcohols (e.g. bourbon as opposed to vodka) and in low-quality products.”

Finally, the risk or severity of a hangover can be affected by what else is ingested – or not ingested. “Alcohol has a diuretic effect. Along with water (via increased urination), it deprives the body of vital minerals,” Prinzhausen said. “Metabolism is disrupted if the body’s fluid and mineral balance is thrown out of kilter.”
Dehydration can be prevented by continually sipping mineral water during a party.

Having salty foods helps replenish lost minerals. Eating sufficiently both before and while drinking alcohol is a good idea. “Fatty foods, in particular, are advisable,” Prinzhausen said, since they remain in the stomach for a long time and slow down the body’s absorption of alcohol. “Moreover, enzymes in the stomach can already begin the breakdown (of alcohol).”

There are numerous tips and household remedies for combating a hangover. Though no studies have found any to be consistently effective. Some are worth trying, however.

“Someone with a hangover should drink a lot of fluids, increase the intake of mineral salts such as sodium and potassium and eat sour foods such as pickled cucumbers or pickled herring. This aids the breakdown (of alcohol),” Saumweber said.

A light chicken broth settles the queasy feeling in the stomach, and hangover sufferers able to stomach it can fortify themselves with muesli and fruit.

To alleviate a headache, it helps to rub one’s temples with menthol balm or take a pain reliever. Other than that, it is important to get out of bed: Getting some exercise and fresh air clears the head and accelerates the breakdown of the remaining alcohol in the body.