Don't go for the fry-up: Which hangover cures really work?

Pear juice and toast
Pear juice and toast are both good hangover cures Credit: Getty/Alamy

The best way to avoid a hangover is, of course, prevention - by limiting the amount you drink, eating a decent meal beforehand, and drinking plenty of water throughout the night. But if that went out of the window with your decorum on New Year's Eve, here's what the doctors say works best.

Pear juice

Recent research has found that drinking pear juice before alcohol may reduce the effects of a hangover by 16-21 percent by inhibiting alcohol absorbtion.

The study was undertaken by CSIRO, the Australian government's scientific research organisation, and found that those who drank pear juice half an hour before consuming spirits were less sensitive to light and sound, didn't suffer from such sever memory loss and even slightly decreased the alcohol levels present in the blood. The most significant benefit was that those who had drunk the pear juice had significantly better concentration than those that had not.

So far, only the Asian, or nashi pear, has been tested but more tests will now be done of see if varieties of Western pear produce the same results. Those involved in the study drank 220ml of pear juice, although the reserchers belive that eating pears may have the same effect.

Green pears on chopping board with knife

Sugar

Many people find that sugary drinks and foods help them recover from hangovers, as blood glucose can dip very low after a binge. A can of fizz can stop you feeling trembly, and also give you enough of an energy boost to get up (even if it's just from bed onto the sofa). Researchers in China last year tested the effects of 57 drinks, from fizzy pop to herbal tea, and found that a can of Sprite was the most effective in speeding up the time it takes for the body to break down alcohol.

Tea-spoon full of overflowing sugar
Can sugar make the pain go away? Credit: Alamy

Water

Alcohol is a diuretic and can cause dehydration – it’s this, some doctors say, as much as the booze itself, which makes you feel terrible the next morning. Try and down at least a few glasses of water before you go to bed, and make sure you keep topped up during the next day.

Blonde woman drinking a glass of water
H20 helper: drink plenty of water after a night on the town Credit: Alamy

Pain medication

Over-the-counter painkillers are what most of us reach for when we’ve overdone it the night before, but choose carefully – The NHS says that paracetamol-based remedies are usually best, as aspirin may further irritate the stomach and increase nausea and sickness.

Assortment of white, pink, red and yellow pills
Paracetamol is the best painkiller if you've got a hangover Credit: Alamy

Carbs

Many people swear by a greasy fry-up, but fatty and salt foods only aggravate fragile stomachs, says nutritonist Sara Stanner. She recommends instead tucking into some bland, slow-release carbohydrates such as cereal or toast, as they will sustain your energy levels for longer.

Full English breakfast: toast, beans, fried eggs, black pudding, bacon and grilled tomatoes on red gingham tablecloth.
Many of us crave a fry-up if we've had one too many, but it can be too much for the stomach to handle

WHAT NOT TO DO

Hair of the dog

Having a drink the morning after is an ancient remedy for hangovers. It can temporarily alleviate the symptoms, but it only postpones the inevitable. That dog will come back, and it will bite you – hard.

Drink coffee

Caffeine also works as a diuretic, so it can make alcohol-induced dehydration worse. Even if you feel you need pepping up it’s better to stick to water.

Bloody Mary cocktail with celery on a coaster and wooden table
Say no to that offer of a Bloody Mary Credit: Alamy
Cappucino in white cup and saucer with a tea spoon.
It's tempting, but a cappucino won't help you Credit: Alamy
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