With the supplement industry projected to be worth £221 billion by 2030, there are pills and powders promising to cater to every health concern.
Are hangover pills are the new ‘wonder-cure’ for this festival season? They sound like the holy grail. Failing being sensible (and who wants that in the summer season) wouldn’t it be great if you could pop a few pills and prevent that hangover from hell
So-called hangover pills, to be consumed during or after drinking, and ‘post rave’ supplement packs, make claims such as being a ‘cheat code’, or promise to contain science-backed ingredients to make you feel immediately better. But is it really possible to hack a hangover?
We all know that the liver suffers through excess drinking. This is because it is the organ that breaks down ethanol [the toxin in alcohol] into less dangerous substances. And to top it off, there’s the lack of sleep and recovery time. Alcohol sedates us but it doesn’t help us sleep. Then there’s the fact you’re creating extra urine, which means that you’re needing to trek to the loo more than you would if you were sober, further disrupting your shut eye.
So, can hangover supplements help?
The evidence supporting their efficacy is very limited. They provide a bit of a buzz as they usually contain B12, which is an energy vitamin. If you are keen to take a ready-packaged solution, it’s smart to check the supps don’t contain sugars.
5-HTP is an ingredient found in some post-party packs. It is a building block of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is known to be depleted when taking drugs such as MDMA.
If you don’t fancy hangover pills, here’s my advice – line your stomach.
Yes, it’s obvious, but getting a meal in before drinking really will make a world of difference. Just protein and fat-based foods, so if you’re pushed it could just be a handful of nuts, or olives or a bit of cheese. Something substantial in your stomach not only seems to slow the absorption of alcohol into your blood stream, it also reduces how much alcohol gets absorbed. And it goes without saying: stay hydrated with non-alcoholic drinks throughout the night, and try to match your volume of water drink for drink.
Before bed:
Milk thistle, supports the different pathways in the liver that break down alcohol into its safer form before it’s eliminated, plus magnesium glycinate which will really help you to sleep better. The magnesium helps to relax the nervous system and the muscular system.
The morning after: top up lost nutrients and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate with some Vitamin C and B12.
And to rehydrate and compensate for electrolyte loss take a supplement such as Elete (£18.45, eletewater.co.uk). Coconut water can also be used as an alternative to electrolyte supplements, as it provides potassium and magnesium.
Happy festival season.
