From The Straits Times    |

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Having a throbbing headache and can’t keep any food down after you went all out at a party last night? You might be regretting your poor decisions in the glare of the morning sun, but we can’t blame you — ’tis the season to be jolly, after all.

While there’s no magical cure, here are six hangover remedies you can prep at home — in under five minutes — which will bring you some relief. Psst, the next time you have a party planned, drink more water in between drinks and grease up before you go. Your head and stomach will thank you for it.

 

1. The trio of coconut water, 100 Plus and a tablet of Vitamin C

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What you’ll need: One litre of unsweetened coconut water, 500ml of 100PLUS and one tablet of Vitamin C. Mix them up together.

Prepare this before you head out for a tipple. Once you get back, hydrate yourself with this concoction which will help to flush out the alcohol in your system. Both coconut water and 100PLUS will restore hydration and replenish electrolytes, not to mention the former has antioxidant properties. Vitamin C will help combat the free radicals and prevent them from damaging your cells.

You’ll wake up feeling refreshed and like a new man.

 

2. Michelada

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What you’ll need: One can of beer, a box of tomato juice, a tablespoon of fresh lime, a dash of hot sauce (such as Tabasco) and a pinch of salt. Mix equal volume of beer and tomato juice together before adding in lime and hot sauce. Prep the rim of the glass with salt before pouring the mixture into the glass.

Although this might sound counter-intuitive, a mixture of beer and tomato juice can help ease a hangover. Some say drinking “the hair of the dog” the day after — basically downing more booze — is the best medicine, but we think the nutrient rich tomato juice is the main reason why your throbbing pain finds some relief. Since the fruit is filled with Vitamins A and C, as well as beta-carotene and antioxidant lycopene, it is great in restoring the lost nutrients in your body.

The tangy taste of citrus and spice rejuvenates your senses, which will perk you up in an instant.

 

3. Virgin Bloody Mary

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What you’ll need: 3/4 cup of tomato juice, 1/8 cup of beef stock, a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, a dash of hot sauce (again, like Tabasco), a pinch of salt and pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce. Pour everything into a glass and mix well.

Similar to the Michelada but sans alcohol, this beverage helps to alleviate your headache and settle your stomach because of the antioxidant-rich tomato juice which helps to fight the toxins in your liver.

Furthermore, the spices in Worcestershire sauce is rich in Vitamin B6, which helps our bodies fight infection and aids in digestion. Let this vitamin-rich mocktail be your go-to drink for hangovers from now on.

 

4. An egg sandwich and 100PLUS

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What you’ll need: An egg sandwich and a bottle of 100PLUS. You can make your own before the party and store it for the next day, or simply get a store-bought one.

It may be hard to swallow a sandwich, or anything for that matter, but this is the breakfast of champions. Eggs have a high level of cysteine, an amino acid, which helps break down acetaldehyde, the root cause of hangovers. It also houses a range of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

The carbohydrate-rich bread will help to counteract the nauseating effects caused by low blood sugar, while the 100PLUS helps to replenish the depleted electrolytes and make swallowing food a little more bearable. Slice your sandwich into bite-sized pieces and nibble slowly — you’ll feel better!

 

5. The banana, coconut water, honey, almond butter and sea salt smoothie

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What you’ll need: A frozen banana, 3/4 cup of unsweetened coconut water, one tablespoon of honey, 1/2 tablespoon of almond butter and a dash of sea salt. Chop the banana up into bite-size pieces before blending the mixture together to achieve a smoothie.

This smoothie is filled with nutrient-rich ingredients that will replenish your body after a crazy night out. Bananas and honey are filled with potassium, as well as fructose and glucose, which will help to metabolise the toxins in your body. Coconut water is full of antioxidants and electrolytes that will restore your body’s ions to the right levels, while the high Vitamin E found in almond butter will help to support your liver.

The sea salt helps to restore your sodium levels. In other words — an all-round perfect drink!

 

6. Green Juice

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What you’ll need: 1/2 a bunch of kale, one Fuji apple, one cucumber, one stalk of peeled celery, one cup of parsley, 1/2 a fennel bulb, one inch piece of ginger and a lemon. Blend all the ingredients together before addinglemon juice. Chill before drinking.

Green juice is not for everybody. After all, it’s a blended salad so it might make those who hate greens want to throw up more. But if you can bear it, this beverage is a powerhouse and packed full of nutritious ingredients like kale and lemon, which are both rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C.

Apples contain high levels of fructose that help to metabolise the toxins, while cucumber, celery, parsley, fennel and ginger contains various vitamins and sugar compounds that detoxify your body and balance out the electrolyte levels. Ginger is also a well-known remedy for settling an upset stomach. As for the taste, well it’s a small price to pay to get your body back into tip-top shape. 

 

 

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