Santa’s cure for the festive season

At one point of a drinkers life we have all uttered the words “I’m never going to drink again”.

Excruciating hangovers are not for faint of heart and with the holiday season upon us, escaping a hangover might not be the easiest of things.

But being the jolly fellow that he is, Santa Claus has tips for the naughty boys and girls who intend to part it up this festive season.

Santa’s hangover cure list is one that is easy to follow, but not always easy to digest:

Drink plenty of water. That means drinking high-quality H2O before, during and after the event. The general rule is one glass of water for every drink, and then chug a glass or two before bed and again when you wake up. Alcohol dehydrates you which causes a lot of the hangover pains. Water is a great way to combat those effects.

Devour eggs. Our bodies often crave things like eggs after we’ve been drinking. Why eggs? Well, the secret is the protein in eggs that helps to rehydrate cells (the same ones you dehydrated the night before). You can even chug them raw, if you can stomach them in your delicate state.

Get fruity. Fruits are full of fructose, which helps you get the alcohol out of your system faster. Vitamin C is also packed into most fruits, and that needs to be replenished after your night on the town. Whether it’s a fruit smoothie, tomato juice, orange juice, persimmon, or anything else fruity, get them down you.

Hair of the dog. You know the expression. Why does it work? Well, some believe a hangover is caused by alcohol withdrawal, which is alleviated by more booze. Others say it has to do with the effects of methanol metabolism. Either way, it’s a very good way to beat the hangover, but it obviously has major drawbacks. Good for a Sunday at home, not so good for a Monday morning in the office. Unless, of course, you have a very liberal alcohol policy.

Coffee can be your friend. The caffeine present in your cup of coffee acts as a vasoconstrictor. This helps to shrink those dilated blood vessels that are causing your headache. Apparently, anyway.

Winnie the Pooh’s secret. Honey is another one of those high fructose ingredients that helps your body get rid of the alcohol faster. So pour some on a cracker or two and put that hangover in its place.

Get some light exercise. Although your body will want to do anything but move, try getting a bit of exercise. Go on a brisk walk, a light jog, or to swim a few laps. If nothing else, exercising will boost your endorphins, helping you to get out of the black mood your hangover has thrown you into. Some believe that exercise helps to up your body’s ability to metabolise the alcohol that you’ve consumed.

Chew ginger. Chew small pieces of ginger to get relief from hangovers. Alternately, boil 10-12 pieces of fresh ginger root in about four cups of water and add the juice of one orange, half lemon and half cup of honey.

While the hangover cures are sure to aid you in your time of need, be sure to avoid driving after having a few drinks.