Have you been drinking alcohol while partying and wondering if you should take electrolytes for a hangover? Here are some fun facts and tips to help relieve symptoms!
Whether it's a New Year's celebration, a birthday or any other occasion, alcohol is almost always involved. Of course, you can avoid it to avoid the unpleasant effects of drinking alcohol the next day. In most cases, however, this is a real challenge if you actually want to party. What side effects does this cause and can the electrolyte levels in the body be balanced in a certain way? The following information can help you understand the processes involved and better deal with the symptoms of a hangover.
What should you know before taking electrolytes for hangovers?
When it comes to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration, alcohol most often lowers antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels. As a result, it canDehydration of the bodydue to frequent trips to the toilet. For example, you can expect to excrete around 1 liter of urine after drinking a 250 ml cocktail containing 50 ml of alcohol. One of the most well-known symptoms of a hangover is the darkening of the urine. The following factors must also be taken into account:
- Electrolytes are naturally occurring compounds in the body that, once dissolved, can also conduct electrical signals.
- When alcohol is consumed, frequent urination lowers electrolyte levels and usually leads to sodium, magnesium, potassium or calcium deficiencies. Such microelements are responsible for maintaining optimal hydration.
- In addition, the balanced electrolyte levels in the body ensure proper nerve, muscle, brain and heart function. After a party with alcohol consumption, the impaired balance can have a negative impact and lead to a poor morning mood.
- The nausea felt afterwards is due to the effects of alcohol on the gastrointestinal tract.
- Furthermore, alcohol consumption also causes the production of additional stomach acid and the release of secretions from the pancreas and intestines.
- The main suspect, however, is acetaldehyde – a byproduct produced when alcohol is broken down in the body. This culprit is said to be 30 times more toxic than spirits, which could largely explain hangover symptoms.
- When the body excretes alcohol or ethanol, this mainly occurs via the liver. For this purpose, liver cells produce the enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which leads to the formation of toxic acetaldehyde.
- Luckily, the body also produces another enzyme called acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which can convert acetaldehyde into inactive acetic acid. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for some people due to genetic reasons, causing them to suffer from severe hangover symptoms.
How can you help your body normalize electrolyte levels?
There are still a few important influencing factors that you should pay attention to if you have difficulty tolerating alcohol. For example, if you've noticed that you have worse hangover symptoms after certain types of alcohol, it's due to congeners. These are chemical compounds that can increase alcohol toxicity during the fermentation process, which can lead to more severe symptoms. According to experiences andscientific studiesThere is a clear difference between the hangover feeling after consuming clear alcohol such as vodka, white wine and gin compared to that after dark beers, red wine and whiskey. For this reason, some hangover countermeasures and remedies such as electrolytes may prove effective. Here are the most common ways to do this:
- If you drink alcohol, you should try to dilute it with enough water or soft drinks.
- Also, do not drink on an empty stomach or eat anything beforehand. Even when you get home, you should replenish your body with electrolytes with a glass of salted water before bed.
- When you wake up in the morning, eat yoghurt with muesli, and when you get up at noon - a warm soup or broth with meat and vegetables. This way, you get the much-needed electrolytes and other important nutrients to fight the hungover condition.
- It is best to drink herbal tea or pure water during the day, although carbonated drinks sometimes also help break down acetaldehyde.
- There are special supplements and drinks on the market that you can take to provide electrolytes to combat hangovers. Otherwise, foods and dishes with a high sodium content, such as juice from pickled cucumbers, etc., also help.
- Foods such as dark chocolate and bananas contain magnesium and potassium and can therefore also help normalize electrolyte levels.
- Taking vitamins such as B3, C, as well as zinc and selenium can also help relieve symptoms.
- Avoid taking aspirin the day after if your condition allows it.
Last but not least, don't forget to take a quick walk in the fresh air and a shower. These steps can help you use electrolytes properly for hangovers so you don't have to make empty promises of lifelong abstinence.
