The hangover can be so painful that you may regret having drunk so much, or you may think, "I don't want to drink anymore".

If you have a hangover, what can you do to get rid of it quickly? Let's take a look at the following.

What is a hangover?

A hangover is caused by acetaldehyde, which is formed in the process of the liver breaking down alcohol (ethanol) taken into the body through drinking.

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About the breakdown of alcohol and acetaldehyde

As mentioned in the previous article "Alcohol and Acetaldehyde Decomposition", alcohol is normally decomposed in the mitochondria of the liver into acetaldehyde, which is harmful to the body, but is later decomposed into acetic acid and water, which are harmless, and then discharged from the body.

However, if alcohol is not broken down properly and remains in the body as acetaldehyde, it can cause headaches, nausea, and vasodilation, which are not good for the body.

Some Japanese people have weak activity of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase type 2 (ALDH2), and many people who are said to be weak drinkers have no or weak activity of this acetaldehyde dehydrogenase type 2 (ALDH2).

The most important thing to remember is that you should not drink too much alcohol if you do not want to have a hangover, but if you drink too much or are sick, the acetaldehyde will not be broken down properly and you will have a hangover.

In addition, some people who were fine with hangovers when they were younger may find that they become hungover more frequently as they get older.

What is the best way to improve a hangover?

What to do if you have a hangover

You drank a lot of alcohol the night before and woke up with a hangover. There are a few things you can do in this case.

First of all, drink water because your body is dehydrated from drinking. This is a very effective method.

If you have a hangover, it is best to drink water that contains electrolytes, not just water.

One drink that is said to be very effective is called "OS1", which is similar to Pocari Sweat, produced by Otsuka Pharmaceutical and available at drugstores. This drink is good for countermeasures against heat stroke and for effective hydration, but it is also said to be very effective for hangover symptoms. In short, I think it is very good at quickly replenishing dehydration along with electrolytes.

Improve your blood sugar level

Next, in terms of speeding up the metabolism of alcohol and acetaldehyde that have not been fully decomposed in the body, it is very good to drink something that contains a little bit of carbohydrates because blood sugar levels are often a little lower than normal in the morning after a hangover. Rather than just taking a large amount of carbohydrates, I recommend something with a little bit of carbohydrates.

By raising the blood sugar level, the metabolism of the mitochondria in the liver is promoted, and the metabolism of alcohol and acetaldehyde left in the body can be expected.

What to eat to prevent a hangover

Drinking alcohol without eating anything to begin with is the worst thing you can do.

In order for the body to metabolize alcohol and break down acetaldehyde, it needs glucose, or blood sugar. Eating food and drinking alcohol properly is the best way to prevent hangovers.

And what should I eat? That's what I'm talking about.

There is a lot of debate, but basically, it is foods that promote alcohol metabolism in the mitochondria, namely proteins and fats. Therefore, I believe that eating meat-based foods that contain both protein and fat will help prevent hangovers.

Finally.

When you have a hangover, it is important to drink water and activate the mitochondria in your liver to accelerate the metabolism of alcohol and acetaldehyde left in your body.

If you like to drink, you may think, "I don't want to drink for a while". However, as soon as the hangover is gone, you may find yourself in a negative loop of drinking too much and getting a hangover again. To prevent this from happening, it is important to switch to a way of drinking that does not cause hangovers, or to make a habit of drinking alcohol after taking measures to prevent hangovers.