The Truth About Hangovers: Do Honey Water and Strong Tea Really Work?

The Truth About Hangovers: Do Honey Water and Strong Tea Really Work?As people's lives become increasingly fast-paced, social events involving alcohol have become more common. How to deal with the discomfort after drinking healthily and safely has become a focal point for many people

The Truth About Hangovers: Do Honey Water and Strong Tea Really Work?

As people's lives become increasingly fast-paced, social events involving alcohol have become more common. How to deal with the discomfort after drinking healthily and safely has become a focal point for many people. According to the World Health Organization, millions of people worldwide die or suffer from diseases caused by alcohol consumption every year, with a significant portion related to misunderstanding hangover remedies or excessive drinking. Excessive alcohol consumption not only harms the liver but can also lead to a range of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and digestive system diseases. Have you ever regretted believing these "miracle cures" in your daily life?

What Helps Cure Hangovers Quickly? The claims about honey and strong tea being hangover cures have been circulating for a long time, and many people choose these "cures" when feeling unwell after drinking. However, they don't actually provide any substantial help in breaking down alcohol.

Honey water does contain fructose, which can slightly accelerate alcohol metabolism, but the effect is negligible and far from enough to cure a hangover quickly. The caffeine in strong tea does not have any hangover-curing effect. It can even make you more excited, exacerbating the effects of alcohol, especially for those who already feel palpitations after drinking. Drinking strong tea will only worsen the situation.

Why are these "hangover remedies" like honey and strong tea still widely circulated? Primarily because they sound reasonable theoretically. Drinking honey water seems to replenish energy, while strong tea helps you stay alert and focused. These effects are easily mistaken for "curing hangover" effects, which is mainly psychological comfort. The true hangover-curing effect is very limited.

The metabolism of alcohol is a fixed process, and no food or beverage can significantly accelerate this process. The metabolism of alcohol in the body mainly relies on alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase in the liver. The activity and amount of these two enzymes determine the speed of alcohol metabolism, and these factors are essentially determined by genes. In other words, some people are naturally better at metabolizing alcohol, while others are relatively less efficient. So-called "hangover foods" cannot significantly alter this metabolic process.

Why do people feel like honey water and strong tea are effective after drinking? This is largely related to psychological suggestion. When people feel uncomfortable after drinking, they are eager to find ways to alleviate the discomfort. Honey water and strong tea have been falsely promoted as "hangover cures" for a long time, naturally becoming the first choice. After drinking these "hangover cures," the symptoms might slightly subside, but this is more psychological than the actual effect of the food itself.

These 2 Methods Actually Work

Many people have their own little tricks for hangovers, but the truly effective methods are only two, surprisingly simple. These two methods are the scientific choice for dealing with the discomfort after drinking.

1. Drink Water

Some might find this advice too simple, something almost everyone knows. However, the role of drinking water is often underestimated. After drinking alcohol, alcohol not only makes you excited but also causes your body to dehydrate rapidly. Replenishing enough water at this time can help dilute the alcohol concentration in the blood, alleviating headaches, dry mouth, and other symptoms caused by dehydration. Drinking a cup of water before drinking can further lessen the harm of alcohol to your body. If you find plain water too boring, you can try drinking beverages rich in electrolytes, such as sports drinks. Electrolytes can help your body recover its water balance faster, making you feel more comfortable.

Of course, don't expect drinking water to instantly sober you up. Its function is to relieve discomfort, not to cure hangovers quickly. Alcohol metabolism takes time, and the body needs to process those alcohol molecules gradually. Drinking water can make this process slightly more bearable.

2. Rest

This might sound even simpler, but it is the most effective "hangover cure." After alcohol enters your body, the liver needs time to metabolize it into harmless substances and eliminate it from the body. This process cannot be significantly accelerated by any food or beverage. Only with time can the body complete this process. So after drinking, it's best to give yourself a quiet, comfortable environment to rest and allow your body enough time to repair and recover.

Some people, after drinking too much, may toss and turn due to discomfort and find it hard to fall asleep. In this case, try listening to some soft music or dimming the lights to relax as much as possible. Rest can not only help the body recover faster but also reduce post-drinking anxiety, headaches, and other discomforts. Even if you can't fall asleep immediately, lying down and closing your eyes can still be helpful.

Many people like to go for a "walk" after drinking, thinking that exercising and sweating can speed up hangover recovery. This practice is not scientific, and exercising after drinking can not only exacerbate dehydration but also lead to accidents due to alcohol affecting coordination.

The Harm of Alcohol

Many people think that having a few drinks is no big deal, a social necessity. But the harm of alcohol may be more serious than you think. The risks hidden behind every sip are worth noting.

Everyone's body reacts differently to alcohol. Some people may blush and feel their heart racing after a little drink, while others seem to be able to drink a thousand cups. However, regardless of alcohol tolerance, alcohol harms the body the same way. It affects our nervous system. The feeling of intoxication and relaxation after drinking is actually the brain losing its normal control ability under the influence of alcohol. In this state, the probability of making wrong decisions increases significantly. Many people have had accidents or even tragedies because they drank too much.

Drinking not only makes your mind foggy, but it can also damage multiple organs in your body. The liver is the most affected. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver. Long-term excessive drinking can lead to liver cell damage, eventually leading to alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. The liver is a silent organ. Many times, the problem is discovered only when the condition is already advanced, which is why liver disease is often called "the silent killer."

Not only the liver, but the cardiovascular system also suffers. Excessive drinking can raise blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Long-term drinking can also lead to cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart muscle gradually weakens, eventually leading to heart failure. Many people think that only getting drunk poses these risks, but even "social drinking" can gradually accumulate damage to the body if it continues over time.

The stomach is also a "victim" of alcohol. Alcohol can irritate the stomach lining, and long-term drinking can lead to gastritis, peptic ulcers, and even stomach cancer. Some people feel stomach pain and heartburn after drinking, which is a sign of alcohol damaging the stomach. Other parts of the digestive system, such as the pancreas, can also be affected by alcohol, increasing the risk of pancreatitis.

Even more disturbing is alcohol's impact on mental health. Long-term alcoholics have a significantly higher incidence of depression and anxiety than the general population. Some people just want to drown their sorrows in alcohol, only to find that alcohol plunges them into even deeper emotional valleys.

Conclusion

Understanding hangover remedies is crucial, but even more important is reducing the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption. Many people overlook this point. Drinking may be essential for many people, but as long as we understand hangover remedies and try to drink less, we can make our bodies healthier.

References

[1] Xiong Wikang. Do hangover drinks really cure hangovers? [J]. New Countryside, 2021(11): 27-39.

[2] Can Honey Cure Hangovers? [J]. Wealth Life, 2021(05): 7-13.

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