01 January,2012 07:18 AM IST | | Team SMD
From munching on eggs and dunking down a herbal margerita to gulping down eggs and some bananas, we bring you some of the best tried and tested cures for a hangover. How can we be sure, you ask? Because we spoke to the inveterates who've been down with a headache hell too many times than they'd care to remember, and emerged shiny and new each time. Happy New Year, dear readers!
Can't read this without the words swimming up at you? Don't worry, help is at hand. And we'll keep it short. If all you want to do this Sunday is recover (help your liver process the toxins left over from alcohol metabolism) don't reach out for a glass of beer. Drinking more alcohol will only give your liver more toxins to deal with. Try out these tried and tested home remedies culled from the recipe books of the highly experienced, instead.
Eggs (lots of them): Bacon and eggs may be the classic combination, but greasy bacon is more a pre-hangover food than a post-hangover one.
Fatty foods line the stomach, and help absorb the alcohol, however, it's probably best to avoid them the day after a party. Eggs, however, have high amounts of cysteine, an amino acid that breaks down toxins left over after the alcohol's been broken down in the body.
Banana with milk:u00a0Yes we know, it sounds heavy. But you'll be surprised at how hungry you'll find yourself when you lay your hands on some wholesome fruit that's energy-giving, electrolyte-replacing and light on the tummy.
What's even better is a banana milkshake. Bananas are rich in potassium that alcohol's diuretic effect depletes your body of. Kiwi fruit would be a welcome addition. Tip: Add a dash of honey, instead of sugar to sweeten up the shake.
Herbal margarita: Herbal margarita: Six tulsi leaves, three cloves, a pinch of pepper powder, soda and sour mix (10 ml of sugar syrup, 10 ml of lime juice). Add all the ingredients and mix well in a shaker with ice .
Stern the mixture (without ice) into a Martini glass and garnish with a slice of lime. The martini glass can be rimmed with salt. It'll taste a bit sour, but after the night you've had, you may just find yourself in a bit of heaven. (Recipe courtesy Lakhan Jethani, owner, IBAR)
Carrot Juice (with some minor additions): Take a carrot, an apple, a slice of ginger and five ice cubes. Peel the carrot, cut it into pieces along with the apple.
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Put all the ingredients in blender and mix. Pour into a tall glass and add a dash of lime. Guzzle it down. Studies have also shown that fructose increases the rate at which the body gets rid of toxins while providingu00a0 vitamins that help to replenish the system which has been drained by alcohol.
Oranges (lots of them): We meant it when we said Vitamin C can help. The diuretic effects of alcohol deplete the body of nutrients and water, hence the parched feeling when you wake up. Consume vitamin-rich foods to replenish the body of these micro-nutrients, and, if you're up to it, follow cocktail company Tulleho's training manager Rohan Jelkie's advice.
(Meant for those who know, and possess, herbal additive, Angostura Bitters).
You'll need two teaspoons of Angostura bitters, a dash of lime juice, 60 ml of Orange juice, 10 mint leaves, crushed ice. Mix ingredients, top up with ice and add the bitters at the end.
