9 Nutrient-Packed Foods To Relieve A Hangover

If pouring yourself a glass of wine or popping some bubbly are part of your festive plans, we've rounded up nine good-for-you, recovery-packed foods that can further restore balance and help your body break down any boozy remains lingering in your system. Because when it comes to festive drinks, there are multiple ways to make the healthiest pre- and post-celebratory choices that help us cope with this "too-much" pandemic sentiment, and curative foods might just be one of them.

Packed with several vital minerals, antioxidants, and nutrients is coconut water, the sweet-tasting liquid1 found in the center of young green coconuts (also known as "pipa" water in some Spanish-speaking countries). As a diuretic, alcohol can easily pullout water from your system, causing you to pee2 more often and thus depleting your body's fluids. Drinking coconut water can help offset and prevent alcohol-induced dehydration, making for an excellent low-calorie, low-carb, and electrolyte-rich liquid option3.

Adequate fluid intake is critical not only to keep hydrated but to support the liver's health too. Drinking alcohol in excess can lead to liver4 injury and a reduced ability to properly process alcohol's enzymes. Tomatoes contain potent anti-inflammatory compounds5 (hello, lycopene) that might protect against liver damage and liver cancer6 development. 

A high-quality protein source is a compelling superhero in helping your organism break down the adverse byproducts of alcohol metabolism. Versatile, tasty, and cysteine-rich, eggs are a great way to restore your body's glutathione7 levels and possibly improve your hangover symptoms.

What do mangoes, bananas, and watermelons have in common? Beyond sharing a common tropical heart, these fruits are fiber-packed potassium powerhouses that are easy to digest and can boost your digestive system's ability to process and eliminate alcohol from the organism. Need some tropical fruit inspiration? Try this lovely mango-lentil recipe.

The high-fructose content and anti-intoxicating qualities of honey can help ease out hangover signs by eliminating alcohol from the body faster, a study8 shows. Although research on this subject is lacking, honey's antiseptic and antibacterial properties make it a promising, sweet option to nourish your body's post-drinking healing efforts.

This leafy green veggie is a must when it comes to restoring your body's nutrient levels9 après alcohol. Spinach is rich in folate (folic acid), vitamin K, and chlorophyll (to name a few), which are all vital components in helping your organism turn food into usable energy and reinvigorate from within.

A nice, steamy cup of ginger tea might just do the trick to make your belly smile and body recoup from drink-provoked sickness. Widely known since ancient times for its digestive, anti-inflammatory benefits, this herbaceous perennial is thought of as an effective antioxidative10 remedy for nausea11 and hangover-related stomach discomfort. 

It's no wonder that having a hearty, belly-hugging bowl of oatmeal can further fight off the troublesome remnants of a boozy feast. Oats are nothing short of a food superstar when it comes to their fiber-loaded, complex carbohydrate content and high amounts of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Oats12 can help with hangover symptoms by providing a slow and steady sugar release13 into the bloodstream and improving fatigue or tiredness feelings.

Following oatmeal's blood-balancing properties are the magnesium-rich benefits of nuts. Almonds, walnuts, and cashews are among the several kinds of nuts that will not only satisfy your protein quota but help you revamp your body's magnesium14 levels and keep those hangover symptoms at bay.