Does Coffee really help with Hangover?
Η πρώτη σκέψη όταν ξυπνάμε με βαρύ κεφάλι, είναι ο καφές.
Our head hurts, we feel drowsy and our joints are heavy, our stomachs are upset, our mouth is dry and we are a little dizzy (or even very dizzy): we probably drank a little more last night. It has happened to everyone!
From the time when Alexandros Papadiamantis described the feeling of the "next morning" as "heavy head" until today, excessive alcohol consumption puts a lot of strain on the body, resulting in a series of particularly annoying symptoms the next morning. Usually, the first move of someone suffering from a hangover is to make a coffee όμως but to what extent does coffee help effectively deal with the hangover?
It is a fact that the best treatment for a hangover is prevention, ie the sensible consumption of good quality alcohol, accompanied by plenty of water, and on a full stomach. However, if we exceeded the limits or if we drank a little awkwardly, we can see how our favorite coffee will help us.
Does Coffee really help with Hangover?
Coffee will not make you sober
It is a fact that many people resort to coffee as a means to "get undrunk" quickly, believing that drinking coffee, either immediately after alcohol or the next morning, will help regain their sobriety. However, this is just a myth - which, in fact, can become very dangerous.
Coffee consumption has no interaction with alcohol, whether we are talking about concomitant consumption or treatment for hangover. The ingredients in coffee do cause alertness, but they do not affect the same receptors as alcohol, so they do not reduce or change its effects. Drinking coffee can keep you awake and alert, but it will not make you more sober.
In conclusion, a coffee in the morning after a strong drink may help you wake up, but it will not reduce our dizziness. What you must always keep in mind is that consuming coffee with alcohol does NOT make you more sober, so driving and related activities must be kept aside.
If you are a regural coffee drinker, drink during the hangover too
Although caffeine is not addictive, scientists agree that those who consume large amounts of coffee daily may experience mild withdrawal symptoms if they stay away from their favorite beverage. If you wake up with the symptoms of a hangover, abstaining from coffee will make these symptoms even more pronounced.
If the hangover is accompanied by a headache, coffee can make it worse
Caffeine slightly increases blood pressure, constricting blood vessels. Under normal circumstances, this does not have the slightest effect on your body, but if you are overwhelmed by alcohol, this effect is multiplied. If the hangover symptoms include a headache, then it may worsen slightly with coffee overdose, although each body works differently.
Coffee moisturizes - but in moderation!
Apart from the toxic properties of alcohol and the stomach problems caused by its overconsumption, one of the main reasons why we feel discomfort during a hangover is dehydration. Although the best way to avoid it is to prevent it, drinking alcohol in moderation and definitely accompanied by plenty of water, drinking fluids can relieve the symptoms of a hangover, since coffee is, for the most part, water.
However, coffee has a diuretic effect, and its increased consumption can lead to fluid loss, so it is recommended that coffee be consumed always in combination with generous doses of water. It is worth noting that despite its diuretic effect, coffee does not help eliminate alcohol from the body, as a common saying goes.
If you woke up with hangover, a cup of coffee will not save you, but it will definitely make youfeel better. We enjoy our drink responsibly, we stay away from the wheel and we remember that it is "excellent in every way", in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.
