Hangover Cures From Around The World
A life lived often includes the occasional celebratory indulgence. As Christmas party season looms and sparkling flutes of champagne and vats of mulled wine are plentiful it’s easy to overindulge. What follows after indulging in a few too many festive drinks – waves of nausea, pounding headaches, and feelings of sheer listlessness can be pretty unpleasant. Unfortunately, hangovers do not discriminate. Ideally you would balance your drinking with water and line your stomach with food but this is the time of year when spontaneous celebrations can corner you, leaving you hungover.
From Bacon Sandwiches to pickled plums, we wanted to see how the rest of the world face the morning after. While we would be kidding ourselves to presume they cure all, exploring a few ‘remedies’ for ourselves might help…at least a little.
Britain: Bacon sandwich
British stars David Beckham and Kate Winslet both swear by a bacon sandwich after a night of drinking a little too much. And as far as many Brits are concerned, a bacon sarnie is the cure for hunger, heartbreak, an empty bank account, and most importantly, a hangover. They’re not wrong. The prep takes mere minutes, and the scent of sizzling bacon is enough to bring anyone back from the dead.
Korea: Hangover soup
“Haejangguk” is Korean for “hangover soup.” Literally. This catch-all term covers endless variants—as in all cultures, every family has their own recipe—but the soup base is pretty universal. A mineral-rich stock of ox bones, lots of shredded cabbage, chillies, and aromatics laced with whatever veggies are left in your fridge will do the job. Partygoers beware: This is not a dish that can be rustled up in minutes so requires some forward planning. Why not store a few portions in your freezer and defrost it as required?
Japan: Umeboshi Plums
They are salty and searingly tart, yet in Japanese tradition, umeboshi plums can offer a hangover cure like no other. Scientists have found eating the pickled fruit helps the liver process excess alcohol and to replenish your depleted electrolytes. Called “The King of Alkaline Foods”, many converts say that it helps to reduce acidity and balance the digestive system. And of course the sharp taste is likely to jolt anyone out of their hangover haze. When shopping for umeboshi plums, carefully read the labels. Your plums should have no more than three ingredients: Umeboshi plums, salt, and shiso leaf.
Peru: Tiger’s milk
Leche de tigre is not tiger’s milk as the name suggests. Instead, it’s the juice left at the bottom of a bowl of ceviche. The combination of lime, fish stock, spicy chili, and cilantro is really a miracle cocktail of salt, electrolytes, vitamins, and protein. Pour the leftovers in a blender, blitz, and drink. Why not chase your shot with some hydrating coconut water. Peruvians have long sworn by this remedy to lift those sunken hungover spirits, and while it won’t cure the hangover completely, the zesty, spicy broth will put the wind back in your sails.
Colombia: Changua
There’s a reason why egg dishes are popular hangover food: they contain cysteine, an amino acid that some research suggests can relieve nausea and headaches. In Colombia, eggs are poached in milk and topped with chopped coriander and cubes of stale bread called calado, forming a stewy, soupy breakfast known as changua.
During the holiday season it can be tricky to prioritise your nutrition. Why not let our team help you to stay on top of your health goals? Order your Balance Box now.