If you’ve ever had a hangover, then you know how miserable they can be. You feel like crap, your head is pounding, and all you want to do is curl up in a dark room and hope that the world will stop spinning. This leads us to the question — is coffee good for hangovers?
Some people swear by it while others say it makes them feel even worse. So what’s the truth? Let’s take a closer look at whether or not coffee is good for hangovers.
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Is Coffee Good For Hangovers?
So, if you drink coffee, it should help you stay hydrated, correct?
Coffee is a diuretic, which means it can cause you to urinate more frequently and may not be as helpful in replenishing your body’s fluids. In short, drinking coffee could actually slow down your rehydration process.
Coffee might not be the best choice if you’re looking to ease your hangover headache. Caffeine can constrict blood vessels and raise blood pressure, which could make that pounding sensation in your head even worse.
If you’re used to having coffee in the morning and suddenly stop, you may experience a headache due to caffeine withdrawal. So if you usually drink coffee, it’s best to have a small cup. However, don’t overdo it, as too much caffeine can actually make your headache worse.
Can coffee sober you up?
Forget what you’ve seen in movies about sobering up quickly with coffee. It can’t undo a night of imbibing. Coffee beans are not magic, and the drink cannot undo a night of imbibing.
Coffee can help to sober you up by providing a temporary energy boost and increasing alertness. However, coffee cannot make you less drunk.
Myths About Coffee and Hangovers
Anecdotal evidence suggests that drinking coffee will help alleviate many of the symptoms associated with having a bad case of a hangover. But in reality, this simply isn’t the case.
Coffee is not going to help you sober up any quicker. The only way to do that is by waiting for your body to metabolize the alcohol and rid it from your system.
It doesn’t matter how large or small a person is, or what type of alcoholic beverage they’re drinking. The speed at which a person’s BAC rises is the same.
The liver is the body’s filter for toxins, and it needs to be able to process the alcohol and get rid of it quickly.
Caffeine can cause a headache and it can also increase your heart rate.
What you’ll likely experience is an increased thumping in your brain. And it won’t subside any time soon.
The coffee will likely exacerbate your hangover symptoms and make them last longer.
Can coffee clear alcohol and toxins from your bloodstream faster?
Coffee can help clear alcohol and toxins from your bloodstream faster by boosting fat metabolism.
Caffeine does not speed up alcohol metabolism, according to research. This means that coffee will not sober you up any faster in the morning.
So, if you’re thinking a cup of coffee will wake you up, don’t!
Coffee does not increase alcohol metabolism or sober you up more quickly.
The Pros and Cons of Drinking Coffee for a Hangover
While caffeine can have some positive short-term effects when recovering from a hangover, it can also cause some negative effects.
It all depends on your situation.
If you need to stay alert during important business meetings, then drinking coffee can help you.
On the other hand, if you’re trying to enjoy a lazy day at home while hungover, you might want to reconsider drinking coffee. Although coffee can help alleviate some symptoms of a hangover, it can also make others worse.
What should you drink for a hangover?
First of all, let’s make something clear: There is no surefire cure for a hangover. There is no shortage of claims about miracle cures.
But they are as unreal as many other myths and legends.
So, what can you do? The most obvious way to halt a hangover is to simply not drink so much.
If you’ve read this article, then you probably already know that you can’t just close your bar tab whenever you want. Instead, you’re probably looking for an alternative.
Honestly, drinking water is probably better. Try drinking a glass of water before you go to bed and the same when you get up.
Drinking sports drinks can help you rehydrate and replenish lost nutrients and electrolytes. However, it is important to drink them slowly – chugging gallons will not hydrate you instantly. Give your body time to process the alcohol and let the hangover run its course.
The only thing that can make a hangover go away is time. It takes time for the body to process alcohol. So, be patient and wait for the hangover to pass.
Don’t hope to find a better feeling by drinking coffee.
Is Coffee Good For Hangovers – Conclusion
So, is coffee good for hangovers? There’s no definitive answer, but it seems that drinking a cup of joe may help to ease some of the symptoms. If you’re feeling particularly bad, though, it’s probably best to just stay in bed and wait for the hangover to pass.