Having an extra glass of wine or eggnog at a holiday party might not seem like a bad choice in the glow of Christmas tree lights and under the influence of Mariah Carey jams. However, it can leave people cursing their holiday fun once the morning rolls around.
Hangovers can result after just one alcoholic beverage in some people. Since alcohol is a diuretic, it can result in increased urination, dehydration and loss of electrolytes. It can also cause inflammation, upset the stomach lining, cause blood sugar levels to drop and can impact sleep, per the Mayo Clinic.
Last year, results of a survey from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center revealed that a third of Americans admitted that they drank more alcohol during the holidays. In 2018, the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health asked a national sample of parents of children up to age 9 about their drinking habits and only 47% said that they were very likely to think about how much they drink at a special event.
As we head deeper into holiday hangover risk season, a doctor from the U.K. claims she has a simple solution to the dreaded aftereffects of a night spent imbibing: a breakfast sandwich.
Dr. Zoe Williams, a London-based general practitioner doesn’t recommend just any sandwich. She explained to MailOnline that it needs four key ingredients. To start, a half wholemeal, half white bread which is then topped with bacon, egg and avocado. Here’s the role each part plays in healing hangovers.
BREAD – Williams said that wholemeal bread is healthier than white bread, containing proteins fiber than can help hangover symptoms, but that it can have a strong flavor that triggers nausea.
BACON – Protein is a “lifesaver” for people struggling with hangovers since it has an essential amino acid called lysine that helps the liver break down alcohol, Williams said. Bacon also can help replenish salts the body lost while processing alcohol and a 2009 study out of the University of Newcastle found bacon can help neurotransmitters in the brain and reduce the brain fog feeling that comes with a hangover.
EGG – According to Williams, this ingredient is the “hero” of her sandwich. Eggs are full of protein and nutrients such as vitamins A, D and B12.
That last one is absorbed by the stomach and helps keep the brain and nerves healthy. It can be depleted by drinking if the stomach lining is damaged. Additionally, eggs contain an amino acid called cysteine which helps your body to break down acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol.
AVOCADO – It might seem like just a fun add-on, but avocado plays an important role in the sandwich as well. This fruit contains potassium, an electrolyte that gets depleted by alcohol consumption, as well as healthy fats that provide energy and others vitamins and minerals.
As for a drink, Williams recommends washing down the sandwich with water. She is from the U.K., so she said tea would also pair well with it. Although many of us in the U.S. find ourselves reaching for coffee when a hangover strikes, the Cleveland Clinic warned that coffee could make things worse, since it is also a diuretic like alcohol.
One trick that might help avoid a hangover altogether (and thus not impede on a morning coffee routine) is to stop drinking at least two hours before bed and to start drinking water before going to sleep, Williams said. She also recommended that people keep water by their bedside after drinking alcohol.