Close Menu
Honi Soit
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • جذوري my roots
    • Patterns of a War-Torn Conscience: Towards a Healing Conceptualisation of Praxis
    • Enmore Psychogeography
    • The night has its own logic
    • Yield
    • Microsoft OneNote is the Digital Note Taking App for All YourDevices
    • Be my fly
    • Truth, heritage, and cultural belonging in the Irish diaspora
    • About
    • Print Edition
    • Student Journalism Conference 2025
    • Writing Comp
    • Advertise
    • Locations
    • Contact
    Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok
    Honi SoitHoni Soit
    Friday, May 16
    • News
    • Analysis
    • Culture
    • Opinion
    • University
    • Features
    • Perspective
    • Investigation
    • Reviews
    • Comedy
    • Student Journalism Conference 2025
    Honi Soit
    Home»Science

    Hangover Grub

    By Melissa ChowMarch 10, 2016 Science 4 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The prevailing narrative has always been there is no intervention that will successfully prevent or treat alcohol hangovers. What experts will tell you over and over again, is that the only way to avoid a hangover is to not drink to excess.

    Director of USyd’s University Health Service, Associate Professor Ian Marshall, insists “there is no magic cure”. Some strategies may improve specific symptoms like headaches or vomiting, but nothing relieves everything.

    Hangover cures need to do two things: prevent alcohol from getting into the blood and or increase the rate at which it is metabolised. Associate Professor Gareth Denyer, who lectures Molecular Bioscience at USyd, can’t ever see a silver bullet existing.

    The elusive search for a hangover cure has now turned to complementary and alternative medicines. Will a hero emerge? I took the newest rumoured hangover cures to local experts.

    Asian Pear Juice

    In what may soon win Australia bragging rights, the CSIRO has found consuming 200ml of Korean pear juice increases alcohol metabolism and may inhibit its absorption. Consumption of whole Korean pears, which can be found at any local Korean grocery store, produces a similar effect.

    However, it must be emphasised that this effect only occurs if the pears are consumed before hitting the booze.

    Dr Jon Wardle, founding Director of the Network of Researchers in the Public Health of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, believes the fruit’s natural fructose could be the key. CSIRO continues to investigate.

    Vitamin IV Clinics

    While Marshall says there is no evidence  IV solutions can cure hangovers, Dr Wardle at least thinks they are relatively safe. Rehydration is crucial in sobering-up, and IV hydration (where a cocktail of vitamins, electrolytes and fluids is pumped directly into one’s veins) has an immediate effect. Sessions start from $150, making them popular amongst the rich tween demographic in the US. Melbourne is the only state in Australia with any such clinics. Sydney’s last and possibly final clinic was shut down last week after a treatment scandal.

    Chocolate Milk and Greasy Food

    Dr Wardle says “some greasy breakfast with ‘good quality’ foods such as eggs, bacon and olive oil” can help get through the morning after, along with chocolate milk. Choccy milk has vitamin D, sugars and proteins that will help replace the electrolytes annihilated by last night’s bender.  The proteins in salty food, eggs and milk contain cysteine, which helps break down and neutralise alcohol.

    An honourable mention must be extended to the humble Vegemite-on-toast. Yes, drunkards can be happy little Vegemites too. The familiar brown sludge is high in B vitamins and folic acid, which are typically depleted after a night of heavy drinking.

    Unfortunately, my quest for the ultimate hangover cure has only left me grieving over broken myths.

    Academics’ hangover cures

    Dr Jon Wardle, founding Director of the Network of Researchers in the Public Health of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Chancellor’s Research Fellow at the Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Health, UTS:

    “My personal tip is to alternate between drinks, with water to keep hydrated, and usually have a sweet drink before going to bed. If things are still bad the next day, some more sweet drink: a juice – it nearly has as much sugars as soft drinks, but at least has vitamins. If things are still bad, I tend to resort to sweet fizzy drink over the day until I do feel better. Getting up and moving around is essential. Your body wants to get rid of the by-products, but it needs help.”

    Associate Professor Gareth Denyer, Molecular Bioscience Lecturer, Faculty of Science, USyd:

    “Water, water, tea, water, aspirin, dry toast, water, tea, water, shower, water, tea.”

    Associate Professor Ian Marshall, FRCGP, FRACGP, Director, University Health Service, USyd:

    “These days, I don’t need a cure for myself.”

    alcohol asian pear chocolate milk cure greasy food grub hangover IV hydration Melissa Chow

    Keep Reading

    Artificial Unintelligence: A note on novelty

    Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells

    Reducing your risk of drink spiking at Uni events

    Migrant and refugee youth: examining their sexual and reproductive health rights

    Climate change increasing risk of cardiovascular disease

    Australian psychiatrists will now be able to prescribe psilocybin and MDMA.

    Just In

    جذوري my roots

    May 16, 2025

    Patterns of a War-Torn Conscience: Towards a Healing Conceptualisation of Praxis

    May 16, 2025

    Enmore Psychogeography

    May 16, 2025

    The night has its own logic

    May 16, 2025
    Editor's Picks

    A meditation on God and the impossible pursuit of answers

    May 14, 2025

    We Will Be Remembered As More Than Administrative Errors

    May 7, 2025

    NSW universities in the red as plague of cuts hit students & staff

    April 30, 2025

    Your Compliance Will Not Save You

    April 16, 2025
    Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok

    From the mines

    • News
    • Analysis
    • Higher Education
    • Culture
    • Features
    • Investigation
    • Comedy
    • Editorials
    • Letters
    • Misc

     

    • Opinion
    • Perspective
    • Profiles
    • Reviews
    • Science
    • Social
    • Sport
    • SRC Reports
    • Tech

    Admin

    • About
    • Editors
    • Send an Anonymous Tip
    • Write/Produce/Create For Us
    • Print Edition
    • Locations
    • Archive
    • Advertise in Honi Soit
    • Contact Us

    We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The University of Sydney – where we write, publish and distribute Honi Soit – is on the sovereign land of these people. As students and journalists, we recognise our complicity in the ongoing colonisation of Indigenous land. In recognition of our privilege, we vow to not only include, but to prioritise and centre the experiences of Indigenous people, and to be reflective when we fail to be a counterpoint to the racism that plagues the mainstream media.

    © 2025 Honi Soit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • Accessibility

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.