Hangover Helpers: Surviving the Morning After

It's the morning after, and if that glass on your nightstand is half empty, you may be even worse off than you thought.
While there are enough hangover remedies to make your head spin, most only address a small portion of the problem: dehydration.
Hangovers are actually caused by a complex chain of chemical reactions that occur in the body after drinking alcohol, which results in not only the loss of fluids but also sodium and potassium. The effects of a hangover include nausea, weakness, dizziness and sleeplessness.
If you have had one too many, here are a few of the most popular hangover remedies and how they can help:
* Water: It's the first step toward combating dehydration.
* Coffee: Coffee won't sober you up, but the caffeine will wake you up and help that headache. But it can also increase dehydration and make your stomach feel worse, so if you choose coffee as your cure, drink plenty of water.
* Eggs: The protein in eggs helps provide energy. They also contain cysteine, a nutrient that is thought to help rid the body of toxins.
* Energy drinks: Energy drinks can replenish lost nutrients and rehydrate your body. But one product, Hair of the Dog, goes beyond the typical energy drink because it also contains detoxifiers that target the liver. Hair of the Dog contains natural stimulants to get your metabolism going, 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, as well as B vitamins.
* Gingerroot: Gingerroot tea can settle your upset stomach.
* Hot soup: Soup soothes the stomach and helps with rehydration.
* Bananas: Bananas are rich in magnesium and potassium, which are depleted during heavy drinking.
* Honey: Honey will increase your blood sugar levels.
* Tomato juice: Since tomato juice contains salt, it helps the body retain fluids. In fact, any fruit or vegetable juice will rehydrate your body and replenish it with vitamins and other nutrients.