Rough morning? Your head is spinning, your mouth is dry, and you can barely move. That final drink last night really set you over the edge and I bet your regretting it. Don’t worry - we have all been there. Although working out is probably the last thing you want to do, it may be a good idea, especially to get rid of some of that guilt. On the other hand, it may not be such a good idea. This is still a debate in the fitness world of whether working out can really help or hurt your hangover.
What Is A Hangover?
Hangovers are different for every person. Some experience stomach pain, nausea, or even headaches. The main cause of a hangover is dehydration. The body is starving for water. Alcoholic drinks contain ethanol. This chemical causes the body to urinate more frequently and enhance the dehydration.
Hangovers also occur because of the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol. This is a two-step process for your liver. The first process that occurs is an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which converts alcohol into a toxic substance known as acetaldehyde. This is then converted to acetate, a non-toxic substance. Normally this process occurs very quickly. But, when an abundance amount of alcohol is consumed, this process slows down or may even backup.
Positives & Negatives of Working Out With a Hangover
Exercise releases endorphins into the body, making you feel better and relieves temporary pain. However, once the vigorous activity has stopped, symptoms may come back even worse than before. The body is also able to sweat out some of the alcohol, forcing you to sober up a little more quickly. This has its drawbacks as well because by sweating, the body is releasing more water from the body, which is adding to the dehydration. If you do plan on working out during a hangover, a necessity is to drink plenty of water. As stated before, the body is gasping for water. Drinking fluids will help you to recover from last night's adventure.
Eating & Rest
The best cures for a hangover is receiving plenty of sleep and eating well. Sleep allows the body to heal from illness. This works for hangovers as well. Sleep is an essential part of everyone’s overall well-being. After you have revived yourself with more sleep and the nausea has lifted, you're going to look for a great meal. Although your first instinct is to eat something fried and greasy, this is a bad idea. Breakfast foods are the best choice. Items such as eggs, toast, fruit are all great options to indulge in. These give the body healthy energy, which will enable you to start the day.
Hangover Cures
Hangovers are not anyone’s favorite thing to experience. But no shame in saying “we all experience them sometime or another.” Everyone’s body is unique and different. With that being said, hangover cures will vary with each person. Now that you know some proven effective methods, you can decide for yourself.
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-Franki
