If you drink alcohol, then you’ve surely heard the many myths about how to feel better the morning after drinking at a wedding reception. However, these are simply old wives’ tales, and often, they can have the reverse effect, leaving you feeling worse.
To help you understand the real science behind how alcohol affects your body, we’re debunking five post-wedding reception drinking myths about how to curb rough effects the morning after drinking alcohol.
The Truth About Drinking in Moderation
Pacing yourself is always smart, but even a well-measured evening can result in a not-so-great morning. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and will still experience feeling cruddy the following day, even if they only had a drink or two. How you consume also matters – shots versus wine, for instance. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. Opt for drinks that let your body keep pace, sparing yourself the next day.
However, the quantity of alcohol you’re ingesting and the duration over which you’re ingesting it can affect how you feel the following day. Pacing yourself and drinking more slowly can help your body keep up. For example, you’ll likely ingest liquor (shots, specifically) much faster than beer or wine. So, if you choose to start taking shots halfway into the night, you’re putting additional strain on your body when it’s already trying to process the alcohol you’ve previously ingested. However, if you stick to beer or wine, you’re ingesting the same amount of liquor at a much slower rate, giving your body more time to catch up.
While this isn’t an exact science, drinking responsibly is your best bet. There’s no guarantee you’ll wake up feeling 100% the next day, but pacing yourself is a much smarter way to drink.
Don’t “Hair of the Dog” the Morning After
If you wake up the morning after a wedding reception feeling sluggish, consuming more alcohol won’t solve the problem. The alcohol already in your system is the culprit, and adding more will only prolong the ordeal. Your body needs time to break down the intoxicating elements – so adding more alcohol to the equation won’t do any good. With this in mind, it’s best to resist the temptation to indulge more at brunch the following day; that way, you give your body time to catch up.
Caffeine Can’t Reverse the Night
Some believe a cup of coffee will help them “sober up.” This is, unfortunately, not the case. Take it from us: caffeine won’t cut it. Coffee might get you out of bed, but your body will still process alcohol at the same pace. Your intoxication level also will not be affected by caffeine consumption. So, you’ll still have to face the same impairments whether or not you consume caffeine after the wedding reception, including slow reaction times, blurred vision, and poor coordination. While you can enjoy a cup of coffee at breakfast, don’t bank on it to help relieve those rough post-wedding feelings.
Grease Won’t Save the Day, Either
Everyone’s heard the myth that eating greasy food after drinking will absorb or “sop up” the alcohol in your system. While a cheeseburger and fries might taste great after the reception ends and the kitchen has closed, eating greasy food after you drink won’t affect how quickly you sober up. Why? If you’re drunk, the alcohol is already in your bloodstream. Any food you eat after drinking will go to your stomach, which won’t affect the alcohol that made you drunk.
The bottom line: eating when drunk will not affect how your body processes alcohol. However, if you are going to eat post-party, choose healthier options that are high in protein, healthy fats, and carbs. While food won’t sober you up, you’ll at least feel better about eating something healthy instead of something greasy.
Don’t Bother Trying to “Sweat it Out” at the Hotel Gym
As much as the hotel gym or sauna seems like a good idea, exercising or visiting a sauna while intoxicated is not only unhelpful, but it can also be dangerous. There is no scientific data to prove these methods are efficient in helping you sober up. In fact, they may make you feel worse. While light exercise the morning after drinking is okay (so long as you are completely sober), heavy, intense exercise is not recommended.
“Sweating it out” isn’t a viable strategy, as you’re not removing alcohol from your body this way. Likewise, using a sauna after drinking also does not affect how your body breaks down alcohol, and it can actually cause you to feel sick(er). Saunas can also cause you to overheat or dehydrate. So, if you’re feeling a little under the weather after a night of drinking, trying to sweat it out will only do more harm than good.
Enjoy the Reception Tonight and the Morning Tomorrow
There are many myths and misconceptions circulating about how to feel better after a night of drinking alcohol. The truth is that if you do feel unwell, it’s best to get rest, drink water, eat well, and don’t push yourself too hard. By understanding these post-wedding misconceptions and what to avoid, you are setting yourself up for success the next day.
However, if you’re still struggling with the morning-after effects of drinking and have more weddings on the calendar, there are more practical solutions! Try drinking a pre-alcohol probiotic backed by real science before your first drink of the wedding to help you wake up fresh. Unlike these five “old wives’ tales,” bioengineered probiotic products are formulated so you can enjoy the post-wedding spirits and wake up fresh tomorrow.
Author Bio:
ZBiotics, creators of the world’s first genetically engineered probiotic, is a team of innovative scientists and big thinkers dedicated to using the powers of genetic engineering to create products that improve everyday living.