The best “hair of the dog” remedy
There are countless recipes and remedies out there, some handed down through the generations, others more modern, on how to get over a hangover. Yet do any of them actually work? A team of researchers from the Mumbai Institute of Chemical Technology wanted a definitive answer, so they set to analysing dozens of different drinks in all kinds of different combinations.
First of all, it is important to know that the element partially responsible for hang-over symptoms, namely acetaldehyde, is produced by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase, converted into acetate (harmless) by another enzyme – aldehyde dehydrogenase. When the level of acetaldehyde gets too high for it to be converted by the aldehyde dehydrogenase, though, that’s when the hang over hits.
Based on this understanding, the researchers decided to analyse the activity of certain food extracts in vitro on both enzymes, as well as their antioxidant capacities. From papaya to onion, cheese to ginger, and wheat, coffee and saffron, they tested everything. The results showed that the perfect cocktail for battling hangovers is made up of 65% pear, 25% lime, and 10% coconut water. Cheers!