Encore: Hangovers Explained: How Alcohol Affects Your Brain and Body | Dr. Mark Hyman

Mark Hyman

Dec 27, 2024

Episode description

We’ve all been there: one too many drinks and the next morning feels like a nightmare. But why does alcohol make us feel so terrible? In this episode of “The Doctor’s Farmacy,” I’m uncovering the surprising reasons behind hangovers and how you can avoid them. Get ready for expert tips on hydration, supplements, and the real truth about that ‘hair of the dog’ myth.

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This episode is brought to you by Rupa University, Wonderfeel, and AX3.

Rupa University is hosting FREE classes and bootcamps for healthcare providers who want to learn more about Functional Medicine testing. Sign up at RupaUniversity.com.

Head over to getwonderfeel.com and experience the science of feeling younger. It’s more than wonderful—it’s Wonderfeel.

Get 20% off your first order of AX3's astaxanthin at ax3.life/hyman with code HYMAN at checkout.

Episode description

We’ve all been there: one too many drinks and the next morning feels like a nightmare. But why does alcohol make us feel so terrible? In this episode of “The Doctor’s Farmacy,” I’m uncovering the surprising reasons behind hangovers and how you can avoid them. Get ready for expert tips on hydration, supplements, and the real truth about that ‘hair of the dog’ myth.

View Show Notes From This Episode

Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman

Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal

This episode is brought to you by Rupa University, Wonderfeel, and AX3.

Rupa University is hosting FREE classes and bootcamps for healthcare providers who want to learn more about Functional Medicine testing. Sign up at RupaUniversity.com.

Head over to getwonderfeel.com and experience the science of feeling younger. It’s more than wonderful—it’s Wonderfeel.

Get 20% off your first order of AX3's astaxanthin at ax3.life/hyman with code HYMAN at checkout.

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Stop drinking three hours before bed to improve sleep quality

The half-life of alcohol is four to five hours, meaning you should stop drinking at least three hours before bed to minimize its negative impact on sleep.

Eliminate alcohol for optimal health

According to the World Health Organization, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption for human health.

Take NAC to boost glutathione and alleviate hangover symptoms

Taking N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) helps your body produce glutathione, the master detoxifier, which can help with nausea and weakness from hangovers.

Choose sugar-free electrolyte powders over sugary drinks

Avoid popular drinks like Liquid IV and Gatorade which are loaded with sugar, and instead use sugar-free electrolyte powders like Elite or LMNT.

Supplement zinc and niacin to reduce hangover severity

Zinc and niacin (Vitamin B3) are critical cofactors needed for the enzymes that detoxify alcohol, and supplementing them may lower hangover severity.

Avoid dark liquors to reduce hangover severity

Darker liquors like whiskey and red wine have higher concentrations of congeners, which are byproducts that lead to more severe hangovers.

Avoid light drinking to protect brain health

Even light to moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk for dementia and Alzheimer's because it shrinks your brain and reduces neuroplasticity.

Recognize alcohol as a top carcinogen alongside asbestos and tobacco

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, the same high-risk group as asbestos, radiation, and tobacco.

Use red ginseng to alleviate hangover symptoms

Taking red ginseng soon after drinking can help reduce hangover symptoms by increasing the metabolism of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol.

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