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

Mark Hyman

Oct 18, 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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Mindsip insights from this episode:

Choose clear liquors to minimize hangover severity

Darker liquors like whiskey and red wine contain higher levels of congeners, byproducts that can make hangovers more severe than clear liquors like vodka or gin.

#alcohol

#hangover

Choose sugar-free electrolytes for optimal hydration

To stay hydrated, use sugar-free electrolyte powders like Elite or Element, and avoid sugary options like Liquid IV and Gatorade.

#electrolyte

#hydration

Use NAC to enhance detoxification and reduce hangover symptoms

Taking N-acetylcysteine (NAC) helps your body produce glutathione, its master detoxifier, to help process alcohol and reduce hangover symptoms.

#detox

#supplement

Stop alcohol consumption three hours before bedtime

To minimize alcohol's negative impact on sleep, stop drinking at least three hours before bed, as the half-life of alcohol is four to five hours.

#alcohol

#sleep

Incorporate eggs to enhance liver detoxification

Eggs are rich in L-cysteine, which helps your liver detoxify acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism.

#detox

#liver

Take cold showers to enhance alcohol metabolism

A cold shower can increase adrenaline, which may help speed up alcohol metabolism and its clearance from the brain and body.

#alcohol

#cold-therapy

Recognize alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol in the highest risk group for carcinogens, alongside asbestos, radiation, and tobacco.