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You’ve woken up with a hangover and the first thing many of us think of is: I need me some breakfast and Juice, STAT.
Juice for a hangover is one of the most common ways we try to recover from our big nights out.
But which one is the best?
In this article, we’ll cover all the best hangover juices and why they may help you feel better after drinking alcohol.
Better still, we’ll also give you recipes along the way to try for yourself.
Is juice good for hangovers?
Juices are made from fruits and vegetables which are packed full of nutrients in the form of vitamins and minerals.
Some of these vitamins and minerals are essential for maintaining a healthy metabolism and boosting your body’s antioxidant defenses (more on this later).
Depending on your choice of hangover juice, some will have more benefits over others and we will highlight some of our top picks as we go along.
In addition, juices are a much more palatable way of rehydrating. For some, drinking plain water just doesn’t hit the spot. And if you’re feeling nauseous, a refreshing juice may sit in your stomach better.
Before we start the next section, it’s important to mention that hangovers are a sign from your body that you’ve been drinking more than your body can handle.
They are caused by a combination of dehydration, inflammation and poor sleep quality to mention a few.
Therefore, hangover juices may only have limited benefits for your recovery and they are certainly no miracle cure.
Popular hangover cure juices
With so much information online, it’s hard to tell which hangover juice is most beneficial for you. Next up, we’ll go over all the most common juices that people drink for hangovers and highlight whether it’s more of a health fad, rather than a genuinely good drink.
Pickle juice
Drinking pickle juice shots is a common hangover remedy in eastern European countries. It’s basically made of vinegar and water. Drinking different types of vinegar has always been popular as a hangover cure remedy and another famous option is apple cider vinegar.
That said, vinegar or the salts that are found in brine have not been shown to help hangovers. In addition, the acidity of vinegar can further irritate your fragile stomach.
RECIPE: Simply pour out pickle juice into a shot glass and flush it down if you’re feeling brave.
Tomato juice
Tomato juice is famously used in a bloody mary cocktail which is a classic hangover cure cocktail. If you don’t fancy the hair of the dog, the virgin mary is a great choice of juice.
Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C which is a natural antioxidant, and potassium.
RECIPE: 3 ounces tomato juice, 1/2 ounce lemon juice, a splash of Worcestershire sauce, ground pepper, and some hot sauce.
Watermelon juice
Arguably one of the most refreshing hangover juice you could choose, watermelon just makes you feel like it’s summer right?
Aside from its beautiful taste, watermelon juice also contains vitamins A, B1, B5, B6, and C. Although only in small quantities, it still has good nutritional value.
RECIPE: None required. Just blend fresh watermelon and you’re all set.
What is the best juice for a hangover?
Now that we’ve covered some of the popular hangover cure juices, we’ll move on to our favorites. Some of the juices below have medicinal properties that can help alleviate some of the symptoms of a hangover.
Ginger juice
The active ingredient in ginger is gingerol which has been shown to reduce inflammation and symptoms of nausea in several studies.(1)
In fact, ginger is still recommended as first-line treatment for women with morning sickness.(2)
For us, ginger-based juices are the best for hangovers due to its proven health benefits.
RECIPE: 4 ounces of fresh ginger root (about 1 cup chopped peeled ginger), 14- 16 leaves fresh mint, 6 -7 cups water, (adjust to desired strength, with more or less), 2 large lemons, juiced, white sugar (add based on personal preference)
Some people love ginger, others hate it. Either way, you can make your juice more palatable by adding more sugar or lemon juice.
Turmeric juice
Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric and has been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It’s used in health supplements for joint pain.(3)
Inflammation from the by-products of alcohol metabolism is one of the mechanisms of a hangover and, therefore, any natural anti-inflammatory may help.
RECIPE: Best of all, it goes really well with ginger so you can combine the benefits of both in your hangover juice if you wish:
- 5 carrots
- 1 apple
- 1 thin slice fresh ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
Orange juice
Orange juice as a hangover remedy needs no introduction. It’s many people’s favorite go-to drink with their brunch after a night out.
It’s packed full of vitamin C with a large glass containing most of your daily requirements. In addition, it contains a decent dose of magnesium alcohol is known to flush out.(4)
RECIPE: Squeeze and drink right away.
Prickly pear juice
Prickly pear is the fruit of the cactus plant which is hailed for its high polyphenol content. Polyphenols are antioxidants that protect your cells from oxidative damage.
It’s one of the only ingredients in our list that has been scientifically tested in hangovers. A research grom from new Orleans found that prickly pear reduced hangover symptoms by reducing inflammation.(5)
That said, more research needs to be done to confirm the effect of prickly pear, but the initial research is promising.
RECIPE: You can either purchase ready-made prickly pear juice or if you have the fruit available, simply blend with mint and lemon for a refreshing juice.
When to drink juice for a hangover?
So now that we’ve covered which juices are the best for hangovers, the important lesson is when to drink it. Most people wait until they’ve woken up with a hangover before desperately trying to reduce the pain from the night before.
When it comes to hangovers, prevention is key. Taking all the right steps such as keeping well hydrated and having a meal before going out are important.
Drinking your hangover juice after your night out is the most ideal time to utilize the nutrients in your drink. So don’t wait until the morning if you can.
Hangover juices – Final words
That brings us to the end of our look into the best juices for a hangover. Ginger, turmeric, orange, and prickly pear are our top picks because of their medicinal properties.
It’s important to mention that no juice is going to “cure” your hangover. Taking steps to prevent yourself from getting a hangover by reducing your alcohol intake is really the only way you’re guaranteed to see results.
If you’re interested in natural hangover remedies, be sure to check out our other guide about, the best tea for a hangover.
