The weekend is here, and some of you might have seized the opportunity to kick back, relax, and knock down a few.
It’s all well and good until you wake up the morning after and are confronted with that pounding head, dry mouth, and overall queasy feeling.
Thankfully, there are numerous hangover cures at your disposal, including ones that are uniquely Malaysian. Instead of nursing a nasty noggin, why not give these homegrown remedies a try?
1. Soft-boiled egg
What better way to start your morning than with a spoonful of good ol’ soft-boiled egg with some pepper and soy sauce? Not only delicious, eggs are chock-full of amino acids such as cysteine and taurine.
Taurine boosts liver function and could help prevent liver disease, which is handy after a night of drinking; while cysteine breaks down acetaldehyde, the yucky headache-causing chemical left over when the liver breaks down ethanol.
2. Kopi O
If you are used to getting your daily dose of caffeine to pick you up, go ahead and enjoy a cup of Joe after a night of drinking. The liquid in coffee can help rehydrate your body, while the caffeine will give you a little boost of energy.
Studies have shown that the combination of caffeine and over-the-counter inflammatory drugs such as panadol or aspirin could help counteract the effects of a hangover.
However, if you rarely drink coffee, steer clear. Coffee is a mild diuretic and could make the dull throbbing in your head become a full-blown explosion with just one sip.
3. Ginger tea
If you often drink a cup of hot ginger tea in the morning, call your mum now and thank her for making it part of your lifestyle.
Ginger has a long history as a natural remedy for morning sickness, upset stomachs, and motion sickness, so it just might come to the rescue after a wild night.
Just throw chunks of chopped ginger root into a mug, pour in boiling water, then cover it with a plate to let the brew steep for five minutes.
4. Curry mee
Curry mee is indeed delicious, but could it be a hangover cure? Don’t scratch it off the list just yet.
The broth is usually prepared using shellfish such as shrimp, clams or prawns to give that rich, delicious flavour everyone loves so much.
And the taurine content in the shellfish may be able to reverse liver damage, whether from a long-term alcohol addiction or just a night of too much partying.
5. Asam
Don’t be so sceptical – you just might thank this sour dried fruit when you have nothing else in the pantry.
Asam is a good hangover cure as it is filled with hangover-fighting electrolytes, specifically sodium, which helps keep you hydrated.
Alternatively, if you have a jar of pickles lying around, take a sip of the juice as the sodium content in the briny liquid could yield the same result.
6. 100 Plus
Isotonic drinks such as 100 Plus are not only for when you are working out. Reach for one to restore liquids and electrolytes, stat!
7. Chicken noodle soup
A bowl of chicken noodle soup might not be your conventional hangover cure, but a hearty cup of noodles could help restore sodium and water levels in the body.
Chicken also contains cysteine, which gives the liver a much-needed boost.
8. Coconut water
Believe the hype. Coconut water is super-high in electrolytes – a 330ml serving has 660mg of potassium, outnumbering the 422mg available in a banana!
Compared to commercial sports drinks, coconut water has been found to be equally as effective in hydrating participants after an intense workout, according to study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
This article was written by Azrene Jasmine for butterkicap.com.
Butterkicap is a food and culture platform and community that enables anyone to experience Malaysia through stories of its people, food and places.