How Eating a Big Meal with Alcohol Can Make Your Hangover Worse
By Alexandra Klausner
Published Nov. 29, 2023, 5:05 p.m. ET
You might think that loading up on food after downing a bottle of wine will help offset the effects of the alcohol, but experts say that’s not the case.
According to Dr. Hussain Ahmad, a consultant doctor at Click2Pharmacy in the UK, eating a lot of food with alcohol can slow down the body’s ability to metabolize the alcohol, making it take longer to leave your system. This means that even though you might feel less drunk at the time, it could actually lead to a longer-lasting hangover.
Nutritional scientist Clifford Stephan echoed these sentiments, explaining that chasing shots with a big meal could make the hangover last longer. However, he warned against drinking excessively on an empty stomach, which can lead to severe alcohol poisoning or an alcohol-induced injury.
At the same time, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) pointed out that there is no quick fix for a hangover. Drinking coffee, taking a shower, or consuming electrolyte-rich drinks may not necessarily help alleviate the symptoms. Instead, the only cure for a hangover is time.
So, while it may be tempting to think that food or certain drinks can prevent or cure a hangover, the truth is that the body needs time to fully recover. For those looking to avoid a hangover, the best advice is to limit alcohol consumption and drink water to keep the body hydrated.
