If you drink, you should know how to sober up. Otherwise, not only will you be intoxicated and lack etiquette, but the subsequent headaches, dizziness, nausea, fever... will also make you feel miserable.
After a person drinks alcohol, it is fully absorbed by the body within 0.5 to 3 hours, which is when the blood alcohol content is at its highest. It only begins to gradually decrease after four hours. Typically, the human body needs 36 hours to completely metabolize the unabsorbed alcohol from just one or two servings of liquor. Excessive drinking leads to a hangover, with adverse symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, general fatigue, and listlessness that can last for several days.
Currently, most products on the market for sobering up are pharmaceuticals or health supplements. Although they are somewhat effective for sobering up, they are not convenient to purchase from a pharmacy after being drunk, and they can also cause varying degrees of harm to the body.
The best way to sober up after drinking is through food-based solutions—that is, using food and beverages to alleviate intoxication.
The greatest advantage of food-based solutions is that they are safe and free of side effects.
Honey water: for post-drinking headaches
Drinking some honey water can effectively alleviate the symptoms of a post-drinking headache. Researchers from the National Headache Foundation in the U.S. point out that this is because honey contains a special type of fructose that can promote the breakdown and absorption of alcohol, thus reducing headache symptoms, especially those caused by red wine. Additionally, honey has a sedative effect that can help you fall asleep quickly and wake up without a headache the next day.
Fresh grapes: for post-drinking nausea and vomiting
Fresh grapes are rich in tartaric acid, which can interact with the ethanol in alcohol to form esters, thereby reducing the concentration of ethanol in the body and achieving the effect of sobering up. At the same time, their sour taste can effectively relieve post-drinking nausea and vomiting. Eating grapes before drinking can also effectively prevent intoxication.
Tomato juice: for post-drinking dizziness
Tomato juice is also rich in a special type of fructose and is an effective beverage that helps promote the breakdown and absorption of alcohol. Consuming more than 300ml at a time can gradually make the feeling of dizziness after drinking disappear. Experiments have confirmed that drinking tomato juice is more effective for sobering up than eating raw tomatoes. Adding a small amount of salt before drinking can also help stabilize your mood.
Watermelon juice: for post-drinking body heat
Watermelon juice is a natural "Baihu Tang" (a classic Chinese herbal medicine formula). On one hand, it can speed up the excretion of alcohol through urine, preventing it from being absorbed by the body and causing general body heat. On the other hand, watermelon juice itself has a heat-clearing effect that helps lower the body's temperature. Adding a small amount of salt when drinking can also help stabilize your mood.
Pomelo: for post-drinking bad breath
Li Shizhen recorded in his "Compendium of Materia Medica" that pomelos can sober you up. It has been found that eating diced pomelo flesh dipped in sugar is remarkably effective at eliminating the alcoholic and foul breath from the mouth after drinking.
Celery juice: for post-drinking gastrointestinal discomfort and facial flushing
When experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort after drinking, drinking some celery juice can provide significant relief. This is because celery is rich in B vitamins, which are needed to break down alcohol. If you have a weak digestive system, it is best to drink celery juice before drinking as a preventive measure. Additionally, drinking celery juice can also effectively alleviate the symptom of facial flushing after drinking.