Think Water Can Cure Your Hangover? Here’s What This New Research Says

Ever wondered if that glass of water is really the answer to your hangover woes? For a long time, many people have relied on drinking water as the go-to cure for hangovers. The idea is straightforward — since alcohol dehydrates the body and leads to symptoms like headaches and nausea, hydrating with water should help. But what if this age-old remedy isn’t as effective as we thought? Recent research reveals that dehydration might not be the only culprit behind those hangover symptoms. While drinking water is still important, it turns out you might need more than just water to truly tackle a hangover.

A study conducted at Utrecht University, Netherlands, has thrown new light on the true nature of hangovers and the limits of water as a remedy. The research compared hangover symptoms between people who drank water before bed and those who didn’t. Surprisingly, both groups experienced similar levels of pain, nausea and fatigue, even though the water drinkers felt less dehydrated. This suggests that dehydration alone isn’t the main driver of hangover misery.

The review points out that while dehydration leads to water and electrolyte loss, the real trouble comes from oxidative stress and the body’s inflammatory response to alcohol. Consequently, the researchers concluded that consuming water either during or immediately after having alcohol does not prevent hangovers.

Dr. Johnny Parvani, founder and chief medical officer of REVIV, explained that hangovers are the result of a combination of alcohol metabolism effects and dehydration, which means dehydration is just one aspect of the experience, as stated by the New York Post.

Dr. Joris Verster, the lead author of the study, also reiterated the same and emphasised that drinking water may relieve dry mouth and thirst, but it won’t address other unpleasant symptoms like headaches and nausea.

“The consumption of water during, or directly after, a drinking session is not effective in preventing hangovers. And the amount of water consumed during the hangover day is not significantly related to changes in severity,” the research concluded.

It is pertinent to note that there is no scientific evidence for water’s direct role in curing hangovers. Similarly, commercially available treatments are also not proven to have prevented or cured hangovers completely. Abstaining from alcohol remains the most effective way to avoid the same.