The Reason Nuts Could Help Cure A Hangover

If you've ever consumed one too many drinks, you probably know that the consequences are no fun. Waking up with a hangover is a pretty unpleasant way to start your day, and one that's likely to send you reaching for a cup of coffee, a glass of water, or an Alka-Seltzer. And while it's common knowledge that a hangover is caused by drinking too much alcohol, the main reasons why people feel so low after a night of drinking is because the body is suffering from dehydration, inflammation, and a lack of quality sleep.

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that the more you consume, the more you will have to urinate. This can lead to dehydration, which causes headaches, dizziness, and excessive thirst once the buzz wears off, according to the Mayo Clinic. Booze is also a stomach irritant and an inflammatory agent that kicks the immune system into overdrive, triggering symptoms of irritability, lack of concentration, low mood, achiness, and even abdominal pain and nauseousness. Finally, drinking disrupts the body's natural sleep cycle, meaning you're likely to be groggy and exhausted the day after a big night out. The combination of all of these factors typically adds up to a pretty terrible feeling the next morning. Everyone's solution to their hangover woes will be different, but one fix might include Mr. Peanut himself.

It turns out that while sleep, hydration, and maybe some painkillers are a great way to help ward off these unpleasant symptoms, there is another promising hangover remedy that you probably already have sitting in your kitchen cabinet: Nuts. These nutritional, protein-filled snacks actually contain many important nutrients that can ostensibly help you kick that headache and get on with your day.

Nuts like almonds, peanuts, and walnuts, all contain high amounts of essential nutrients like protein and magnesium, an electrolyte that is depleted by alcohol consumption (via Healthline). Eating nuts can help boost your body's magnesium levels, as well as help you feel better quicker, since magnesium also helps the body break down any remaining alcohol, according to myrecipes. So if you find yourself feeling a little under the weather after your next big party or social event, you might want to reach for a handful of mixed nuts along with that aspirin.