Drinking party season is upon us! What drinks are effective in preventing hangovers? Easy ways to prevent hangovers

Introduction

Even if you enjoy drinking, you want to avoid a hangover the next day. In times like these, green tea is a reliable remedy.

It has long been said that green tea is effective against hangovers, but what is the reason behind this?

This time, we will introduce the scientific reasons why green tea is effective against hangovers.

How a hangover happens

The cause of a hangover is a substance called acetaldehyde, which is produced during the breakdown of alcohol.

When this acetaldehyde accumulates in the body, it causes unpleasant symptoms such as headaches and nausea.

First, alcohol that enters the body is absorbed by the stomach and small intestine, and then transported to the liver through the portal vein.

Alcohol is broken down in the liver and first becomes a substance called acetaldehyde.

Acetaldehyde is then further broken down by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and ultimately converted into water and carbon dioxide, which are then excreted from the body.

However, if you drink too much alcohol, your liver cannot keep up with the breakdown of the alcohol, and the acetaldehyde that is being broken down accumulates, resulting in a hangover.

The mechanism by which green tea helps relieve hangovers

1. Activation of alcohol-decomposing enzymes by caffeine and vitamin C

First, the caffeine contained in green tea activates the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which helps break down alcohol in the liver.

This enzyme breaks down acetaldehyde and excretes it from the body.

Caffeine activates this function, preventing acetaldehyde from accumulating in the body and preventing hangovers.

In addition, although not as much as caffeine, vitamin C also has the effect of promoting the breakdown of acetaldehyde.

In other words, drinking green tea can reduce the concentration of acetaldehyde, the substance that causes hangovers, and prevent hangovers.

2. Protection of the gastric mucosa by catechin

In addition, catechins, which are abundant in green tea, are thought to protect the stomach lining and suppress the absorption of alcohol.

Catechins form a thin membrane on the stomach wall, preventing alcohol from coming into direct contact with the stomach wall.

For these reasons, drinking green tea before drinking alcohol can help prevent hangovers by slowing down the absorption of alcohol and preventing the rise in blood alcohol concentration.

3. Promotes excretion through diuretic effect

Additionally, green tea has a diuretic effect, helping to flush excess fluid and alcohol from the body.

The fatigue and swelling you feel when you have a hangover is caused in part by excess fluid retention in the body, but drinking green tea can help alleviate these symptoms.

How to drink green tea to prevent a hangover

There are some tips on how to drink green tea to maximize its effectiveness in preventing hangovers.

First of all, it is known that caffeine and catechins are dissolved in greater amounts when brewed at high temperatures.

If the temperature is below 80 degrees, the amount of extraction will be significantly reduced, so do not cool the water, but brew it with freshly boiled water .

Before drinking alcohol: Before drinking alcohol, drink strong green tea (regular sencha) that has been steeped in hot water (over 80°C) for at least 3 minutes to protect the stomach lining with catechins.

While drinking alcohol: Drinking green tea brewed with hot water instead of a chaser when drinking alcohol is also effective in preventing hangovers. Caffeine promotes the breakdown and metabolism of acetaldehyde.

After drinking: If you've had too much alcohol in the morning, try drinking hot green tea again. This will help break down acetaldehyde and the stimulating effect of caffeine will clear your head.

summary

In this way, green tea can be expected to have the effect of preventing a hangover.

However, no matter how good a drink is, it's important not to drink too much. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to excess acetaldehyde building up in the body, which can cause a hangover.

To make the most of green tea, it is important to drink in moderation and maintain a balanced diet.