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Is honey a promising hangover cure? Surprisingly, this is a common question with no simple answer.
When it comes to hangover cures, you've probably heard of all types of weird and beautiful options to alleviate your symptoms. However, most things you've tried probably didn't work that well.
Nowadays, honey is hailed as a "superfood" because of its perceived health benefits, most of which are unproven.
So, can honey be the answer to your hangover woes?
People have used honey for centuries to treat hangovers and other ailments. This fact speaks to its versatility as an ingredient in natural medicine.
In this article, we will examine honey as a food and look at what it contains in terms of micronutrients and macronutrients. We'll then look into whether the nutrients in honey have any benefits for a hangover.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF HONEY
Bees use the nectar from plants to produce honey.
Nutritionally, one (1) tablespoon of honey contains:
64 calories
17 grams of sugar, including fructose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose. Fresh honey contains more sugar than water.
Trace amounts of several vitamins and minerals. (Trace amounts mean less than 1% of your daily requirements.)
Polyphenols. Polyphenols have antioxidant properties. (1)
The amount of nutrients in honey varies greatly depending on which pollen source the bees use, whether the honey is naturally produced, and its geographical location.
Darker-colored natural honey has higher levels of polyphenols. Polyphenols are naturally occurring antioxidants.
The important thing to appreciate is that honey is very high in sugar and calories, so the perceived health benefits must be balanced against this.
CAUSES OF A HANGOVER
Before we get into whether honey is suitable for a hangover or not, we first need to go over how alcohol causes hangovers:
INFLAMMATION
One of the leading causes of a hangover is inflammation. When alcohol is metabolized (broken down) in your liver, toxic by-products such as acetaldehyde are formed, reacting with your cells. In normal circumstances, acetaldehyde is quickly broken down into harmless acetic acid. However, during periods of overindulgence, your liver is overrun with the excess acetaldehyde load, which wreaks havoc on your insides.
DEHYDRATION
Dehydration is another major cause of a hangover. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes your kidneys flush out excess fluid. You lose 120ml of water for every glass of wine you drink. Therefore, if you've had a few glasses of wine throughout the evening, it can leave you dehydrated.
SLEEP DISTURBANCE
An overlooked cause of a hangover is poor sleep quality. Alcohol blocks your brain from reaching the REM stage of sleep, which is where dreams happen and is essential for feeling fully rested. So, sleeping 8 hours after a few glasses of wine is not at all the same as sleeping 8 hours without any alcohol.
In summary, hangovers are caused by drinking more than your body can handle. Dehydration, poor sleep quality, congeners, and inflammation are just some of the ways excessive alcohol can negatively affect your body. Next up, we'll take a closer look at whether honey is good for hangovers or not.
IS HONEY GOOD FOR HANGOVERS?
So, now on to the all-important question: is honey good for hangovers?
It's important to highlight that no ingredient is ever going to counteract all the adverse effects of alcohol mentioned above.
With that said, some nutrients in honey are perceived to have hangover-related benefits.
FRUCTOSE
Honey contains high amounts of fructose, a type of sugar. Research has shown fructose accelerates the liver's alcohol oxidation into less toxic substances like acetic acid, which can help alleviate hangover symptoms by reducing the concentration of acetaldehyde, a primary cause of hangovers. Some studies have shown fructose can increase alcohol metabolism. (2)(3) these studies are minimal and over 20 years old.
In addition, binge drinking can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Alcohol does this by blocking the release of glucose stored in your liver. Therefore, if you've had too many drinks at happy hour, a sugar hit from honey may be precisely what you need. (4)
Honey provides a quick energy boost due to its natural sugars, which your bloodstream rapidly absorbs. This helps counteract the lethargy and tiredness that often accompany a hangover.
If honey isn't available, tomato juice containing fructose can be an alternative.
ANTIOXIDANTS
We mentioned earlier that alcohol metabolism produces a build-up of toxic by-products. Antioxidants usually neutralize these. The polyphenols in honey could support your body's antioxidant levels (5). However, it's important to mention that this has yet to be proven in research studies.
WHAT ABOUT USING HONEY BEFORE DRINKING?
Consuming honey before drinking alcohol, such as in a smoothie with yogurt and orange juice, can help provide your body with the necessary sugars and nutrients that aid in alcohol metabolism.
HOWEVER, HONEY CANNOT PREVENT OR "CURE" A HANGOVER.
WHAT ABOUT KOREAN HONEY WATER FOR A HANGOVER?
Korean honey water is a popular drink in Asia. It's essentially honey dissolved in water. It's marketed to have the same benefits as regular honey and is sometimes recommended as a hangover remedy.
However, it's unlikely to have more fantastic anti-hangover properties than regular honey.
IS HONEY A HANGOVER CURE?
In reality, a true hangover cure doesn't exist. The only reliable way to cure a hangover is not to drink in the first place.
When it comes to hangovers, prevention is always key. Drinking within your limits, staying hydrated, and having a meal before going out are all important.
ANYTHING ELSE TO CONSIDER?
Hangovers are a good sign from your body that you've been drinking more than your liver can handle. Trying to "cure" your hangover with honey is not the best approach. When it comes to hangovers, prevention is always better than cure.
Sticking to the basics by drinking plenty of water, eating before going out, and, most importantly, reducing your alcohol intake is all that's required to prevent the worst hangovers.
Combining honey with toast provides fructose and essential electrolytes like sodium and potassium, crucial for replenishing what you've lost due to alcohol's diuretic effects.
You might also consider taking activated charcoal before bed after drinking — it can absorb toxins from the alcohol, preventing them from entering your bloodstream. Combined with honey, this might further reduce your hangover symptoms, even if you can't stop a hangover altogether.
For rehydration, pairing honey with electrolyte drinks can help restore your body's electrolyte balance and reduce symptoms like headaches and nausea.
Sticking to the basics by drinking plenty of water, eating before going out, and, most importantly, reducing your alcohol intake is all that's required to prevent the worst hangovers.
Try avoiding darker-colored drinks like red wine and bourbon. These drinks contain very high concentrations of congeners, which have been shown in studies to make hangovers much worse. You can read more about this in our article on congeners.
HONEY FOR HANGOVERS – THE VERDICT
That brings us to the end of our look into whether honey is good for hangovers.
It's high in sugar, and there is some evidence that natural and darker-colored honey may have a higher concentration of antioxidants. However, whether this benefits a hangover has yet to be tested or proven.
Some people like to mix honey with apple cider vinegar as a hangover drink, add it to their tea, or have it with breakfast.
The health benefits of honey should be taken with a pinch of salt. Any potential benefit should be balanced against its high sugar content.
If you're interested in natural hangover remedies, check out our article on the best teas for a hangover.