Can Eating Yeast Really Prevent A Hangover?

We've all heard of a bunch of different ways to prevent hangovers — raw eggs, B12 vitamins, those patches that are seemingly everywhere lately, hair of the dog, eating fried foods, exercising, drinking coffee, the list goes on and on. While some of these might work for some people occasionally, it's safe to say that there really isn't a cure-all when it comes to a hangover. 

We all know to eat before we drink, to make sure we're hydrating, and to sleep properly, but beyond that, there isn't a whole lot you can do. But what if there was a trick that really did work? Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Sam Adams, claims there's a secret that keeps his hangovers (and drunkenness) at bay for those days when he's testing out different batches of beer well before noon (per NPR). He claims that mixing yeast with yogurt and eating it before he drinks is his lifesaving tactic, but does it really work?

Writers from NPR were eager to test out this new theory. Koch's reasoning is this — yeast are microscopic, single-celled fungi that break down some of the alcohol in the stomach before it gets absorbed in the bloodstream. "It mitigates the effect of alcohol," he said. The writing staff decided to test it out, running several experiments on their BAC to measure whether or not the yeast trick really worked. Unfortunately, the results showed that there wasn't really a difference. 

"I think the exposure time of the alcohol to the yeast is too low," microbiologist, Benjamin Tu, explained to the outlet. "Any effect of the yeast [on BAC] will be marginal." So, once again, we are back at square one, realizing that what works for one person does not make it a cure-all for this affliction so many of us suffer from. You're best off eating enough before you start drinking, staying properly hydrated throughout the night, and getting a good night's rest.