Expert Reveals Why Melissa Gorga's Hangover Cure Is A Big Mistake
It happens to everyone. You go out and drink a teeny bit too much and wind up with a hangover the next morning. And, with several huge responsibilities — work, maybe — how do you get over that extra bit of booze and ease on into your day? Find a cure.
That's why we were all ears when Melissa Gorga, star of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," revealed that she has one hangover cure she swears by. According to Bravo TV, the reality star shared in an Instagram story that she boosts herself back up after a long night of drinking with vodka-soaked pineapple. With this boozy pineapple concoction, which Gorga captioned "bite the dog," she turns to exactly what got the party started to help end it.
But, this may not be the healthiest way to cure your hangover. In fact, it may not even be healthy at all — even if you're not trying to bounce back quickly. According to Registered Dietician Emily Wunder, MSCN, RD, LDN, that boozed-up pineapple may look refreshing, but it's not going to make you feel any better.
Are there more effective hangover cures?
While re-toxing may seem like a smart idea, Wunder explained to Mashed that it only ends up delaying the inevitable from happening. In fact, using the "hair of the dog" trick could possibly make the hangover stage even worse.
"This tactic causes the blood alcohol level to increase again and endorphins, or those feel-good hormones, to rise, masking headaches, nausea, etc. Once the blood alcohol level comes back down, there is even more dehydration and endorphin levels drop, which is one reason why alcohol can be addictive," Wunder said. "The result could end up being an even worse hangover."
"Once blood alcohol levels reach a certain level, there are toxic chemicals in the body that are going to make you feel crappy," Wunder said. If you're looking for a real hangover cure, Wunder suggested treating some of those accompanying symptoms (like a stomachache and dehydration headache) as soon as possible. Fruit and vegetables like pineapple, watermelon, cucumber, celery, lettuce, and strawberries with high water content are a great place to start. Or, she said, a green smoothie is also a great option.
"Besides just water, coconut water is a great hangover drink to reach for to get electrolytes that help with hydration," she said, noting that next time you end up sipping a little too much, to keep up with your hydration as well. A little water will help reduce some of those hangover symptoms.