Electrolytes - Any of various ions, such as sodium, potassium, or chloride, required by cells to regulate the electric charge and flow of water molecules across the cell membrane.
Alcohol causes an increase in stomach acid which can make you feel nauseous. It’s a good idea to chew a bunch of Tums or eat and drink dairy products. I would recommend yogurt because it is easy to digest. The calcium in Tums and dairy products will help to calm your stomach by neutralizing stomach acids.
Fruits and fruit juices will also help you feel better. They provide easily absorbed carbohydrates that will restore energy while providing Vitamin C - a common antioxidant. However, fruit can agitate your already abnormally acidic stomach. So consume something with lots of calcium first (as mentioned above, Tums or dairy products).
Once you have hydrated yourself working up a sweat is a good idea. If you can, do some cardiovascular activity. Go for a brisk walk or jog. If you are not up to exercise, have a long hot bath. It does not require physical movement, which in some cases may be intolerable, and it still makes you sweat. Sweating only plays a very minor role in eliminating toxins from the body, but depending on how much you had to drink the previous evening every little bit helps. By causing the body to heat up the speed of your circulation will increase. The liver filters out alcohol from the body as blood passes through it - so the hope is that the alcohol will then be removed from your system faster.
“Various factors may contribute to the problem. Alcohol stimulates your body to produce more urine. In turn, urinating more than usual can lead to dehydration — often characterized by thirst, dizziness and lightheadedness. Alcohol irritates the lining of your stomach, increases the production of stomach acid and delays stomach emptying. Any of these factors can cause abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. Alcohol can cause your blood sugar to fall. If your blood sugar dips too low, you may experience fatigue, weakness, shakiness, and mood disturbances. Alcohol causes your blood vessels to expand, which can lead to headaches. Alcohol can make you sleepy — but your quality of sleep will suffer. This may leave you groggy and fatigued. Alcoholic beverages contain ingredients called congeners — which give many types of alcoholic beverages their flavor and which can contribute to hangovers. Congeners are found in larger amounts in dark liquors, such as brandy and whiskey, than in clear liquors, such as vodka and gin (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hangovers/DS00649/DSECTION=causes).”
It is important to know what causes hangovers so that you can restore your body back to normal more quickly. Once you have done everything in your power to restore your health all you can do is go back to bed and sleep off the residual discomforts.
