Drinking sprite after excessive drinking can help cure hangovers, a recent study confirms.
The study which was published in last month's issue of Food and Function showed that the chemicals in the non-caffeinated beverage, Sprite, can prevent hangovers from taking place. The study also confirmed that drinking too much booze is not necessarily the culprit which leads to hangovers, rather, it's how it's broken down.
Research authors pointed out that when the liver processes alcohol or ethanol, it creates several chemical byproducts called acetaldehyde which triggers feelings of hangover. This chemical eventually turns into acetate which does not necessarily cause symptoms of hangover and can even provide the body with extra energy. There are also several reasons why alcohol can cause hangovers as cited in the Mayo Clinic. First is the beverage's ability to cause the body to produce more urine. As a result, the body becomes dehydrated and this triggers an inflammatory response from the immune system.
Other than this, alcohol is also known for irritating the lining of the stomach, thus causing blood sugar to fall which in turn expands the blood vessels, eventually leading to headaches. People also get sleepy after drinking too much alcohol but the quality of their sleep becomes questionable. The ingredients of alcohol, specifically congeners, typically add to hangovers.
The researchers tested 57 different types of beverages and were focused on finding ways on how to stop acetaldehyde from lingering in the body for too long. They found that Sprite and soda water helped speed up ALDH activity which can theoretically curb hangover. "These results are a reminder that herbal and other supplements can have pharmacological activities that can both harm and benefit our health," said Edzard Ernst, a medical expert at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.
Read more: Hangovers Make You Dumb
