Although there's uncertainty around whether Sprite is good for hangovers or not, one thing is for certain: that is sprite is not a hangover cure. In fact, a hangover cure doesn't exist. Even if Sprite was to have some improvement in acetaldehyde clearance, it's unlikely to have a noticeable difference to hangovers.
Chinese scientists studied 57 drinks—ranging from herbal teas to sodas—and found the best way to ease hangover symptoms may be Sprite. When we drink, our livers release alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), an enzyme that breaks down the ethanol in alcohol into a chemical called acetaldehyde.
"When you're hungover, you need to hydrate your body. The way you feel – that headache – it's mostly caused by dehydration. Something like Coca-Cola has lots of sugar and fluids and will put those back into your body to get your energy levels up. The caffeine will also give you an energy boost."
The solution: lemon-lime flavored soda Sprite. But if you prefer to skip the sweet stuff, soda water is a good alternative, findings showed. Some of the adverse effects of alcohol are thought to be caused not by the alcohol itself but by the process of the body trying to break down the alcohol.
If you do wake up with a hangover the next morning, drink plenty of water. You could also add a rehydration treatment sachet to water – they replace lost minerals and salt, but plain water or a carbonated soft drink will normally do.
Unfortunately eating greasy food to cure a hangover is a myth, you should actually eat healthy food because the nutrition will help offset the negative effects of alcohol.
The sugar in full-fat coca-cola will give you some much-needed energy if you're unable to catch up on any lost sleep. It will also help you feel less trembly, with the fizz also helping settle your stomach. Ice cold is often the preference, and from a can instead of a bottle.
Dark drinks, like red wine and bourbon, have more congeners than light ones and there are several studies to show that for a given level of blood alcohol, dark drinks produce worse hangovers.
People often mix diet soda and alcohol to save on calories, with women making this choice more frequently than men. But researchers find that it's much more harmful to the brain and to the liver if you have a higher blood alcohol level.
Coffee and orange juice may also be your enemies.
Morning beverages, beware, orange juice and coffee can be harmful to hangovers. "You also want to avoid citrus since it's harsh on your stomach," Tager said.
Alcohol lowers your blood sugar and makes you particularly hungry. That's why hungover people crave fat, sugar and carbs (those two are related, of course): they're the most efficient ways to take on calories.
The darker the alcohol, the worse the hangover.
“Vodka is known to be the best alcoholic beverage for the most minimal hangover. Gin, light rum and white wine are runner-ups—with brandy and whiskey being at the bottom of the list.
When you drink alcohol, your body experiences a variety of changes. This includes alterations to the type of food you crave. Interestingly enough, alcohol intake encourages the brain to release galanin, the neurochemical that promotes a need for fatty foods. It also explains all those late night jaunts for pizza.
Carb-heavy foods such as bread, sandwiches, toast, and crackers are some of the best things to eat with a hangover. They're easy for the stomach to digest and offer an immediate source of energy. Carbohydrates are also naturally high in sodium, so they can help replenish your electrolyte levels too.
Greasy foods may feel comforting, but eating a heavy meal can really stress your hangover belly. The same goes for coffee, which is acidic and could exacerbate your tummy troubles. And like alcohol, coffee is a diuretic, so it's not going to help your hydration game.
Turns out, Sprite stimulates the body to metabolize the sickening byproducts of alcohol more quickly. A hangover might not exactly be a genuine health crisis, but many days of productivity have been lost to the droning headaches, aching bones, and nausea that come with this self-induced form of mild alcohol poisoning.
Sprite is a carbonated, lemon-lime-flavored soft drink that is believed to help soothe an upset stomach because of its mild flavor and carbonation. Carbonation is the bubbles in the beverage which help to relieve feelings of bloating and gas.
The Chinese study found that Xue bi, the Chinese version of Sprite, was best, followed closely by Sprite, 7-Up, soda water and drinks containing taurine. These drinks work by mopping up acetaldehyde and other toxins. Drink some at the first sign of a hangover.
When Does a Hangover Peak and How Long Does It Last? Hangover symptoms peak when the blood alcohol concentration in the body returns to about zero. The symptoms can last 24 hours or longer.
Genetics have a major role to play here. Their body is able to break down and get rid of the by-products of alcohol easily - metabolically and genetically. Thus, it doesn't affect them the next morning.