The notorious hangover – a dreadful experience indeed. The morning after indulging yourself in merriment leaves you feeling utterly exhausted. In your search for an effective remedy, you may have chanced upon an unusual candidate: chocolate.
Indeed, this delicious delight tantalizes your taste buds and may hold the answer to relieving that pounding headache, queasy stomach, and overall sense of remorse. But does chocolate have natural remedying properties against hangovers?
Why do People believe Chocolate Can Cure Hangovers?
Let’s tackle the indecipherable world of cocoa and explore why some individuals believe in its mystical prowess.
Dopamine Boost
Dopamine is known as a marvelous neurotransmitter. It has the incredible ability to bring you pleasure and reward. Whenever you indulge in chocolate, your brain is flooded with this magnificent chemical bringing about a delightful feeling of happiness and contentment.
When you need this mood-enhancing phenomenon after a night of excessive drinking, turning to chocolate may be the perfect remedy to lift your spirits and divert your attention away from that dreadful pounding headache.
Sugar Rush
After a night of festivity, it is common for your body to feel tired. Alcohol tends to weaken your glycogen stores, resulting in feelings of fatigue and lethargy. Fortunately, chocolate and its high sugar content can offer a quick energy boost.
Replenishing some of the lost glucose provides the essential fuel to face the day ahead. Furthermore, who wouldn’t appreciate the notion of soothing a hangover by indulging in a delightful sugary treat?
Hydration Helper
Dehydration is considered one of the primary causes of hangovers. The consumption of alcohol acts as a diuretic, resulting in increased urination and a depletion of vital fluids from the body.
Although it cannot fully replace water, chocolate contributes to fluid consumption. It is especially true for dark chocolate, which contains more water than its milkier counterparts and can provide some hydration benefits. However, it is important to keep in mind that water should still be prioritized as your main source of rehydration.
Can Chocolate Cure Hangover?
Now that you know why it makes sense that chocolate gives relief to excessive drinking aftermath, it’s only fitting to know what eating chocolate can do to your body while having a hangover.
1. Mood Booster
Chocolate possesses properties that can stimulate dopamine production in the brain, as mentioned earlier. Doing so has the potential to enhance your mood and counteract any negative emotions experienced after consuming alcohol.
It is necessary to acknowledge that while it cannot erase or undo past mistakes made during an evening of drinking, chocolate may offer some relief by making them slightly more bearable.
2. Energy Refuel
With high sugar content, chocolate can provide a rapid infusion of energy. Such properties prove advantageous in combating the fatigue and sluggishness commonly linked to hangovers. While chocolate cannot replicate the feeling of being fully rested, it does hold the potential to take off some edge from exhaustion.
3. Anti-Nausea Properties
Experiencing nausea is quite common when faced with a hangover. Fortunately, there is evidence suggesting that consuming dark chocolate could offer ease. The presence of specific compounds within dark chocolate has been found to aid in reducing symptoms associated with nausea and providing comfort for an upset stomach. Thus, taking small bites of dark chocolate may yield therapeutic effects and assist in mitigating sensations of nausea.
4. Stress Reduction
Hangovers frequently accompany feeling anxious and stressed, creating a sense of unease. Chocolate has compounds such as phenylethylamine (PEA) and anandamide, commonly referred to as “bliss molecules,” capable of fostering a state of calmness and reducing stress levels. Partaking in some chocolate could assist in unwinding and alleviating the lingering nerves following a party.
5. Improved Cognitive Function
You need to acknowledge the potential harm alcohol consumption poses to your cognitive abilities by impairing your thinking processes and diminishing your ability to concentrate.
Conversely, scientific research has shed light on the positive impacts of indulging in chocolate—particularly dark chocolate—on our mental faculties and brain circulation.
With this in mind, it is worth considering enjoying a small quantity of chocolate while nursing a hangover, as it may effectively enhance your mental focus and provide improved clarity.
6. Anti-inflammatory Properties
Excessive alcohol drinking results in inflammation in your body. This inflammation can then worsen the symptoms of a hangover and cause discomfort. Fortunately, there may be a solution to this predicament in the form of dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate has certain properties that have been found to possess anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, when you find yourself enduring the consequences of a hangover treating yourself to some dark chocolate might alleviate the inflammation and soothing sensation for your body.
7. Antioxidant Boost
The repercussions of heavy drinking on your body are evident through the attack of oxidative stress triggered by alcohol metabolism during those long nights of drinking. Fortunately for us all, an exquisite solution could aid in mitigating some of these adversities – chocolate, particularly the dark variant.
Dark chocolate boasts a generous supply of antioxidants like flavonoids and polyphenols. It can serve as an effervescent shield against the debilitating effects of oxidative stress resulting from alcohol consumption. With its ability to fortify your body’s innate defense mechanisms, chocolate becomes an indispensable ally in your quest for recovery from an unpleasant hangover.
8. Craving Control
Hangovers may occasionally lead to strong desires for unhealthy foods, particularly those with high fat and sugar content. Instead of indulging in greasy snacks, choosing a small portion of chocolate could gratify your cravings for something sweet without undermining your commitment to healthier eating. This alternative provides a delightful treat that aids in resisting the allure of less favorable choices.
9. Source of Magnesium
Alcohol consumption can lower the levels of magnesium in your body. Chocolate, mainly dark chocolate, is a beneficial source of magnesium. An essential mineral for many functions in your body: consuming chocolate during a hangover can replenish your magnesium levels, promote muscle relaxation, alleviate tension, and enhance your overall well-being.
Conclusion
Let’s not forget that while chocolate may provide certain benefits during those post-drinking woes known as hangovers, it’s still vital to maintain healthy habits and practice moderation.
Remembering the value of rest, staying hydrated, and nourishing your body with nutritious meals can aid us in your recovery process. Enjoying chocolate should always be done thoughtfully within the context of an all-around self-care regimen during this period.
So, indulge yourself fully in its delectable taste; savor those rare moments where you can pamper yourself with such pleasures; let chocolate become that small but delightful sidekick accompanying you on this journey of healing.
I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.
