The Best Food for Hangover Relief Is Not Ramen or Coffee, but 'This'

Removing Hangover-Causing Substances in the Body Like Banana and Cucumber
Caution When Consuming Ramen and Coffee After Drinking Alcohol

As the year-end season brings various drinking gatherings, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has introduced foods that are good for relieving hangovers.

On the 29th, the Ministry introduced foods beneficial for hangover relief, including bananas, cucumbers, radishes, soybean sprouts, and eggs. Bananas contain calcium and magnesium, which neutralize stomach acid, providing a satisfying feeling of fullness and reducing the burden on the stomach. Also, drinking cucumber juice mixed with honey helps alleviate the heat accumulated in the body from alcohol due to the cooling properties of cucumber, and its diuretic effect helps expel waste, speeding up recovery from intoxication.

CU Hongdae Sangsang Store, a convenience store specializing in ramen located in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The photo is a stock image unrelated to the article content.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The amylase enzyme contained in radishes promotes digestion and helps remove acetaldehyde produced during the body's alcohol metabolism process. Acetaldehyde is considered one of the main causes of hangovers.

Additionally, soybean sprouts are well-known as a representative food for hangover relief. The vitamin B1 in the heads and vitamin C in the stems of soybean sprouts accelerate alcohol metabolism. The asparagine acid in the roots helps eliminate acetaldehyde, the primary cause of hangovers, making it effective for hangover relief. The saponin content in soybean sprouts is also known to be beneficial for liver function.

Honey and eggs are also considered good foods for hangovers. Both form a protective layer on the stomach, helping to alleviate dehydration symptoms and hypoglycemia. They contain large amounts of methionine, which is necessary for alcohol metabolism.

What foods should be avoided when experiencing a severe hangover?

Ramen is a typical hangover food, but it is better to avoid it after drinking. Ramen has a high fat content, which can hinder digestion at a time when metabolism needs to be active for smooth alcohol breakdown, and it may irritate the stomach damaged by alcohol consumption.

Coffee should also be avoided after drinking. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety cautions that the caffeine in coffee causes diuretic effects, which can accelerate dehydration during the alcohol metabolism process, so care is needed.