The bad news is there’s no cure for a hangover. But that doesn’t mean the majority of us won’t wake up with one in two days’ time.
Most will reach for painkillers and the coffee pot, but what of the other tried-and-tested remedies?Who better to consult than celebrities who need to ensure they not only feel better but look red-carpet-ready after a heavy night. Here we speak to the stars to discover how they cope the morning after the night before.
DENISE VAN OUTEN
38, TV presenter
My quick fix is a banana, a can of Coke and a stroll on our local beach, Camber Sands in East Sussex.
KATIE MELUA
28, singer
The old Soviet countries have some weird hangover cures, such as a raw egg swallowed in one and ‘sodium water’ drinks, but I’m not a fan of that so I prefer a full English breakfast or a dirty burger – really fatty plus plenty of chips, Coke on the side and HP sauce.
LEN GOODMAN
68, Strictly Come Dancing judge
Drink at least a pint of water before you go to sleep. Always lock the wardrobe in case you confuse it for the bathroom. If on waking you are hung over, two pickled walnuts and a glass of Ribena will either kill or cure you.Take a brisk walk in the fresh air to the nearest pub and consume exactly 50 per cent of what you had the night before. This won’t fully alleviate the symptoms but you’ll definitely feel better. Also, a warning: with each two units of alcohol consumed, a person of the opposite sex gets ten per cent more attractive.
NIGELLA LAWSON
52, cook
Try my Eggs in Purgatory recipe. I’m not saying that New Year’s Day has to mean you have a hangover, but after that evening of almost-enforced carousing, this dish of eggs cooked in a fiery tomato sauce can feel like heaven.
JAMES MIDDLETON
25, brother of Kate and Pippa
I go for a run, then have a cappuccino and a piadina (an Italian flatbread sandwich) from La Bottega delicatessen in West London. It seems to do the trick.
ANDY SERKIS
48, actor
I find a really nice big hill and do some fell running up it. You get that combination of cold mountain air and burning lungs, so it is a great cure for a hangover.
BRIAN MAY
65, Queen guitarist
Cure for a hangover? Don’t drink too much. It took me a long time to learn, but I did in the end. I drink but not to excess – there’s just no point. I don’t like that feeling in the morning. It’s not worth it.
NANCY DELL’OLIO
51, lawyer
I like to eat oysters and drink very strong espresso when I have a hangover. If you know you have had a heavy night, you should sleep with all your make-up on so when you wake up you still look fantastic. I am a strong believer in mind over matter. If you believe you don’t have a hangover, then you won’t.
ERIN O’CONNOR
34, model
I love – and can’t live without – Pukka Detox tea. It works every time. They also do an organic Clean Greens range, which is fabulous.
RAYMOND BLANC
63, chef
My cure for a Christmas hangover is Chartreuse liqueur, which is distilled alcohol with 130 herbal extracts. My mum makes a homemade version, which cures all ailments. However, if you can’t get hold of this, I’d recommended good old-fashioned Alka-Seltzer.
PRISCILLA PRESLEY
67, actress
Gentle exercise – some press-ups and push-ups. Put on some soothing or jolly music to feel better. And drink green tea and goji berry juice.
ARLENE PHILLIPS
69, choreographer
Drink lots of pink lemonade and keep on drinking it. You’ll need to pop to the loo and you’ll pee out your entire hangover.
HELEN LEDERER
58, comedian
The empirically proven aid when feeling like a blob with no brain power is to coat your tongue with astringent mouthwash, then glug a mug of hot water with lemon topped off with a plate-load of smoked salmon.This de-blobs the system and makes you feel fragrant again. Whatever you do, don’t buy into the baked-beans-and-toast remedy – as therein flatulence beckons.
SARAH CRACKNELL
45, singer
I recommend a swim in the sea. And I mean submerging yourself fully, no floating about on the surface.Or if you don’t live near the coast, put the past behind you and stop feeling guilty. Go for a fancy lunch, including more wine, followed by a lovely afternoon nap with the sun creeping around closed curtains. Heavenly!
PERDITA WEEKS
27, actress
A takeaway pizza, followed by a curry, followed by a Chinese. And ginger ale. The food doesn’t make you feel any better but it gives you something to do and takes your mind off feeling so rough. It’s a great time-waster ordering foods of the world.It’s as if you’re on holiday but in the comfort of your own home.
NOELLE RENO
29, model
There is an over-the-counter drug in the US called Midol – it’s specifically for PMS but it is the best thing to cure a hangover. It works as a painkiller but also has an anti-nausea ingredient that deals with the hangover symptoms. It makes it much more bearable.
AMBER ATHERTON
20, model
Whole Foods Market in Kensington, West London, is the best hangover cure. I feel cleansed and zen just standing in the place. I buy brown rice sushi and have countless cups of green tea and migraine tablets.
ED HARCOURT
35, singer
I have several equations depending on the type of hangover. Beer plus shots equals a hot steam, a roll in the snow then a game of chess. Tequila calls for steak frites, a rom-com in a cinema and some sex. And whisky plus red wine requires . . . death! – DailyMail
