New Year’s Eve is the climax of the festive season, with many Scots raising a glass (or several) to a fresh start after weeks of overindulgence. While partying into the wee hours is a great way to see in 2025, it will leave many of us with a nasty hangover that can derail even the best-laid plans to kickstart our New Year’s Resolutions.
And Hogmanay revellers have been urged by experts to turn to innovative natural remedies to stave off a hangover and start the New Year on the right foot, the Mirror reports.
Nutritionist Steph Baker explains that hangovers are largely caused by dehydration and poor sleep patterns as a result of booze. She said: “Alcohol has a diuretic effect, increasing the production of urine and leading to a loss of fluids, so being dehydrated can make a hangover feel worse.”
Excessive quantities of booze can also trigger vomiting, which leads to further loss of fluids. To counteract this, Steph stresses that hungover Scots should “think about drinking plenty of liquids, ideally two to three litres of water,” while trying to catch up on sleep.
According to Dr Sanjay Mehta, a GP at The London General Practice, being selective about what you are drinking can also impact the intensity of your hangover. Darker alcoholic drinks like red wine, rum and whisky typically create a worse hangover than lighter liquids, because they contain certain chemicals that are not present in lighter ones.
He explains: “Age can also play a part in terms of hangovers. It’s not the most significant factor, but it is certainly a factor for two reasons. The first aspect is that your liver works less effectively as you get older. The other is that there’s a marginal decrease in your body’s water composition as you age, so the alcohol in your system becomes more concentrated.”
Scots who are feeling peaky should also avoid sugary drinks and resist the “hair of the dog” approach the following morning, as both tactics can prolong nasty hangover symptoms.
Mercifully, those who are still feeling rough can turn to a host of natural hangover remedies that will combat unpleasant hangover symptoms.
Go outside
Fresh air helps you to clear your head, boost your mood and get some all-important vitamin D. “A walk outside is a better option than over-exerting yourself in the gym, as this can just make you feel more dehydrated and worsen a banging head,” Cosmedics director Dr Ross Perry stresses.
Eat bananas
Bananas are rich in potassium and soft to eat, meaning that they are far more nutritional and easier to digest than a huge fry-up. The fibre in bananas can relieve digestive issues and the sugar can replenish your energy levels.
Try milk thistle
Milk thistle is a fantastic supplement to help the liver process a higher-than-normal intake of chemicals. Nutritionist Steph Baker recommends starting to take milk thistle two weeks before the party season and throughout December to help the liver to detox.
She explains: “While we are sadly yet to find a supplementary cure for hangovers, silymarin, which is the potent antioxidant component of milk thistle, contains anti-inflammatory properties that may help to reduce the length of a hangover.”
Take electrolytes
Baker says that drinking electrolytes with a large glass of water before bed and in the morning after a night of hard partying can mitigate the fatigue and headaches associated with hangovers. As hangovers can be mainly attributed to dehydration, the symptoms can, in part, be alleviated by ensuring adequate hydration.
Take probiotics
Taking gut probiotics and a magnesium glycinate supplement at night protects your sleep, giving your body time to replenish itself. “Supporting your gut health will aid digestion and the removal of toxins,” stresses nutritional therapist Jo Lyall.
Probiotic experts Optibac recommend taking a high-quality probiotic before bed and again in the morning. The formula should include at least one strain of Bifidobacteria to help break down the toxic metabolites of alcohol. Meanwhile, a probiotic containing Saccharomyces boulardii can help to soothe an upset stomach.
Make sure you are also signed up to our newsletters for the latest health news and insights sent straight to your inbox.