We've all been there. You got carried away the night before drinking with friends and the next morning, you find yourself wishing last night's you had shown a little more restraint.
Well, the next time you find yourself swearing off alcohol and cursing your drunk self's lack of sensibility, you can try out some of these tried and true Korean hangover cures.
Korea has quite the drinking culture, so if anyone knows how to deal with a nasty hangover, it's probably them.
Hangover Soup
Hangover Soup, or Haejangguk (해장국) in Korean, is a classic go-to the morning after heavy drinking.
This soup originated after the opening of Incheon Port in 1883.
Leftover meat and bones were boiled to make a nutritious soup to help the body recover.
There are many different varieties of hangover soup in Korea, with the most common ones being bean sprout soup, fish soup, and blood soup.
The ingredients in any hangover soup are packed with nutrients to replenish your energy after drinking.
Some varieties are spicy which is supposed to help reduce fatigue.
Boiled Eggs
Eggs are rich in protein and amino acids, which are helpful in recovering from a hangover.
Additionally, eggs help break down the toxins from the alcohol.
Some Koreans will eat an egg or two before going out to reduce a potential hangover.
Boiled eggs in particular seem to be the most effective.
Hangover Supplements
In recent years, hangover cures in the form of vitamin and supplement pills have gotten more popular.
They are very convenient, especially in this day and age where everyone is on the go all the time, and there isn't necessarily time to sit down to a bowl of hangover soup before work.
These supplements work by eliminating toxins and foreign substances in the blood such as alcohol.
Almonds
Can almonds really cure a hangover?
Of course they can, and Koreans have the proof!
This is because almonds have the ability to help accelerate the metabolism of carbohydrates and body fat.
In addition, the vitamin E contained in almonds is beneficial to the liver.
Instant Noodles
Instant noodles work similarly to hangover soups.
Usually a spicy variety is used to fight off a hangover and eggs are added as well.
There are even noodles sold these days that are marketed as hangover cures.
Milk
Before drinking alcohol, some Koreans will drink milk to preemptively stop or reduce hangover symptoms.
Because milk has a weak alkaline property, it can neutralize stomach acid and protect the stomach wall, thus reducing the stomach discomfort that usually comes with a hangover.
It is important to drink the milk before drinking alcohol, not after. If you try drinking milk when you're already hungover, the effect my not be a good one.
Cheese
Cheese in rich in protein and can help to protect the liver and break down alcohol.
If you don't like cheese though, you can try other high protein foods like beans and lean meats
Chocolate
Chocolate contains polyphenols, which help to slow absorption of alcohol and prevent the alcohol from being broken down into glucose. It also can make digestion easier.
So, before going out drinking with friends, you can eat a little chocolate to reduce the chances of a bad hangover
A small amount is all you need, and more bitter chocolate is optimal.
These were eight popular hangover cures in Korea.
If you try any of these methods, let us know!
And if you have any interesting hangover remedies in your culture, we'd love to hear all about it!
