If you decided to indulge in a glass of bubbly or two on Friday, you may be among the many who woke up Saturday morning with a throbbing head and queasy stomach as the reward for your night of merriment.

You probably already know that the symptoms of a hangover are caused in large part by dehydration and the inevitable loss of vitamins and minerals that goes with it. So the simplest way to stop a hangover before it ever even starts is to eat a healthy protein-filled snack, pop a multi-vitamin, and load up on several glasses of water before you head out to the party.

But if you fail to prepare and you do wake up with the damage already done, why not give one or more of these home-style hangover cures a try?

(1) Bananas

Why it works: When you’re drinking, you tend to urinate excessively and as you dehydrate you lose a lot of potassium. When you’re low on potassium, you may feel weak or tired and may suffer from cramps, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Sound familiar? If you eat a banana to help restore your potassium levels you’ll be feeling better fast.

(2) Eggs

Why it works: When you drink alcohol your body produces a hangover-inducing toxic substance called acetaldehyde. It then reacts to the toxin by producing cysteine-rich glutathione to counteract it. But that supply of glutathione is limited and is quickly depleted, leaving the hangover-producing acetaldehyde hanging out in your system while your body makes more. Eggs, however, are rich in cysteine and can help mop up some of the remaining toxins.

(3) Asparagus

Why it works: A study last year showed that asparagus can help ease hangover symptoms. The vegetable is packed full of amino acids, minerals and vitamins that can restore the nutrients you lost and protect your liver cells against the toxins in alcohol.

(4) Ginger root (in tea or ginger ale)

Why it works: Ginger is a powerful antioxidant that helps to ease nausea by reducing the oxidative stress that causes your tummy to ache. It also blocks the serotonin receptors in the stomach that lead to nausea.

(5) Pickles

Why it works: After you’ve devoted a night to drinking your dehydrated body will have lost a lot of vitamins, minerals, and salt. Pickles are rich in a number of nutrients, including vitamin A, iron, potassium, vitamin K, calcium, and manganese. So eating a couple of pickles can help restore your sodium levels while helping to balance your vitamin and mineral levels.

(6) Fruit Juice

Why it works: Fruit juice can help stabilize your out-of-whack blood-sugar levels and some of your hangover symptoms right along with them. In addition, fruit juice will help restore some of the electrolytes you’ve lost.

(7) Sauerkraut

Why it works: Sauerkraut can help restore your sodium levels, making your headache disappear, while at the same time helping to kick-start your rocky digestion and easing your upset stomach. Cabbage contains the good bacteria Lactobacilli plantarum, which will help fight digestion problems, plus a high level of lactic acid, which will help break down proteins in your digestive tract.

(8) Honey and lemon tea

Why it works: A warm tea consisting of honey and lemon juice in water will help to restore lost fluids and sugars driving away that hangover headache.

And, of course, don’t forget that water is your best friend when you are suffering from a hangover. Restoring your fluid levels should be your top priority. Once you get your fluids balanced your headache will go away and your stomach will start to settle down.

What hangover food cures did I forget? Share your homemade hangover remedies in the comments section below.

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