1131: Hangover Cures | Skeptical Sunday

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Mar 23, 2025

Join writer and researcher Jessica Wynn as she dives into the truth behind hangovers, debunking common myths and exploring why traditional cures like pickle juice and coconut water fall short. Discover the complex biological responses that make hangovers so brutal, from inflammation to wild blood sugar fluctuations. Jessica hilariously reveals the absurdity of drinking more alcohol to cure a hangover and emphasizes that true recovery hinges on time and hydration. It's a fascinating, eye-opening look at our enduring relationship with alcohol and its effects!

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ANECDOTE

Vegas Hangover

Jessica Wynn woke up on a plane covered in red wine after a night in Vegas.
She then spent two days recovering from the experience.

ANECDOTE

Car Park Nap

Jordan Harbinger recounts a drunken night where he slept on a stranger's car.
This experience served as a wake-up call about his drinking habits.

INSIGHT

Drunken Monkey Hypothesis

Animals and humans have been getting drunk for millions of years due to fermented fruits.
This suggests a possible evolutionary basis for alcohol consumption.

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Feeling rough after drinks? On Skeptical Sunday, Jessica Wynn reveals why hangovers hurt, why "cures" fail, and why dark liquors might be your worst enemy.

Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by Jessica Wynn!

On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss:

Hangovers aren't just about dehydration — they're your body's complex response to processing alcohol as a toxin. When your liver breaks down alcohol, it produces acetaldehyde, a nasty chemical that causes inflammation throughout your body. Meanwhile, your blood sugar goes haywire, your sleep quality plummets, and your entire system essentially stages a biochemical rebellion.
Despite a $2 billion (and growing) hangover remedy industry, there's no scientifically proven cure for hangovers. All those miracle pills, electrolyte drinks, and bizarre remedies — from pickle juice to rabbit dung tea — are essentially sophisticated placebos. Your body needs time to process and eliminate alcohol's toxic byproducts, and no amount of coconut water can accelerate that biological reality.
Drinking more alcohol to cure a hangover merely postpones the inevitable crash when your blood alcohol returns to zero. Similarly, the concept of "healthy moderation" has been debunked by research showing that no amount of alcohol consumption is actually safe — many studies suggesting otherwise were funded by the alcohol industry and used flawed methodologies.
Darker alcohols like whiskey and bourbon contain higher levels of congeners (byproducts of fermentation) than clear spirits, potentially leading to worse hangovers. These compounds, along with other additives and ingredients in alcoholic beverages, contribute significantly to hangover severity beyond just the alcohol content.
When dealing with a hangover, embrace the basics: hydration, rest, bland foods to stabilize blood sugar, and perhaps some mild pain relief (though be cautious with acetaminophen). While not glamorous, these approaches support your body's natural recovery processes. Understanding why hangovers happen empowers you to make more informed choices about drinking habits — whether that means switching to clearer spirits, drinking water between alcoholic beverages, or simply accepting that sometimes the most profound wisdom lies in listening to what your body is telling you about that third cocktail.
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