“Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production. is dehydration can contribute to common hangover symptoms like headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and dry mouth. The diuretic effect also causes an electrolyte imbalance, as essential minerals like sodium, potassium, and Chloride are lost along with fluids. This can further impact muscle function, hydration levels, and overall recovery, especially for athletes or active individuals.

“Alcohol may initially help you fall asleep, but research shows it causes disruption and inability to reach deep sleep later in the night. We know that sleep is our bodies’ natural reboot. So if we are unable to sleep soundly and our bodies are busy trying to get rid of the alcohol and its byproducts, it can’t do its normal clean-up routine. This may be one reason we feel and look like garbage the next morning.”

“Your body had to metabolize all that booze. Alcohol is broken down in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase to acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is further broken down by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and glutathione. When drinking large quantities of alcohol, the liver can’t keep up. So the toxic acetaldehyde builds in the blood while the liver tries to make additional glutathione. Elevated levels of acetaldehyde, over time, may lead to oxidative stress, liver damage, and possibly cancer. Genetic variations within the detoxification process can determine how quickly and efficiently you are able to metabolize alcohol which can further cause issues for those who are slow metabolizers.”