It's true: your hangover lasts until Tuesday

As we speak, I am probably recovering from a petit hangover. During carnival, you effectively solve this by consuming a so-called repair beer, something that experts do not particularly encourage. But even if you polished off a bottle on Saturday or Sunday, it can very well be that you are dealing with the consequences for days. It's true: your hangover from the weekend can last all the way until Tuesday.

A slightly trembling stomach, the urge to drink the Markermeer dry, and with a bit of bad luck, a nasty headache; hangovers are no joke. It's the horror, as the French would say. And honestly, don't you sometimes feel that one time is much worse than another? That's right. Several studies show that a hangover can last from a few hours to a few days (!), experts say. It just depends on how much you drink. The basic rule is: the more alcohol, the longer the hangover. But that's not all, because then you also have the side issues.

A simple calculation tells you that your body takes about an hour and a half to break down a glass of alcohol. But that doesn't mean you're done with it, because the effects linger much longer. Alcohol, for example, causes dehydration, so you become dehydrated while drinking. That's why it's important to drink plenty of water in between and after drinking to counteract this. If you don't do this, your body will suffer for a long time.

Another awkward thing: alcohol makes you sleep poorly, while sleep is essential for recovery. By the way, did you know that your hangovers worsen as you get older? Unfortunately, I recognize that. Around my twenties, no hangover could take me down, but now I sometimes feel like I'm on my last legs after two specialty beers. The older you get, the worse your cells handle and break down alcohol. Personally, I think this is a rotten joke from Mother Nature, because at twenty, I really appreciated that glass of wine much less.

Last but not least, we women have one big disadvantage: hangovers can last longer during your menstruation, because you're already not feeling top-notch. Really annoying, truly annoying. So add up all those side issues when processing that bottle of wine, and you should be happy that by Tuesday you're a bit more yourself again.

What helps?
1. Breakfast, even if you absolutely don't want to eat anymore. A little bit of food helps with recovery.

2. Drink plenty of water. Part of your complaints comes from a lack of fluids in the body.

3. Sex! If you have the energy for it, but it seems to help.