NAC is the most important item in every party-animal’s hangover cure kit! This article explains how N-acetyl Cysteine capsules (or NAC for short) work to cure hangovers, and even prevent them.
What causes hangovers, exactly?
The secret lies in how our bodies process alcohol before they can eliminate it. The crucial intermediate step is when our liver turns alcohol into acetaldehyde, using an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Whilst alcohol gives us the feelings of being drunk, acetaldehyde is the cause of all our hangover symptoms.
Acetaldehyde is far more toxic than alcohol, and makes us feel sick and can give us heart palpitations. It also causes headaches, low blood pressure, tight breath and dizziness. It sneakily gives us inflammation and oxidative stress, which cause harm over the long term. Worst of all, it damages liver cells in such a way that they grow back slightly mutated, increasing our statistical risk of cirrhosis or cancer.
How our bodies cure hangovers
Now we know a bit of science, it’s clear that hangover cure tablets need to get rid of horrible acetaldehyde. Our bodies normally change acetaldehyde into a less toxic substance called acetate, using an enzyme attractively named aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). After this it’s all plain sailing, as the final step is to turn acetate into carbon dioxide and water, which are easy to breathe, sweat and pee out.
Hangovers: Cause and Cure
Our bodies process alcohol by converting it into acetaldehyde. This is toxic, and causes hangovers. We need NAC (which you can buy as a supplement) to produce enzymes that clear out acetaldehyde, in particular enzymes called ADH and ALDH.
Why do some people get worse hangovers than others?
The liver’s ability to efficiently convert acetaldehyde to acetate is crucial for detoxifying alcohol. The faster and more efficiently this process occurs, the less acetaldehyde accumulates, reducing its nasty effects.
Genetic variations affect the activity speed of ADH and ALDH enzymes among different people. Some unlucky people have slower ALDH activity, giving them a greater build-up of acetaldehyde when they drink. This causes them more severe hangovers than others.
These people are likely to need hangover cure tablets more often than others, but anyone can benefit from them after a night partying.
How NAC hangover cure tablets work
The secret to how NAC works as hangover cure tablets lies in the way we process acetaldehyde and neutralise it into acetate. NAC directly binds to acetaldehyde, neutralising it ready to be eliminated from the body. NAC also goes into making glutathione, which our bodies use to process acetaldehyde, too.
Apart from directly tackling the problem head-on, NAC has three extra benefits as hangover cure tablets.
NAC reduces inflammation
Acetaldehyde triggers inflammatory responses in the body, contributing to hangover symptoms like headaches and muscle aches. NAC helps reduce inflammation.
NAC detoxes paracetamol
Although not directly related to hangovers, if you can’t handle the headache and resort to paracetamol, NAC helps with that too. Unfortunately, the last thing your liver needs after you’ve hammered it with alcohol is another hammering with paracetamol, which it also has to process and detox.
NAC protects the liver from paracetamol damage if you take them both at the same time, without the NAC reducing the effectiveness of the paracetamol. Despite this, it’s better to give NAC time to do its job, and try to manage without paracetamol if you can.
NAC reduces harmful oxidative stress
Drinking alcohol generates free radicals, leading to oxidative stress. NAC’s antioxidant action – and its ability to boost the master antioxidant, glutathione – helps to reduce this damage, protecting cells and tissues from oxidative injury.
Key Points
NAC cures hangovers by binding to harmful acetaldehyde. It also makes glutathione, which neutralises acetaldehyde and stops oxidative stress. NAC protects our livers by detoxing paracetamol, and it reduces the inflammation which causes hangover headaches and muscle pains.
How to take NAC as Hangover Cure Tablets
The standard NAC dose is 600mg daily. As hangover cure tablets, you can safely take up to 3 times this dose, to a maximum of 1,800 mg daily, provided you don’t do this too often. You can either swallow the capsules with a glass of water, or open them up and stir them into water or juice.
While it’s not really possible to overdose on NAC, taking excessive amounts on a regular basis can irritate the stomach and result in problems with heartburn or acid reflux.
Can NAC actually prevent hangovers?
Yes! It can! If you take NAC in the evening before you go to bed, it will get to work on the acetaldehyde while you sleep. You will wake up with a much milder hangover, or possibly no hangover at all.
Quick Get me some NAC hangover cure tablets now
Can you get NAC from food?
You can get NAC from food, but not really enough to cure a hangover. Also, you would need to eat lots of eggs, garlic and onions. This may not be exactly what you fancy when you wake up hung over and spend the morning hugging the toilet.
How to Use NAC as Hangover Cure Tablets
As hangover cure tablets, take 600 mg to 1,800 mg NAC. Ideally take NAC in the evening after drinking, or the next morning. Don’t take too much, as excessive NAC can cause stomach problems.
What else should I include in my hangover cure kit?
Strong tea
Remember that helpful enzyme ALDH that neutralises the threat of acetaldehyde by changing it into acetate? And that some people make this enzyme more slowly than others?
Researchers found that black tea strongly stimulates production of that enzyme. Well, it does in mice, anyway. It’s up to you if you think it works in humans, but that evidence is good enough for us. We already knew a proper mug of builder’s tea can cure just about anything.
Water
Dehydration is a major cause of hangover symptoms. Drinking water helps rehydrate the body, reducing that thumping headache and feeling of muscle weakness.
Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium)
Alcohol makes us pee more, resulting in the loss of electrolytes. Electrolytes are the minerals that conduct electrical nerve signals around our bodies and brains. It’s hardly any wonder that being low in electrolytes means we feel weak, tired and dopey. Replenishing electrolytes helps restore the body’s fluid balance, improve muscle function, and reduce symptoms like dizziness and fatigue.
If you don’t have electrolyte supplements, you can eat a banana for potassium, something salty for the sodium, and nuts or avocado for magnesium. Alternatively you can look for a good sports drink that contains electrolytes.
Conclusion: Your hangover cure kit is ready
Order some NAC hangover cure tablets, and enjoy your night out!
