Drank a little too much last night? Quantity may not be the only problem, it’s quality that really matters. High in sugar, your happy hour cocktail may not make you so happy when your head starts pounding the next day and the bloody mary doesn’t help. Check out what types of drinks cause the worst hangovers and how Grape Nectar can help, so you can #DrinkBetter for the biggest drinking holiday of the year!

Hangover Symptoms:

• Headache
• Nausea and weak body
• Parched mouth
• Dehydration, excessively thirsty
• Trouble sleeping
• Fatigue and trouble sleeping
• Grouchiness and anxious
• Tough to concentrate
• Sensitive to noise and bright, especially fluorescent, lights

Can Cocktails Cause a Sugar Hangover?

What exactly is a sugar hangover? Honestly, you can get these from overdosing on cake, but the most common way is from too many sugar-laden drinks. While distilled spirits have no sugar or carb content, mixed cocktails prevail when it comes to sugary drinks. An ounce of this and a splash of that and your cocktail is headache heaven. To mask the strong taste of alcohol, cocktails are usually mixed with agave, simple syrup, or high sugar liqueurs further increasing sugar content. And when too much sugar hits the brain, cognitive function declines and blood sugar rises, hello sadness and anxiety.

Now we know that having too much sugar can cause headaches, thanks to the bag of sour patch we devoured as a kid. But what if we combine sugar with alcohol? Your bodily systems get disrupted by the toxins and sugar which cause your brain, speech, and reaction time to slow. Having too much sugar is often a outcome of drinking too many mixed drinks. Added sugar like agave and simple syrup mask the taste of alcohol which leaves us thinking the drink tastes good and that we can have another. Here is when we begin the cycle of “just one more”, “just one more”... until we have gone too far.

Preventing a Sugar Hangover:

• Stay hydrated with water or coconut water.
• Eat a balanced meal of protein, carbs, and fats to rejuvenate your bodily systems.
• Drink tea before bed and visit the restroom as much as possible.
• Stick to one drink, or one type alcohol. Try not to mix alcohols, especially dark and light.
• Find the lowest carb drinks here.
• For every cocktail, have a glass of water. This prevents you from spending all your money while it encourages better breath and positive choice!

What to Eat/Drink After a Sugar Hangover

• Drink at least 16 oz of water before your hit the hay. What works best for us is drinking a glass or two of herbal tea. It makes all the difference the next day.
• Start your day off with a banana and coconut water to replenish your electrolytes.
• Eat a protein filled breakfast to hold you over after your big night out.
• KEEP DRINKING WATER
• Replace agave and simple syrup with Grape Nectar to lower overall sugar consumption in your cocktails

What NOT to do at all costs:

• Consuming more sugar for your hangover the day after. This usually leads to immense fatigue and intensely painful headaches.
• Drink on an empty stomach, believe us, your head will be throbbing.
• “Beer before liquor, never been sicker. Liquor before beer, you're in the clear.” It’s honestly so true though! Start with the lightest colored alcohols (lowest carb) and work your way up to darker. But if we are being completely honest, stick to one alcohol to avoid a stomach and headache.

Avoid a Sugar Overdose when the Cocktails Keep Comin’

The worst way to ruin a night out is a hangover the next day. So instead of masking the taste of alcohol in your high-sugar cocktail, use Grape Nectar to sweeten your mix. Incredibly low-cal and low glycemic, our sugar alternative pretty much guarantees no headache in the morn. Plus you only need a little bit to add so much more than sweetness to your mixed drink!

With three unique blends, each with an exceptional taste and delightful aromatics, Grape Nectar will enhance any cocktail you are shakin up. Check out ways to incorporate #NotYourAverageSweetener into your beverages here for the best way to celebrate the end of 2018!

Get your Grape Nectar today!