/ 31 December 2010

Hair of the dog or pickle juice?

Some swear by a greasy breakfast and others by a strong cup of coffee to deal with that nauseating headache the morning after over-indulging.

As the festive season culminates in New Year celebrations, different countries have their hangover cures handy.

According to Google’s Insights for Search, hangover-cure-related searches steadily increased from July 2010 and peaked in mid-December.

The top searches for “hangover” from several countries revealed country-specific cures and a few common denominators.

While South Africans searched for “hangover remedies” and “coffee hangover”, the Italians searched for “milk after hangover” and “gym after hangover”.

However, all nationalities agreed that coffee and Alka Seltzer, an antacid and pain reliever, were sure to combat hangovers.

Google’s Insights on Search, where one can compare volume patterns across specific regions, categories and time frames, showed that according to the Brits, asparagus is a good way to get over a hangover.

It also showed that the French like their medicine and that beer and sugar is a sure anti-hangover remedy, at least according to the Spaniards.

Top hangover related searches in 2010

United Kingdom

  • oatmeal hangover
  • berocca for hangover
  • Alka seltzer hangover

Australia

  • hangover food
  • caffeine hangover
  • bread hangover

South Africa

  • hangover remedies
  • hangover solutions
  • coffee hangover

Canada

  • coffee hangover
  • pedialyte hangover
  • pickle juice hangover

France

  • Sertraline
  • Smecta
  • Miel après cuite

Germany

  • prevent hangover
  • hangover remedy
  • cucumber and pickled herring to cure a hangover

Spain

  • Vitamine B12
  • AlcaSeltzer medicin
  • Beer sugar hangover

Italy

  • gym after hangover
  • milk after hangover
  • drink after hangover

According to cnn.com, the best way to prevent that pounding headache is to drink in moderation or to stay away from alcohol entirely.

One of the main reasons for a hangover is dehydration, so alternating drinks with something non-alcoholic may help you stay hydrated and reduce hangover symptoms.