# Why is greasy food the best thing to eat for a hangover? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 6, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261 "2010-10-06T15:49:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/1 "2010-10-06T15:49:23Z")
Folk wisdom says that greasy food is good for a hangover. This would seem counter-intuitive, but in my experience it’s been true. Is there any reason for this to be so, or is it just the placebo effect in action? ---
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/2 "2010-10-06T16:36:57Z")
According to [this](http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05/26/080526fa_fact_acocella?currentPage=all) it’s because it’s a comfort food which…comforts you. Not exactly a placebo effect, but more like eating something you like to distract you from your discomfort. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/3 "2010-10-06T17:19:48Z")
Hm. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/4 "2010-10-06T17:30:23Z")
I always thought it is better to eat something greasy like bacon and eggs before drinking. ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/5 "2010-10-06T17:46:36Z")
> [@robcaro](#): > > I always thought it is better to eat something greasy like bacon and eggs before drinking. Because it lines the stomach wall, or something like that. Greasy food and booze ? The former is craved _during_ the drinking, but when hung over, it’d worsen the nauseous feeling. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/6 "2010-10-06T17:48:31Z")
I don’t know the answer to the OP but can attest it’s quite true for me. In fact it seems to negate some of my symptoms rather just comfort me. ---
**Author:** ![Skyscrapers\_Are\_Gravestones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Skyscrapers\_Are\_Gravestones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skyscrapers_Are_Gravestones)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/7 "2010-10-06T18:31:04Z")
I’m gonna have to go with ‘comfort food.’ I’m a New Mexican and greasy food makes me puke when I’m hungover. But Dion’s pizza or a real good breakfast burrito make me feel right as rain while I’m eating and give me the relief I need to start Hangover Recovery Movie Watching Day. Dion’s pizza or a breakfast burrito have almost no ingredients in common, but both make me feel better, and both are definitely comfort food. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/8 "2010-10-06T23:53:39Z")
> [@Skyscrapers\_Are\_Gravestones](#): > > I’m gonna have to go with ‘comfort food.’ I’m a New Mexican and greasy food makes me puke when I’m hungover. But Dion’s pizza or a real good breakfast burrito make me feel right as rain while I’m eating and give me the relief I need to start Hangover Recovery Movie Watching Day. Dion’s pizza or a breakfast burrito have almost no ingredients in common, but both make me feel better, and both are definitely comfort food. How are pizza and a breakfast burrito not included in “greasy”? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/9 "2010-10-07T00:04:45Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > > [@Skyscrapers\_Are\_Gravestones](#): > > > > I’m gonna have to go with ‘comfort food.’ I’m a New Mexican and greasy food makes me puke when I’m hungover. But Dion’s pizza or a real good breakfast burrito make me feel right as rain while I’m eating and give me the relief I need to start Hangover Recovery Movie Watching Day. Dion’s pizza or a breakfast burrito have almost no ingredients in common, but both make me feel better, and both are definitely comfort food. > > How are pizza and a breakfast burrito not included in “greasy”? Breakfast burrito (for me, anyway): scrambled egg, crisp degreased bacon, spices, cilantro. Not much grease there. Not all pizza is the pepperoni, sausage, salami, double cheeseburger special. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/10 "2010-10-07T00:09:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > > [@ivn1188](#): > > > > How are pizza and a breakfast burrito not included in “greasy”? > > Breakfast burrito (for me, anyway): scrambled egg, crisp degreased bacon, spices, cilantro. Not much grease there. > > Not all pizza is the pepperoni, sausage, salami, double cheeseburger special. Both of those foods generally include cheese. Cheese is greasy. And even well drained crispy bacon is saturated in grease. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/11 "2010-10-07T00:29:22Z")
I have heard (on Mythbusters?) that the best food to replenish your body during a hangover is something sugary - hence the all-night diners that serve syrupy pancakes with sausage. I always crave a Whopper and onion rings when I’m hungover, for some reason. I think it stems from the day after my wedding reception, when BK was the most wonderful thing in the world on my acidy, pukey stomach. ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/12 "2010-10-07T02:15:53Z")
> [@chefguy](#): > > > [@ivn1188](#): > > > > how are pizza and a breakfast burrito not included in “greasy”? > > breakfast burrito (for me, anyway): Scrambled egg, crisp degreased bacon, spices, cilantro. Not much grease there. > > Not all pizza is the pepperoni, sausage, salami, double cheeseburger special. liar!!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/13 "2010-10-07T02:18:16Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > I have heard (on Mythbusters?) that the best food to replenish your body during a hangover is something sugary - hence the all-night diners that serve syrupy pancakes with sausage. > > I always crave a Whopper and onion rings when I’m hungover, for some reason. I think it stems from the day after my wedding reception, when BK was the most wonderful thing in the world on my acidy, pukey stomach. Is this a girl thing, or is that you, MissRat? We don’t have BK around the area we now live in (not close anyway)… but JesusTapDancingChrist, she’d demand that shit every morning. It made me nauseous to be in the car while she ate it. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/14 "2010-10-07T02:39:44Z")
> [@Khaki\_Campbell](#): > > > [@robcaro](#): > > > > I always thought it is better to eat something greasy like bacon and eggs before drinking. > > Because it lines the stomach wall, or something like that. > > Greasy food and booze ? The former is craved _during_ the drinking, but when hung over, it’d worsen the nauseous feeling. This is like the [guy who blames hangovers on everything but how much he drank](http://www.theonion.com/articles/man-blames-hangover-on-everything-but-how-much-he,100/) 😉 seriously, I’m going for the “comfort food” aspect. If I’m ever in that situation, I feel kind of lousy and with that “empty stomach and really hungry” I’m going to crave something filling. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/15 "2010-10-07T03:41:18Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > \ > > I always crave a Whopper and onion rings when I’m hungover, for some reason. I think it stems from the day after my wedding reception, when BK was the most wonderful thing in the world on my acidy, pukey stomach. For me it was McDonalds - cheeseburger of some variety, fries, and coke. All three were essential. ---
**Author:** ![dukette71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@dukette71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dukette71)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/16 "2010-10-07T03:50:45Z")
because it makes you thirsty and you then drink water. Spicy food is the best. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/17 "2010-10-07T08:11:04Z")
> [@robcaro](#): > > I always thought it is better to eat something greasy like bacon and eggs before drinking. I’m the opposite. If I eat any food before drinking I get bloated and can’t drink much. I do best drinking on an empty stomach. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/18 "2010-10-07T08:21:23Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > > [@robcaro](#): > > > > I always thought it is better to eat something greasy like bacon and eggs before drinking. > > I’m the opposite. If I eat any food before drinking I get bloated and can’t drink much. I do best drinking on an empty stomach. Your definition of “best drinking” and **robcaro** ’s appear to be at cross-purposes. It seems to me as if you drink to get drunk; his advice is supposed to help avoid getting blind drunk and to help avoid hangovers. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/19 "2010-10-07T10:51:54Z")
When you’re hungover you have low blood sugar levels which you need to up - I guess a good fry-up might help a bit, and eating helps calm your nauseous stomach, hence the joy from stuffing your face. But the grease/carb overload is likely to drag you back down once you’ve eaten it. I have found that the best hangover cures are 1. Hot sweet tea (fastest way to up your blood sugar levels and rehydrate) 2. Sushi (something to do with the combo of good oily fish plus the kick of wasabi) 3. A hot indian curry 4. If all else fails, hair of the dog that bit you. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261/20 "2010-10-07T13:36:36Z")
I don’t know about greasy, per se (though I do crave anything along those lines the morning after), but anything containing eggs does help – eggs contain cysteine, which breaks down acetaldehyde, a toxin created in the liver by breaking down the alcohol. I’ve also heard that your body loses electrolytes during intoxication, which could potentially be replenished by salty foods, which fatty foods often are, but I’m less certain about that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-greasy-food-the-best-thing-to-eat-for-a-hangover/556261.md?page=2)