DRINK & BE MERRY - PUTTING HANGOVER-PREVENTION PRODUCTS TO THE NEW YEAR'S TEST

MAUREEN CALLAHAN. New York Post. New York, N.Y.: Dec 28, 2004. pg. 051

Abstract (Document Summary)

Most are a mixture of herbal supplements and vitamins, which allegedly counteract a hangover - your bodys way of trying to repair itself after youve consumed more alcohol than your liver can break down. The excess alcohol continues to circulate through your body - resulting in vomiting (your body needs to expel it somehow) and minor inflammation of the brain (the headache).

ALCOHOL INTAKE: Two glasses of shiraz, two pints of Stella Artois beer, one rum-and-Coke

ALCOHOL INTAKE: Two glasses of white wine, one glass of red wine, three glasses of champagne

Full Text (531   words)

(Copyright 2004, The New York Post. All Rights Reserved)

EVERYONE pays on New Years Day.

Unless, that is, you dont drink - or are able to drink in moderation. But most people spend the next day semi-conscious, rehydrating to the hum of "Law & Order" reruns on TNT.

A host of products on the market - including Sober-X, which includes ingredients "FDA Generally Recognized as Safe," if not approved - claim to prevent hangovers entirely.

Most are a mixture of herbal supplements and vitamins, which allegedly counteract a hangover - your bodys way of trying to repair itself after youve consumed more alcohol than your liver can break down. The excess alcohol continues to circulate through your body - resulting in vomiting (your body needs to expel it somehow) and minor inflammation of the brain (the headache).

But as it turns out, some of these ingredients may help the drinker who has overindulged, according to Carol Dean, a Brooklyn- based M.D. who specializes in naturopathic medicine.

She was particularly enthused about Sober-X, the newest product on offer.

"This product has milk thistle, which totally protects the liver - and it may help the liver break down substances," she says. "It also has artichoke, which is a natural detoxifier."

In fact, just about all these elixirs had ingredients Dr. Dean believes would be effective - though she cautions against the most tried-and-true method: two aspirin and a glass of water before bed.

"Id advise against it," she says. "It can cause a strain on the liver."

Several dedicated Post staffers happily volunteered to test these elixirs, each guinea pig consuming the same types and amounts of alcohol that would normally induce a hangover.

PRODUCT: Sober-X patch

CLAIM: Reduce and/or prevent hangovers through "unique blend of natural extract formulations and vitamins."

ALCOHOL INTAKE: Two glasses of shiraz, two pints of Stella Artois beer, one rum-and-Coke

RESULTS: Very good. No hangover; tester just felt a little "jet- laggy" the next day.

PRODUCT: Sobr-K pills

CLAIM: Same as with the patch, though you must take two pills before drinking, two pills while drinking, and two pills after drinking

ALCOHOL INTAKE: Eight glasses of red wine

RESULTS: Excellent. Our drinker went home drunk, but woke up with no headache and no nausea - just "a bit out of it."

PRODUCT: Ravive

CLAIM: "Annihilates the after-effects of too much partying"

ALCOHOL INTAKE: Four glasses of wine

RESULTS: Upsetting. Though tester suffered no hangover - "and by all means, I should have been on the floor"- she had no appetite and was so wired she couldnt fall asleep: "Not worth the racy, hyper feeling."

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