The finest hangover cures that will help you after the Euros closing

England football fans who drank their pain away last night might well be nursing a sore head today.

While the extra pints of beer might have seemed like a good idea yesterday evening, the consequences are less than ideal on a Monday morning, especially if you have five days in the office looming ahead.

If you were one of the many who guzzled one too many pints while watching the drama unfold in Berlin, FEMAIL has tips on how to get through what could be a very long day in the office.

Here, we consult expert nutritionists to debunk the myths on what will and won’t work to ease your head.

What’s more, experts also clarified whether old favourites, such as a cup of coffee or a fry up might actually make you feel worse, rather than better.

Will a hair of the dog help?  

While it might seem like a good idea – particularly if you’re on holiday and have nowhere to be today – drinking more the next day never works, according to healthcare professionals.

Shona Wilkinson, a nutritionist from Unbeelievable Health, said you’re just adding more misery to a body that is already trying to recover: ‘Don’t believe the hair of the dog myth. 

‘Although it may seem like a good idea at the time, it will simply prolong the hangover.’

According to official advice on the NHS website, you shouldn’t touch another drop for two days at least: ‘If you’ve been drinking heavily, doctors advise that you wait at least 48 hours before drinking any more alcohol (even if you don’t have a hangover), to give your body time to recover.’

Choose tea over coffee 

Drinks expert and founder of DrinkWell, Tom Bell, has revealed his top tips to reduce a hangover.

It might be tempting to grab a cup of coffee to perk you up after a night of heavy drinking, but Tom revealed that this isn’t the best idea.

He explained that hangover sufferers should stay away from caffeine because it can elevate a hangover, rather than soothe it.

Instead, he advised those suffering from a hangover to grab a cup of chamomile tea, because it will help calm the nervous system and settle an uneasy stomach.

Try pickle juice  

If you’re looking for a pick me up to help cure a hangover, Tom suggests downing a cup of pickle juice.

The expert explained that pickle juice contains sodium and potassium, key ingredients for replenishing electrolytes after drinking an excessive amount of alcohol.

A glass of pickle juice will help rehydrate you and relieve hangover symptoms much faster than any amount of water or fizzy drink, according to Tom. 

Drink lots of water   

According to Sue Jones, Director of Wellbeing & Nutrition at We Are Wellbeing, the familiar pain of a hangover is all down to dehydration – and the sooner you reach for the cold tap, the better.

She told FEMAIL that drinking water should always be the first thing to try to help a sore head – even if you’re feeling sick: ‘Dehydration is a key cause of hangovers and some of the most common hangover symptoms include headaches, nausea and tiredness.

And if you reached for the rum and coke last night, you might be in more trouble than those who sipped G&Ts.

‘There is evidence to suggest that some people are more sensitive to dark coloured drinks such as whiskey, brandy, darker beer and red wine due to them containing larger amounts of congeners.’

Will being sick help?  

While sticking close to the loo might make you feel better, the process of being sick only serves to dehydrate the body even more.

Dr Deborah Lee, of Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, explains: ‘When you drink alcohol, it’s very quickly absorbed from the stomach into your bloodstream, so vomiting now will make very little difference to your blood alcohol level.

‘To get over a hangover you need to be rehydrated. Vomiting makes you more dehydrated, so this is totally counterproductive.’

In the office? Take a lunchtime power nap 

Nutritionist Shona says: ‘Sleep can help give our body time to renew and restore itself so if you have the time to take a quick nap, it could work wonders.’

Load up on carbs 

Dr Lee says: ‘When you wake up with a hangover, your blood sugar levels will be low which can make you feel lethargic, weak, and may give you a headache.

‘Alcohol also reduces the ability of your kidneys to absorb water, meaning you pass more urine, and become dehydrated. It can also cause an electrolyte imbalance, meaning your sodium and potassium levels are disturbed.

‘Eat some carbohydrates for energy, try to replace vitamins and minerals, eat some protein and avoid fatty, oily food and salty food if you can.

Coconut water has been shown in medical studies to be an excellent choice when you need rehydration as it contains high levels of electrolytes, is less acidic and has a relatively low sugar content.’

…but not a bacon sandwich 

Is a McDonald’s breakfast or a bacon sandwich – both popular hangover cures – actually worth pursuing, or is the combination of grease, salt and carbs likely to set you back?

Nutritionist Shona says: ‘Foods that contain high levels of unhealthy fats (such as fried foods and processed foods) should be avoided as our liver has to work extra hard to process these types of fats when it is already under strain from dealing with the alcohol. Unhealthy fats can also worsen any inflammation in the body.’

The NHS recommends a broth to get you through the day, saying it’s ‘a good source of vitamins and minerals, which can top-up depleted resources. It’s also easy for a fragile stomach to digest.’