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Health Q&A: Can Coffee Help After "A Few Too Many" Drinks?

Posted: Thursday, May 29, 2008

Q: Will a cup of coffee help after a "few too many" drinks?

A: The answer is no. The National Institute of Health released a statement in December 2007 saying that while caffeine can help make you feel more awake, it won’t help mitigate alcohol’s effects on decision-making or coordination: "The body needs time to metabolize [break down] alcohol and even more time to return to normal. There are no quick cures – only time will help." And coffee may not help the day after “a few too many,” either. The Mayo Clinic recommends avoiding caffeine if you have a hangover as it acts as a diuretic, which can increase dehydration.

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