Is Lime Water Good for Hangovers?

Partly: lime water may ease hangover thirst if alcohol has left you dehydrated, because its water replaces fluids; the lime itself is not a proven remedy.

Lime water can be a pleasant way to drink fluids when you feel rough after alcohol. It will not cure a hangover, and feeling better hydrated does not mean you are sober.

Can lime water help a hangover?

Lime water may help with thirst and a dry mouth, particularly if you have not had enough to drink. If the lime flavor makes water more appealing, it may also make it easier to sip.

A hangover involves more than dehydration, though. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, tiredness and disrupted sleep, and replacing fluids will not necessarily relieve all of them. There is no reliable evidence that adding lime makes water a hangover treatment.

Most hangovers improve with time. For a broader look at hydration options, see the best drinks for hangovers.

How might lime water help?

Alcohol can increase urine production, contributing to fluid loss. Drinking lime water replaces some of that fluid, which may help you feel less thirsty. Sip at a comfortable pace, especially if your stomach feels unsettled; forcing down a large amount is not necessary.

Lime adds flavor and contains vitamin C, but the amount that transfers into infused water is uncertain. There is no good reason to expect that vitamin C from lime water will prevent or cure a hangover.

The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste. Hydration supports normal body function, but lime water does not flush alcohol or toxins from the body. Time—not lime—is what allows the body to process alcohol.

What does the evidence say about lime and hangovers?

There is no established clinical evidence that lime water relieves or prevents hangovers in people. Its potential benefit is mainly the ordinary benefit of drinking water when you need fluids.

A 2016 study of fruits and alcohol metabolism in mice measured how selected fruits affected alcohol-related markers. It included yellow lemon among the fruits studied, but it did not establish that lime water improves hangovers in people. Animal findings about fruit cannot be assumed to apply to a steeped drink or to human hangover symptoms.

How should you make and use lime water?

Make a mild infusion and drink it when you feel able. You can have some immediately, although refrigerating it gives the lime more time to flavor the water.

Ingredients

• 1 lime, sliced
• 1 liter water, about 4¼ cups

Steps

1. Wash the lime under running water and slice it with a clean knife.
2. Add the slices and water to a clean pitcher.
3. Refrigerate for 2–4 hours for fuller flavor. Strain out the lime after about 4 hours to limit bitterness from the pith.
4. Pour a glass and sip as desired. Keep the remaining lime water refrigerated.

Drink the infusion within 24 hours for best flavor. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling; do not leave it at room temperature for more than a few hours.

If the acidity makes nausea or heartburn worse, stop drinking it. Rest can help you feel more comfortable, but do not drive or operate machinery while you still feel impaired.

Who should be careful, and when should you get help?

Lime is acidic and may aggravate acid reflux or irritate a sensitive mouth. If you have kidney disease or have been told to limit fluids, ask your clinician how much to drink rather than increasing your intake on your own.

Ask a pharmacist or clinician before taking a pain reliever after drinking, especially if you have liver disease, a stomach ulcer, kidney disease or take regular medicines. Alcohol and acetaminophen can both affect the liver; ibuprofen can irritate the stomach or affect the kidneys, particularly when you are dehydrated. Do not stop prescribed medication without medical advice.

If you are pregnant and have been exposed to alcohol, contact your clinician for guidance. A child with suspected alcohol exposure needs urgent medical advice rather than a home hangover remedy.

Seek medical care promptly for repeated vomiting, an inability to keep fluids down or symptoms that are severe or not improving. Call emergency services immediately if someone cannot be awakened, has a seizure, or is breathing slowly or irregularly: these can be signs of alcohol poisoning. Do not give food or drink to someone who is drowsy or unconscious; stay with them and follow the emergency dispatcher's instructions.