Best Juices for Hangovers

Orange juice, watermelon juice, and tomato juice are practical choices for hangovers because they provide fluid, but none is a proven treatment.

What are 4 of the best juices for hangovers?

The best choice is usually a juice you can tolerate and sip comfortably. These four options differ in taste and nutrients, but there is no good evidence that any one of them relieves hangovers better than another.

A hangover can involve thirst, headache, nausea, and fatigue. Dehydration is only part of the picture, so drinking juice may help with thirst without resolving every symptom. For a broader look at hydration options, see the best drinks for hangovers.

The liver processes most alcohol, while the kidneys remove waste; the lungs and gut also help eliminate substances. Juice does not speed up that process or remove alcohol from the body.

1. Orange juice

Why consider it: Orange juice supplies fluid, naturally occurring sugar, vitamin C, and potassium. The fluid can help you rehydrate, and the sugar provides some energy if you have not eaten. Neither effect means it reverses the causes of a hangover.

How to use it: Choose 100% orange juice and dilute it if a full-strength glass tastes too sharp. Citrus can aggravate heartburn or an unsettled stomach, so choose another option if it makes you feel worse.

For a diluted serving, use:

• 1/2 cup (about 120 mL) orange juice
• 1/2 cup (about 120 mL) drinking water

1. Pour the juice and water into a glass.
2. Stir and sip slowly.

You can adjust the amount of water to make the drink milder. If you feel ready to eat, have the juice alongside food rather than relying on it as your only source of nourishment.

Evidence: There is no good clinical evidence that orange juice specifically treats hangovers. Its vitamin C and potassium should not be mistaken for a proven hangover remedy.

2. Watermelon juice

Why consider it: Watermelon has a high water content, so its juice is another way to take in fluid. Its mild flavor may be easier to tolerate than an acidic juice, although individual preferences vary.

How to use it: Blend seedless watermelon with a little water. Strain the mixture if you prefer a thinner drink, or leave the pulp in if you like it and can tolerate it.

For a simple serving, use:

• 1 cup (about 150 g) seedless watermelon cubes
• 1/2 cup (about 120 mL) drinking water

1. Add the watermelon and water to a blender.
2. Blend until smooth, then strain if desired.
3. Pour into a glass and sip slowly.

Keep freshly prepared juice refrigerated if you do not drink it immediately. Avoid adding alcohol: another drink may delay symptoms rather than address the effects of the previous drinking episode.

Evidence: Watermelon juice has not been established as a hangover treatment in clinical studies. Its main practical benefit here is that it gives you a fluid-containing option, not a demonstrated effect on alcohol metabolism.

3. Tomato juice

Why consider it: Tomato juice provides fluid and potassium, and some packaged versions also contain sodium. Sodium and potassium have roles in normal fluid balance, but their presence in a drink does not mean it will correct an electrolyte problem.

How to use it: Check the label because sodium content varies between products. If you have been advised to limit sodium, choose a lower-sodium option and follow your clinician’s advice. Tomato juice is acidic, so it may not suit you if you have reflux or nausea.

For a milder serving, use:

• 1/2 cup (about 120 mL) tomato juice
• 1/2 cup (about 120 mL) drinking water

1. Combine the tomato juice and water in a glass.
2. Stir and sip slowly.

There is no need to add salt. A salty taste does not tell you whether your body needs more sodium, and too much sodium may be a concern for some people.

Evidence: No good clinical evidence shows that tomato juice treats hangovers or corrects alcohol-related electrolyte disturbances. Its nutrient content is a reason to consider it as a drink, not proof that it works better than other juices.

4. Apple juice

Why consider it: Apple juice supplies fluid and carbohydrate and may be appealing if citrus or tomato juice tastes too acidic. It does not need to be fresh-pressed to be useful as a fluid source; a packaged 100% apple juice is a convenient option.

How to use it: Try it diluted, especially if the sweetness of full-strength juice makes you feel queasy. Juice can worsen diarrhea for some people, so stop if it aggravates your symptoms.

For a diluted serving, use:

• 1/2 cup (about 120 mL) apple juice
• 1/2 cup (about 120 mL) drinking water

1. Pour the apple juice and water into a glass.
2. Mix and sip slowly.

Dilution lowers the concentration of sugar in each sip, but the serving still contains the sugar from the juice you add. If you manage blood glucose, consider that juice as part of your usual eating plan.

Evidence: There is no good clinical evidence that apple juice relieves hangovers. Its usefulness is mainly that it can be an easy-to-drink source of fluid and carbohydrate.

How much juice should you drink for a hangover?

A practical starting serving is 1/2 cup (about 120 mL) of juice mixed with 1/2 cup (about 120 mL) of water, sipped slowly; this is not a medically established hangover dose. The electrolyte calculator can help you consider electrolyte needs, but it cannot diagnose dehydration or determine whether you need treatment.

There is no proven amount of juice that cures a hangover. Start with what feels comfortable, particularly if you are nauseated, and do not force down a large glass. If juice makes your stomach feel worse, stop and choose a fluid you tolerate better.

You do not need to rely on juice alone or add extra salt to it. If you have substantial vomiting or diarrhea, an oral rehydration solution may be more appropriate than juice, but persistent symptoms still deserve medical advice.

Avoid using thirst or the color of a drink as a test for an electrolyte imbalance. If you have a medical fluid limit, follow that limit rather than increasing your intake because of a hangover. Also avoid driving or operating machinery while impaired; a hangover can affect attention and reaction time.

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

Get emergency help now if someone who has been drinking is difficult to wake, has a seizure, is severely confused, or has slow or irregular breathing. These can be signs of alcohol poisoning, not an ordinary hangover. Do not leave the person alone, and do not give them juice or anything else by mouth if they are not fully awake; place them on their side while waiting for help.

Contact a clinician promptly if you cannot keep fluids down, have severe or persistent vomiting, feel faint, or are passing very little urine. Severe abdominal pain or symptoms that are worsening also need medical assessment rather than more juice.

If you have diabetes or take medication that can lower blood sugar, remember that juice contains sugar and follow your usual care plan. People with kidney disease, heart failure, or prescribed sodium, potassium, or fluid limits should ask their clinician what is appropriate before increasing juice intake.

If you are pregnant, ask a healthcare professional for advice after drinking alcohol. A child who has consumed alcohol needs prompt medical advice; do not assume that juice makes the situation safe. People who drink heavily and develop shaking, sweating, or other withdrawal symptoms should also seek medical care, because withdrawal can become dangerous.