Purported “hangover cures” usually turn out to be bogus, but this Finnish innovation might finally be the real deal. According to a new study by researchers from the University of Helsinki and the University of Eastern Finland, scientists may have found a cure for hangovers.
The study involved 19 men who spent a night in a hotel conference room drinking a 10 percent ABV concoction of cranberry juice and Koskenkorva, a Finnish grain alcohol. Each participant received a number of drinks based on their body weight, and then given either a placebo, a 600 mg dose of amino acid L-cysteine, or a 1,200 mg dose. The next morning, they were asked a series of questions about how they were feeling. The research found that the men who received the higher dose of L-cysteine experienced less severe headaches and nausea, while those who received the 600 mg dose suffered less from stress and anxiety. The amino acid also seemed to decrease participants’ desire to drink the next day.
