Training With A Hangover. Can You Sweat Out Alcohol?

Hangovers are the painful consequence of having too much to drink. But can you sweat out the alcohol? In this article, we will answer this question along with tips for training with a hangover.

Can You Sweat Out Alcohol?

Many people ask this question based on the belief that alcohol leaves our body through sweat. The question has also become popular because after we consume too much alcohol, we smell it when we sweat. To answer the question, let’s explain how the body gets rid of the alcohol in your system and why you think you’re sweating alcohol.

When the body breaks down alcohol, it produces so many harmful molecules, like acetaldehyde which is very toxic to the body. The liver is the major organ for alcohol metabolism, so when you take alcohol, the body transports it to the liver. The way the liver metabolizes alcohol differs.

A pint of beer can take two hours, a shot of liquor can take one hour, etc. When you consume alcohol at a fast rate, faster than what your liver can keep up with, the body steps in and gets rid of the alcohol through what is known as oxidation.

Oxidation is a chemical process through which the liver breaks down the molecules of alcohol (ethanol) into smaller parts. During this process, alcohol dehydrogenase (an enzyme) converts ethanol into acetaldehyde, a toxic organic compound in the body. When you consume alcohol at a pace that allows the liver to process acetaldehyde and prevent a buildup, however, if it’s the other way around, it can cause you to display hangover symptoms.

During the oxidation process, the toxins the body perceives in the alcohol are broken down into three smaller fragments (carbon dioxide, water, and acetic acid). These fragments can be excreted through breath, sweat, and urine. It is why your sweat smells bad after you’ve had too much to drink and why it smells like alcohol when you pee. Only about 2-5% of pure alcohol is flushed out through water loss, urine or breath.

Summarily, can you sweat out alcohol? No, you can’t sweat out alcohol, but you can sweat out the by-product of alcohol.

What Is A Hangover?

A hangover is generally used to refer to a set of symptoms that occur from consuming too much alcohol. The symptoms differ between individuals, but its common ones include irritability, sweating, nausea, dehydration (which can, in turn, lead to increased thirst, fatigue, headache, and dizziness), muscle aches, stomach pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and increased heart rate, etc.

A hangover takes up to 24 hours to be resolved, but it depends on the individual.

Should You Train With A Hangover?

While training with a hangover may make you feel better about yourself and take your mind off your symptoms, it entirely depends on the individual and their severity.

Contrary to popular belief, working out isn’t going to cure your hangover or reduce its symptoms. In many cases, it can worsen the whole situation. Many health professionals advise against athletes training with a hangover because there will be consequences.

However, it is possible to train with a hangover, and you should if you’re up for it. There’s a catch, though. You have to follow these tips for training with a hangover.

Tips For Training With A Hangover

1. Rest

Recovery for athletes is often discussed because of its importance which is why it is very important. During a hangover, you must rest (whether you’re an athlete or not). Rest is essential because it allows your body to work through the hangover rather than worsening it.

Moving around doesn’t help the hangover situation and might even contribute to more problems. In the first few hours of your hangover, take that time to lay in bed and rest.

2. Hydration

Hydration is one of the most important tips for training with a hangover. Dehydration is one of the key symptoms of a hangover which leads to even more symptoms. When the body is dehydrated, it causes you to be tired, dizzy, etc. Dehydration causes that ‘cotton mouth’ and itchy throat feeling when you wake up with a hangover.

Before you think of training and during training, make sure your body isn’t starved of water. You can also eat fruits with a high water content like watermelon to keep yourself hydrated. You can opt for an electrolyte drink.

3. Nourishment

Hydration and eating good food go hand in hand when training with a hangover. Some people experience loss of appetite or stomach upset during a hangover, so they might decide to steer clear of any food. But this is one of the tips for training with a hangover you shouldn’t overlook. Food gives strength, and you need all the strength you can get while training.

Before training, you should have a light meal with protein, like eggs, or carbs like oatmeal. Fruits like bananas, oranges, melon, and veggies like broccoli and spinach contain potassium, an electrolyte that can help with hangovers. Note that you shouldn’t be training if you’re having problems keeping your food down.

5. Be realistic

One of the tips for training with a hangover is to ask yourself if you’re really up for it and be realistic with your answer. You shouldn’t be training if you’re still tipsy from the night before. Likewise, if you’re exhausted and too dehydrated. If you know you’re not up for it, rest.

6. Plan

Before you roll out of bed and decide to work out with a hangover, you need to take your time to plan. Plan a simple workout routine, plan your meal, and even plan what you’ll wear while you train.

Many people experience sweating and hotness during a hangover, so it is important to look at your symptoms and plan to manage them while you work out.

My final thoughts on effective training with a hangover

If you follow these tips for training with a hangover, you will not overwork yourself, and even though it wouldn’t make any of your symptoms better, you will feel good about yourself.

But it is important to know that skipping training because of a hangover isn’t the end of the world and shouldn’t make you feel bad about yourself if you’re not up for it. Give yourself the time you need to rest.

Thanks for reading along!

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