Behind the Myth: Hangover Stew

Photo by Maria Lammy

This series of articles by Stephen Redeker sheds light on Korean myths, folklore, traditions, and superstitions for the benefit of foreign residents (and some Korean natives!) unfamiliar with them.

After spending the night with friends and consuming large amounts of alcohol, a popular Korean tradition is eating hae-jang-guk (해장국) to combat the effects of a hangover. The name literally means “relief from drinking alcohol”. It’s been long believed that this particular dish will help cure a hangover. Is this just another myth, or is there some truth to this?

First, it’s important to know what causes a hangover. The main culprit is a loss of water in the body. Alcohol is a diuretic, causing the body to drain itself of liquid (including from the brain). This is why you feel a headache after waking up the next morning from an all-night bender. The liver and kidneys have been working overtime to help filter out the toxins found in alcohol. Thus, the body is also depleted of salts, sugars and electrolytes. The best way to handle this is by adding these back into the bloodstream.

Nutritionists have provided a menu of food and drinks that can help remedy the effects of a hangover. The most important is water. Drinking a few glasses of water before going to sleep can prevent a bad hangover. If the hangover has already struck the next morning, water will still help re-hydrate the body. Some other drinks that help nourish the body are sports drinks (they add electrolytes and sugar), fruit juice (sugar and vitamins), pickle or sauerkraut juice (sodium and vinegar), tomato juice (lycopene antioxidant), ginger and peppermint tea (soothes the stomach).

Hunger can strike during a severe hangover. It’s best to stick to foods that don’t irritate the stomach, but will add necessary nutrients to the blood that the body needs. Eggs should be a part of your breakfast, as they contain amino acids that help break down the toxins from alcohol. Soups, such as chicken noodle or miso, are helpful because they contain salt and are easy on the stomach. Potassium rich foods like bananas, kiwis and spinach are also beneficial. Honey helps restore blood sugar levels and should be consumed in tea, or with toast.

Some food and drinks to avoid, contrary to popular belief, are greasy foods, coffee and caffeine, orange juice, and the “hair of the dog” (more alcohol).  Greasy foods containing meat are good to eat before a night of drinking. Consuming these foods the next day can irritate the stomach or dehydrate the body further.

Which brings us back to hae-jang-guk.  Does it really have what you need to cure that hangover? Hae-jang-guk contains pork meat, doenjang paste (similar to miso), onions, garlic, ginger, pepper, mushrooms, cabbage and sprouts mixed in a hot beef broth. There is no doubt this delicious, hot bowl of wholesome stew can cure a raging hunger, but it’s not complete when it comes to having all the anti-hangover ingredients. It does contain salt and water, but it’s missing the sugars and electrolytes needed to replenish the body. This dish may also be somewhat harsh on the stomach, especially for the uninitiated.

The food contained inside a bowl of hae-jang-guk will actually absorb alcohol, helping to prevent a bad hangover. It may not be the most complete thing to have after drinking, but it could be better suited as a meal before party time. Hae-jang-guk tastes so good, it should be eaten as a meal both before and after a night out on the town.