Overindulgence cure

EXPERT: GLUTTONY, TOO MUCH TIPPLE CAN BE MANAGED EFFECTIVELY

- Hein Kaiser

When you cannot count the number of times you've said "Cheers!" this festive season, you may have overindulged.

It's the season of too much food and drink. And hangovers.

From chewing charcoal tablets to settle your tummy, popping painkillers before you indulge in a hundred cocktails through to cold showers the morning after, there's no shortage of mostly useless folklore when it comes to remedies for overindulgence.

Colas and other carbonated drinks like the Green Ambulance or Crème Soda do not magically cure a babalas and neither would sweating last night's Jaeger bomb at the gym do much for your pounding headache.

Old wives' tales aside, medical practitioner Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys says gluttony and a bit too much tipple can be managed somewhat effectively.

"Alcohol overuse causes accumulation of a byproduct of its metabolism called acetaldehyde, which is responsible for hangover, along with electrolyte imbalances owing to its diuretic effect.