Dehydration beingĀ a result of drinking alcohol has long been recognised as a contributing factor to the severity of hangovers. Therefore, researchers at the Griffith University Menzies Health Institute are trying to find a way to make a beer that restores water to the body, rather than remove it. ABC news has more:
Associate Professor Ben Desbrow told ABC Gold Coast they want to find a way to ease hangovers.Ā āWeāve really concentrated on fluid rehydration initially, so looking at a beer that doesnāt leave you as dehydrated,ā he said.
āCertainly dehydration has been proposed as being one of the factors that increases hangover severity.āĀ The researchers have published their second batch of findings looking into manipulating essential body salts, known as electrolytes.
āWe know from previous experiments in other fluids that sodium content in particular has a large influence over rehydration,ā Associate Professor Desbrow said.Ā āBut in the context of alcohol that research is less well-established.āĀ The researchers are particularly fascinated by beer because people are able to consume large volumes of it without inducing āflavour fatigueā.
āPeople stop drinking beer not because they get sick of the taste of it, but because they have to be mindful of the consequences, whether theyāre trying to avoid a hangover or they have to drive a car or they run out of money,ā Associate Professor Desbrow said.Ā However they want to ensure the taste of the beer does not suffer.