That’s right. In addition to having to worry about good old alcohol hangovers, it seems we also have to worry about hangovers from the stuff that makes food taste so darn good. If you really think about it, we’re sure you know what we’re talking about.

Haven’t you ever women up in the morning, when you didn’t drink a drop the night before, and been plagued by nausea, headaches and dry mouth? You are confused because you were all about that sparkling water life last night, but it sure does feel like a hangover. But… how?

If you enjoyed a delicious, sodium-rich meal the night before (it could be a sushi dunked in soy sauce or a couple of slices from that amazing new gluten-free pizzeria around the corner), we can bet you probably have a salt hangover. As with alcohol, the main cause of a salt hangover is actually dehydration. Having too much salt in your diet will draw water into circulating volume and increase urination. If you don’t combat this water loss as it happens, you’ll inevitably become dehydrated fast.

If you tend to eat a diet high in salt or deal with health conditions like kidney issues or diabetes, you are more prone to these hangover effects than your average person. Women and older people also tend to be more sensitive to changes in hydration. This means you need to take extra care with your salt intake to help keep these unpleasant and unwelcome symptoms at bay.

As with alcohol, the main way to cure a salt hangover is simple: rehydrate. If you need a normal diet, you can simply rehydrate with water. Good indicators of when you’re dehydrated are feelings of thirst, darker urine and a dry or sticky mouth.

And while, of course, you can remedy the situation if you notice you are already dehydrated, it’s even healthier to stay on top of your water and salt game from the get go. There tends to be excess salt in packaged and prepared foods, so we always encourage you to opt for whole, nutrient-dense foods to limit the excess sodium in your diet. Grab a nourishing and hydrating smoothie or coconut water from TCPJ or cook at home to control how much salt goes into your food. Certain foods like watermelon or celery (which we obviously love to have in our 100% PDC juice) actually hydrate you as well, thanks to their high water content.

In addition to the momentary, uncomfortable side effects of a high-salt diet, there can actually also be long term complications like edema and swelling and the legs, as well as hypertension and a decrease in cognitive function. So really, it’s a no brainer to cut back.

So buy a refillable water bottle, grab a fresh juice and get hydrating.