15 hangover cures: food to help you feel better

• Mad for mex

  There's a reason Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine tops many brunch lists: The filling food is protein- and carb-rich with a satisfying side of grease. This large breakfast doesn't disappoint, and with refried beans, avocados, tortillas, eggs and a spicy sauce, you'll be full until tomorrow.

  Get the recipe for the ranch-style eggs with refried beans

• Soothing sipper?

  Though medical experts may advise against the 'hair of the dog' hangover remedy, nothing tastes as good as a spicy, tomato-rich Bloody Mary. In fact, we know some folks who consider it the most important item on a brunch menu.

• Magic 'which

  This seemingly simple egg sandwich packs multiple food groups and nutrients into compact, flavourful layers. The English muffin will help raise your dropping blood sugar level, the eggs and bacon offer amino acids to help your liver break down toxins, and tomatoes provide plenty of vitamin C. Gooey cheese, parsley and chives, meanwhile, just make tasty toppers.

  Get the recipe for the egg muffin sandwich

• Vices aplenty

  The unlikely combination of bacon and doughnuts (the product of a Top Chef challenge) is the perfect breakfast for those who can't decide between savory and sweet - a much discussed brunch conundrum - and for those who desperately need both a blood sugar spike and a protein fix.

  Get the recipe for the bacon doughnuts

• Java jolt

  Though some might say coffee will only further dehydrate your body, some mornings you just need a boost of energy. On such a day, double-strength coffee will get you on your way, while milk and cream will give your stomach a much-needed coating.

  Get the recipe for the Smoothoccino

• Fruity fix

  Can't even stomach the thought of swallowing whole food? If it's one of those mornings, force a sweet, fruit-filled smoothie down and you'll thank us later. The surge of vitamins will give you just the lift you need, while natural sugars help raise your rapidly dropping blood sugar level.

  Get the recipe for the wake-up smoothie

• Cuckoo for cocoa

  Believe it or not, chocolate can help you recover from your stupor thanks to plenty of potassium. These muffins are so delicious they might as well be dessert, and you'll surely feel better after downing one (or two).

  Get the recipe for the chocolate cupcakes

• Pleased as pie

  Celebrity chef Donatella Arpaia serves a version of this pizza - a glorified egg and cheese sandwich - at her eponymous New York City restaurant. Topped with oodles of smoky, savory cheese, and a sunny-side-up egg, how could this pizza not cure your hangover?

  Get the recipe for the hangover pizza

• Hot huevos

  The key to out-of-this-world huevos rancheros is the right proportion of salsa and hot sauce to the eggs, cheese and tortillas. (Sprinkle a little extra sauce to start sweating out those toxins more quickly!) This recipe even offers a lighter cooking suggestion: Char your tortillas instead of frying them to eliminate oil and get a different kind of satisfying flavour.

  Get the recipe for the huevos rancheros

• Griddle's gold

  Light, fluffy pancakes are as delicious eaten plain as when topped with everything from maple syrup and butter to fresh fruit, fruit preserves and whipped cream. Stack them up as high as you like, and let your stomach decide how heavily or sparingly your pancakes will be dressed.

  Get the recipe for the American pancakes

• Use your noodle

  This fiery Thai noodle dish might not seem like conventional breakfast food, but once you've tested out a bowl of drunken noodles while bleary-eyed, you'll realise it's what you've been missing all along. The chili garlic sauce brings a surprising amount of heat, which helps you sweat out toxins and requires you to drink plenty of course-correcting water.

  Get the recipe for the drunken noodles

• Sweet solution

  The addition of sweet potatoes to these scones adds surprising depth of flavour and - more importantly - a healthy amount of complex carbs, which break down slowly in your body and will keep you from crashing later on. While this recipe calls for a topping of butter and honey, we'd slather on pretty much anything, including an all-natural jam that's chock-full of seeds.

  Get the recipe for the sweet potato scones

• Presidential tastes

  Chef Spike Mendelsohn created this burger in 2008 as part of a food battle that mirrored the presidential election. His (later-renamed) Prez Obama Burger trumped the McCain version four to one, and with horseradish mayo, red onion marmalade, applewood smoked bacon and blue cheese, we can see why. Bet Mendelsohn didn't know he was also creating the perfect hangover cure, with just the right amount of grit, grease, spice and substance. If you're jonesing for a breakfast burger, this one's the way to go.

  Get the recipe for the Prez Obama burger

• Say cheese, please

  Texture often plays a large part in determining a food's comfort factor, and this grilled cheese has it all. The soft, but crispy-sided slices of bread sandwich gooey, melty cheese and crunchy vegetables, offering a perfect trio of carbs, protein and vitamins.

  Get the recipe for the Italian-style grilled cheese sandwich

• Return of the mac

  For some, diving into a familiar bowl of mac 'n' cheese is comforting simply due to the childhood (or dorm room) memories it surfaces. But this recipe - which trumps those from-the-box varieties - will warm more than just your mind. Carbs cushion your aching stomach, while cheese and bacon provide just enough protein to help your body recover.

  Get the recipe for the bacon and cheddar macaroni 'n' cheese

• Next Up: 99 healthiest foods - how many are in your shopping trolley?

  See how your shopping compares to our 99 healthiest foods list, plus get tips for what to shop for on your next visit to the supermarket.

See also:

• 10 tasty dishes for BBQs and picnics
• 5 foods that could save your life