Big night last night?

The symptoms are all too familiar: the aching head, the nausea, that raw feeling in your stomach.

You're hungover (again!).

There are loads of different suggestions about what's best to eat or drink the morning after a heavy night, and everyone has their own routine - apparently Hugh Grant swears by spaghetti bolognaise.

But here's a list of some more popular hangover foods - and a look at why they might be effective.

Coffee

That pounding headache is caused by several things, including the swelling of blood vessels in the brain and dehydration.

The caffeine in coffee helps solve the former problem by acting as a vasoconstrictor, reducing the size of blood vessels and easing the headache.

However caffeine is also a diuretic, making the dehydration even worse. So if you opt for coffee, make sure you drink lots of water too!

Greasy food

Fry-ups are classic hangover food, and there are several theories behind their popularity.

Firstly, the high calorie content helps restore lost energy levels.

Secondly, the eggs in your fry-up contain cysteine, which helps to break down alcohol-causing toxins.

Thirdly, grease coats the stomach lining - although some say this is only useful before you drink the alcohol.

Bananas are jam-packed with nutrients to help soothe your hangover

Lucy Foulkes

Bananas

Bananas are jam-packed with nutrients to help soothe your hangover.

They are high in magnesium that can help ease a headache, and high in potassium, which is lost when you drink alcohol.

They also contain sugar, which restores energy levels, and a natural antacid that can ease nausea.

Bananas are easy to digest too, which is great for an unsettled stomach.

Fruit juice

Like bananas, fruit juice contains lots of sugar to increase depleted energy levels.

That's not the only reason why juice is good for a hangover; the vitamins and nutrients replace those lost through drinking, and juice may even increase the rate at which the body gets rid of toxins.

While the right food may provide some temporary relief, really the only cure for a hangover is time.

So once you've had something to eat, it's time to go back to bed (if you can!) - sleep will help your body recover.

And while your head spins as you try to go back to sleep, you'll promise never to drink that much alcohol again. Until next time, that is!