Hangovers: The Most Effective Prevention? Don't Drink
Table of Contents
What is a hangover?
What should you do before you drink to prevent a hangover?
What should you do while you drink to prevent a hangover?
What should you do after you drink to prevent a hangover?
Is there a way to cure a hangover?
What is a hangover?
A hangover is a term used to describe the adverse side effects associated with the overconsumption of alcohol. Common hangover symptoms include headache, nausea, anxiety, brain fog, stomach ache, and digestive issues.
What actually causes a hangover?
Hangovers and the acute symptoms associated with them are a result of a buildup of a toxin called acetaldehyde, which is a stress hormone released when the consumption of alcohol is occurring at a faster rate than which your body and its enzymes are able to sufficiently metabolize and break it down.
Other things that can contribute to a hangover are dehydration, the volume of sugar in your alcoholic drinks, and the quality of the food and drink you are consuming.
Does drinking lower-quality alcohol give you worse hangovers?
Drinking lower-quality alcohol can give you a worse hangover because those products are made at a lower price point with lower quality ingredients, less regulation, and less purification, resulting in a higher presence of congeners (fermentation by-products).
Plus, lesser quality alcoholic drinks give you a worse hangover not only because they're less pure but because of the way they are delivered. Lower-quality drinks are typically higher in calories and higher in sugar. A lot of times it takes more of this type of alcohol to get the same effects as something with purer, higher-proof drinks. All of that extra junk compounds the adverse symptoms of hangovers.
What should you do before you drink to prevent a hangover?
Inflammation is often part of the cause behind hangover symptoms like headaches and nausea.
If you’re considering taking over-the-counter medications for rapid hangover relief, know that the combination of alcohol and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be toxic to your liver. Instead, you may want to try a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen for temporary headache relief.
What should you do while you drink to prevent a hangover?
Avoid drinking with congeners. Congeners (con-gee-ners) is the word used to describe all of the byproducts that are created through the fermentation process of ethanol alcohol. So things like sugars, toxins, free radicals, etc. are congeners. The higher the congener content, the more likely you are to experience a hangover. Generally, dark liquors have greater amounts of congeners than their colorless liquor counterparts.
Stay hydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic. That means it causes you to pee more often. As a result, drinking too much alcohol can lead to dehydration — which may contribute to some of the symptoms related to a hangover, such as thirst, headache, fatigue, and dry mouth. Fortunately, dehydration is easy to avoid: Just make sure that you’re drinking water throughout the course of your evening.
Consuming electrolytes while drinking alcohol can reduce hangover symptoms the day after by replenishing the body with essential minerals and salts that are lost during dehydration. This helps to restore balance in the body and prevents dehydration, which is one of the main causes of hangovers. Additionally, electrolytes help to regulate hydration levels in the body, which can help to reduce some of the more uncomfortable symptoms associated with hangovers. Finally, you may want to consider replenishing fluids with a glass of water, you may also want to consider drinking green tea with honey during or after an alcohol session.
Some research suggests that these beverages boost alcohol metabolism and prevent toxic acetaldehyde from accumulating in the body. They could also protect your liver from damage due to excessive ethanol consumption. That same research suggests fresh orange juice and energy drinks should be avoided when consuming alcoholic beverages.
What should you do after you drink to prevent a hangover?
Replenish your electrolytes. One of the best ways to maintain your health and prevent hangovers after drinking is by staying hydrated. If you weren’t consuming them while you were drinking, then you’ll need to replenish them the day after. Exercise the same rules as when it comes to regular water consumption and aim for eight glasses per day— think of it as a cleansing rinse cycle. And if you have been out on a particularly heavy night on the town, then drink up even more than that.
Is there a way to cure a hangover?
Is there a way to cure a hangover after it's already hit you like a bus? No. At that point, you're simply relieving the symptoms until your body recovers.
Approach a headache with a bottle of an electrolyte-replenishing sports drink; approach a really upset stomach delicately, not by eating a heavy meal but by sticking to bland, easy-to-digest foods.
What is the best way to avoid a hangover?
Don't drink. Seriously, that's the only definite way to avoid a hangover altogether. Otherwise, consume alcohol in moderation and select drinks that feature purified liquor (rather than malt liquor) and have little to no artificial sweeteners. Do that, and you're likely to minimize - if not avoid - any unpleasant morning-after effects.
By pacing yourself, choosing your drinks wisely, staying hydrated, and taking care of yourself before and after drinking, you can minimize the severity of a hangover and get back to feeling your best faster. Remember, the key is to be proactive and take steps to protect your health and well-being, especially if you're planning a night out or know that you'll be consuming alcohol. By following these strategies and listening to your body, you can enjoy all the fun and socializing that comes with drinking without paying the price the next day.
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