Hangovers seem to be the body’s way of reminding us about the hazards of overindulgence. Physiologically, it’s a group effort: Diarrhea, fatigue, headache, nausea, and shaking are the classic symptoms.
Before covid-19 happened, life was good and a Friday night was looked forward to. This is the day many find themselves going out to blow off some steam after a long week at office. Friday night and alcohol are synonymous with each other creating a Saturday morning full of regrets. Over time I have learnt how to prepare myself physically to avoid hangovers.
Drink fluids; Guzzling water keeps you from guzzling the hard stuff, and it keeps you hydrated, which is key to hangover prevention because alcohol is dehydrating. Alcohol promotes urination because it inhibits the release of vasopressin, a hormone that decreases the volume of urine made by the kidneys. If your hangover includes diarrhea, sweating, or vomiting, you may be even more dehydrated. Although nausea can make it difficult to get anything down, even just a few sips of water might help your hangover.
Maintaining your hydration status is probably the most important thing, along with rest, that you can do with a hangover.
Eat fatty foods. All foods, especially fatty ones, delay the body’s absorption of alcohol, say doctors. And delaying the absorption of alcohol is a good step toward avoiding a hangover. An easy food to eat before going out that’s filled with healthy fats is avocado–guacamole for the table, please!
Eat high-fiber foods. High-fiber foods–like vegetables–break down alcohol and absorb it, keeping it from reaching the bloodstream as quickly.
Stick to one kind of drink. You can keep better track of how much you’re drinking, and you’re less likely to upset your stomach.
Avoid carbonation; According to research, carbonation can cause the surface area of the stomach to expand, which means increased alcohol absorption. The bubbles in champagne and tonic water, in particular, speed up the rate of absorption.
Take Vitamin C. Often touted for its cold-fighting powers, vitamin C may also guard against hangover symptoms.
