Starting your day hung over is never fun, but there are plenty of things you can do in order to diminish or just completely prevent the symptoms of a hangover. The trick is to make sure that you’re making the right decisions the night before.
Find out how to prevent a hangover, from the simplest tips like staying hydrated to a few other details that can help you have fun without paying for it the next day. It’s always better to drink responsibly, but if you have one too many, here’s how to avoid the hangover altogether.
Stay Hydrated
Since alcohol gets you dehydrated, it can wreak havoc in a lot of ways. Headaches and dizziness can be reduced or avoided by staying hydrated. Before you start drinking alcohol, start with a glass of water, then make sure you alternate between an alcoholic drink and water. You should also order your drinks on the rocks to make sure that you’re not going to get dehydrated quickly.
Avoid Dark Beverages
Drinking dark colored alcoholic beverages is more toxic for your body than lighter or clear ones. That’s because darker beverages contain congeners, which contribute to your hangover symptoms the next day. In order to prevent a hangover, you should consider choosing vodka instead of whiskey, brandy and even tequila.
Do Not Mix
Mixing different types of alcohol can increase the symptoms of a bad hangover. Usually sticking to a single type of alcoholic beverage is better than drinking cocktails. That’s why the Long Island Iced Tea, which contains at least 4 different types of alcohol can lead to some of the worst hangovers. If you do love cocktails, stick to simple ones and drink less than you would normally.
Avoid Diet Sodas
You might be tempted to try a cocktail with diet soda, but when you’re also preoccupied with how to prevent a hangover, it’s a bad idea. Your blood alcohol levels rise faster when you’re choosing a mixed drink with a diet ingredient than they would if you also have a little sugar and calories.
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Eat the Right Foods
One of the best way to skip the hangover altogether is to eat well before you start drinking. The best meal includes both fiber and healthy fats. Drinking on an empty stomach can give you a faster and stronger buzz, but you will end up with a bad hangover. Eat fatty fish and nuts in order to help your body metabolize alcohol better. If you’re not worried about calories, pasta and pizza are also great for preventing a hangover.
Avoid Fizzy Drinks
Carbonated drinks increase the rate of alcohol absorption, which is why champagne can go straight to your head. When you want to prevent a hangover, avoid mixing carbonated drinks with alcohol or stick to just two glasses of sparkling wine. Drinking cocktails with plenty of soda will also help congeners have more of an impact.
Don’t Miss Out on Electrolytes
Drinking water can help you stay hydrated, but you can also lose important electrolytes when you drink a lot. The easy way to solve this problem and decrease the intensity of your hangover is to make sure that you get enough electrolytes before you go to bed. Drink 8 ounces of a low sugar sports drink or choose coconut water.
Take B Complex Vitamins
A lot of alcohol can lower your levels of B vitamins, throwing a wrench in a lot of processes in your body. Since you know you’ll be drinking, it’s important to take a B complex vitamin supplement, preferably before going to bed. In order to prevent a hangover, you can also opt for B12 or B6 vitamin supplements.
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Try Aspirin
When you’re replenishing your electrolytes right before bed, you should also consider taking two aspirin. They will reduce inflammation and help your body work through the effects of alcohol faster. If you’re not feeling well in the morning, take another two and start your day with another beverage that replenishes your electrolytes.
Don’t Smoke
After a few drinks, all kinds of cravings can kick in, but smoking is the most dangerous one when you want to prevent a hangover. Even if it’s a single cigarette or half a cigar, the nicotine can increase the symptoms of a hangover, so think twice before lighting up.
