Hangovers suck. Not only do they remind you of the dignity you lost taking ‘crat shots straight out of the bottle, but also make you struggle to do anything productive on Sunday mornings. Although they are almost impossible to avoid, there are without a doubt ways to make them a little more bearable.
Pregame:
Lesson #1: Carbs aren’t the enemy. We have all had those nights where we have drank on an empty stomach, and chances are most of them have ended the same way…throwing up. Carbs are especially important when we drink because not only do they help to absorb the alcohol, but they also prevent the nausea that results from the alcohol’s acidic effect on your stomach.
Eat salty foods. Because salt makes you thirsty and want to drink water, some experts claim that eating salty foods before drinking can help transitively ward off a hangover.
Drink juice. According to experts, drinking juice helps keep blood sugar up and prevent dehydration, two things that are very important when trying to reduce the probability of a debilitating hangover.
Drink water. This one may be obvious, but it never hurts to drive the point home that the dehydrating effect of alcohol is one of the main contributors of a hangover.
Choose light alcohols. Experts argue that the darker the alcohol, the worse the hangover. Darker alcohols have higher levels of congenors, which are active compounds in alcohol that lead to the inflammation that causes hangovers.
Avoid the ‘crat. The cheaper the booze, the worse the hangover. More expensive alcohols have more of their impurities filtered out and also have less congenors.
Late Night:
Drink more….water. Force yourself to drink at least a glass of water before going to bed and keep a water bottle nearby for you to grab in the middle of the night if you wake up.
Eat carbs. After a night of drinking, you crave carbs, and for good reason. Carbs will help absorb whatever alcohol is lingering in your stomach and help you feel less nauseous. As long as you keep in mind portion control, you’ll definitely thank yourself in the morning.
DO NOT MAKE YOURSELF THROW UP. If you really have to throw up, your body will do it naturally. Throwing up after coming home will in no way help you sober up more quickly or prevent your hangover. All you’re doing is developing a very unhealthy habit that can have serious health implications that I guarantee you don’t want to have.
Don’t drink caffeine. Although you might think that coffee is the best cure for your hangover, you’re wrong. Caffeine will only dehydrate you more, and make the hangover effect last even longer. It will also make you feel even more tired after the effects of the caffeine wear off.
Drink fruit juice. The sugar in fruits will help increase the body’s natural energy. Studies also have shown that juice increases the rate at which our bodies can get rid of toxins, especially those that are left over from alcohol. The vitamins and nutrients in juice will also help replenish the ones lost as a result of alcohol.
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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Duke chapter.