To Prevent A Hangover

Hangovers can ruin your day, and generally make it impossible to focus on anything other than lying in bed and moaning.  For most people, hangovers make regular heavy drinking not worthwhile, and probably for the best!  People that tend to get mild or no hangovers are at a much greater risk for alcoholism.  Sometimes however you know you’re going to be in a social scenario that will be hard not to drink a little too much.  Maybe a wedding, a new year’s party, or some other even is coming up and you know you’re going to overdo it.  Here are some tips to try to help prevent hangover the next day.

First of all, make sure you’ve got something in your stomach.  Drinking on an empty stomach is almost a guaranteed way to get a bad hangover.  You’ll also get drunker faster, which may sound great but it is not without the consequences.  Eating beforehand and having plenty of snacks while you drink will go a long way to prevent a hangover, but won’t do it completely if you really push it.  This is part of the reason why nuts and other snacks are so popular in bars; it’s not just a tasty snack, its nutrition to prevent a hangover. 

Just as important as eating is drinking plenty of water or non-diuretic fluids in addition to your booze.  This is especially important prior to going to bed.  In the two to three hour period before sleep, the more non-alcoholic clear fluids you drink the better.  Also, it’s a good idea to have a final snack a few hours prior to sleeping.  Make sure you leave plenty of time between your last drink and going to sleep as well.  Drinking booze right up until bedtime is going to really cost you the next day.  

You can try hangover prevention pills if you like, but they never worked for me, or anyone I know.  Maybe they work for some people?  Who knows. 

Of course, the best way to prevent a hangover is to avoid alcohol.  Hopefully you realize that it is in fact alcohol that causes hangovers, and so any amount of alcohol consumption drastically increases your chance of having a hangover the next day.  Abstaining is the best way to prevent a hangover, but if you’re reading this I’m assuming you are going to be drinking anyway.  Food, fluids, and moderation then are my best advice to prevent a hangover.