How to Avoid Hangovers

What’s Wrong?

The alcohol in your system has left you dehydrated and depleted of minerals. It’s also caused the blood vessels in your head to dilate which accounts for the headache. Also, alcohol makes your blood abnormally acidic, causing nausea and sweating. 

The Power of Prevention

If you’re headed to a social occasion where alcohol will be served, eat something—ideally something a bit greasy—before you go. The fatty substances help coat the intestines, slowing the absorption of alcohol. Slow absorption means less chance of developing a hangover the following day.

If you drink hard liquor, favor vodka over bourbon, rum, or cognac, and white wine. Clear liquors like vodka don’t contain congeners—naturally occurring compounds that contribute to morning-after nausea and headache. White wine contains fewer congeners than red wine.

Drink slowly. Your body burns alcohol at a pace of roughly one ounce an hour. Give it more time to burn that alcohol, and less will reach your brain.
Alternate alcoholic drinks with soda, juice, or other nonalcoholic drinks.

Avoid champagne or any other alcoholic drink with bubbles in it, like rum and coke. Effervescence puts alcohol into your bloodstream more quickly.

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