Prevention is the Best Hangover Cure for Late Night Partying
Prevention is the Best Hangover Cure for Late Night Partying
Going out with friends and having a few drinks is something people have been doing since the dawn of time. It is our favorite way to socialize and feels great at the time, however, the next morning we feel the after-effects of too much alcohol like nausea, headaches, and the urge to crawl back in bed and stay there. There are some ways you can lessen the effects of this condition. There are various remedies for how to cure hangover listed all over the internet, but very few resources that mention preventing them. Prevention as a hangover cure has worked well for others and will allow you to enjoy the festivities without the dreaded sick feeling the morning after.
The Night Before:
Food
One way you can lessen the effect of alcohol on your body is to eat something filling before you start drinking. Alcohol goes straight to your head on an empty stomach and can hit you hard when you least expect it. Having a big plate of pasta, soup & sandwich, or other filling meals will help the body absorb the alcohol slower, meaning you will be able to stay later and not get drunk as quickly. It doesn’t matter what type of food you eat, just that there is something in the stomach. If you didn’t eat before leaving home you can grab something on the way from a convenience store- a sandwich, cup noodles, or heat-and-eat burrito.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
Alcohol has a dehydrating effect on the body even though it contains liquid. A pounding headache is the result of dehydration, so one way to avoid this is to drink plenty of liquids before going out. Drink a large 12oz glass of water with a meal before you begin the night of celebrating. Then as you go, drink a glass of water in between cocktails to slow down the absorption of alcohol. It’s a good way to pace yourself if you’re not used to drinking.
If you do not like the taste of water or don’t drink a lot of water in general, you can opt for a glass of juice over ice. Orange juice, cranberry juice, and tomato juice are good for hydrating yourself and no one will know they are not cocktails. Try to keep a 1:1 ratio of water/juice to alcoholic drinks. This method works for mixed drinks, so you may want to stick to water or tomato juice if drinking beer.
If by some chance you forgot to drink water before a night of partying you still have a chance to save yourself from a hangover by drinking a large glass of water (the biggest glass you can find) before going to bed. You may still wake with a headache, but it won’t be as intense as it would be if you didn’t drink the water.
Avoid Mixing Cocktails and Beer
It is not a good idea to mix hard liquor with beer. If you start drinking cocktails you can switch to beer later, but don’t start with beer and then go to mixed drinks. Mixing your drinks this way can lead to a very bad hangover and being very sick. The two types of alcohol do not mix well in the stomach and you should avoid doing this to not be vomiting uncontrollably the next day.
Control Your Alcohol Consumption
A cocktail can have several ingredients and be mild or strong, depending on what you like. Because it is stronger than beer you will sip it slower than if you ordered and chugged down a beer. With mixed drinks, you can control your alcohol consumption by having the bartender make it with less alcohol and more juice, ice, mixers, etc. This works well for people who aren’t heavy drinkers and no one will know so you don’t have to worry that your friends will think less of you because you can’t hold your liquor.
To reduce the possibility of a hangover the next day limit yourself to 2 - 3 mixed drinks. Get them in a tall glass and sip slowly to make it last. After you hit your 3 drink limit switch to juice for the rest of the night. You can still enjoy the evening without worrying about finding a hangover cure the next morning.
Try an Herbal Supplement
Hangovers are nothing new, so why not look to an old hangover cure like natural remedies. Herbal concoctions are an effective way to avoid a hangover when taken before a night of drinking. Iluna is a natural herbal formula backed by science. It is available in easy to use packets you can carry with you in your purse or car for last-minute party invitations. The best hangover cure is preventing one from occurring.
Why Hangovers Occur
We’ve all been there. That queasy feeling with a pounding headache after a night of drinking. Hangovers are the result of too much alcohol in the body and not enough time to metabolize it properly. It takes a certain amount of time for alcohol to leave the system.
Once the alcohol has been ingested, your body begins to metabolize it at a rate of 20 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) per hour. So a shot of whiskey or a mixed drink will metabolize in about an hour, a pint of beer in 2 hours. When you drink steadily you can consume quite a lot of alcohol without realizing it. This can be dangerous as it can result in alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol (ethanol) that is metabolized by enzymes in the body turns into acetaldehyde, a toxin that is then broken down into acetate and eliminated from the body. The body has a lot of work to do to get rid of all the alcohol we consume. How the body metabolizes alcohol may be the culprit that causes a hangover.
Is there any way to neutralize the effects of alcohol metabolism? Interestingly, yes there is and it comes in a simple form, honey. Honey is one of the simplest home remedies and one of the key ingredients in Iluna hangover supplements. It can neutralize the effects of alcohol metabolism, due to the high concentration of fructose. It interferes with alcohol metabolism, essentially blocking it.
Practice Moderation
When you consume more alcohol than your system can handle, you will likely feel sick the next day. The metabolism of alcohol depends on your body converting it into acetaldehyde. This chemical process is similar in structure to formaldehyde, which is also quite toxic. Alcohol in large amounts is not good for anyone and can damage your liver over time. When taken in moderate amounts it is not harmful so practice moderation whenever possible.
Preventing a Hangover is Best
When it comes to the best hangover cure, stopping it from happening is the best method. Taking steps to make sure you don’t spend the day hovering over the toilet bowl is the best preventative. Start the night with a full stomach, drink plenty of liquids, and try some natural herbs to block alcohol metabolism to prevent the headaches and vomiting that come with a hangover.
The Next Day
If you are one of those unlucky few that wake up needing a hangover cure the next day there are some suggestions of how to cure hangovers from countries that drink a lot of alcohol (Germany, Ireland, India). They have recommendations for food and drinks that can help soothe your stomach and help your pounding head. Things like green tea, pickles, sauerkraut, and even spicy Korean noodle soup may help you to feel better fast.
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