We know the struggle. Alcohol could be our best friend at night, our enemy the nest morning. Ah, Alcohol is our frenemy.
How many times have you partied the night away and cried your way out the bed the following morning, that is if you even tried to get out of bed.
Thankfully, you can no enjoy alcohol-and all the things that come with it, without regretting it tomorrow. Follow these basic 11 tips-before, during and after the bottle battle, as advised by Dr. Jeremy Fischer of Vitality Integrative Medicine.
Before Drinking:
1. Drink fluids in advance
To counter the effects of alcohol in your body, compensate it by loading on lots of fluids before drinking.
"First off, you should know that hydration is really important. Alcohol is a diuretic, causing dehydration, which is a major cause of hangover symptoms," says Dr. Fischer. "So if you know you'll be drinking later, start preparing in advance by drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day. Water with a pinch of salt per cup is one option. Coconut water is even better, as it's full of electrolytes (which you'll be peeing away later, so better stock up in advance!)."
2. Avoid caffeine the day of drinking
If you expect to be drinking later that day, dodge off any source of caffeine-coffee, tea and soda.
"Caffeine is also a diuretic. Combined with alcohol, it will just exacerbate your fluid losses," says Dr. Fischer.
3. Eat before drinking
To drinking hustlers, this is one of the basics, a total no brainer. Load up! Never drink with an empty stomach.
"Having food in your stomach will slow the absorption of alcohol into the blood, giving your liver more time to detoxify the alcohol, and causing less buildup of the nasty acetaldehyde, which is responsible in large part for the hangover symptoms," says Dr. Fischer. "Aim for substantial foods with protein, carbs, and/or fats. Continuing to eat while drinking is a good idea too."
4. Take antioxidants
"They help the liver to do its job of breaking down the alcohol, and reduce the inflammation caused by free radicals from alcohol digestion."
Also take vitamin c and other immune boosting nutrients to combat any other onset problems.
5. Take curcumin
Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory protein that can be found in turmeric. It can help in decreasing inflammation that could damage the liver when we drink.
"Take 1 gram several times the day of drinking, and several times the day after," says Dr. Fischer.
While Drinking
6. Drink slowly and in moderation
"Pacing your drinking will give the body more time to break down the alcohol, and decrease your chances of getting a hangover. Try sipping instead of gulping (or chugging)."
If you like drinking on the rocks, it's better to let the ice melt and dilute the alcohol before drinking. It helps in improving the body's natural hydration process.
7. One glass (or more) of hydrating fluids after every drink
Drink as much water as you can. Why? So that you can pee, as much as possible and excrete the alcohol as early as possible.
"This strategy will help replace the fluids and electrolytes lost while drinking. Water is okay, but juices or coconut water are best. If you just have water, add a pinch of salt to it for electrolytes."
8. Stick to clear or lighter-colored alcohols
If you want to drink but doesn't want hangover, opt for lighter colored drinks. According to research, darker-colored alcohols tend to have more congeners, which are associated to severe hangover the next day.
"Bourbon has the most congeners, and vodka has the least," says Dr. Fischer.
9. Avoid carbonated drinks
"Carbonation increases the rate of alcohol absorption, putting more stress on the detox process in your liver."
10. Avoid smoking
"A study has actually shown that smoking with drinking resulted in worse hangover symptoms than drinking alone."
After Drinking
11. Get an IV drip
"IV (intravenous) therapy brings needed hydration, vitamins, and electrolytes directly into your bloodstream where they're needed," says Dr. Fischer.
