Having a hangover prevention plan before a night of drinking is never a bad idea! Here are our best tips for preventing hangovers.
What Is a Hangover?
A hangover is a series of symptoms that occur after drinking too much alcohol. Symptoms range from fatigue, weakness, thirst, and headaches to muscle aches, nausea, stomach pain, sensitivity to light and sound, sweating, irritability, and increased blood pressure. Hangover symptoms vary from person to person.
Hangover Prevention Tips
- Before drinking, eat something fatty like a hamburger or an avocado, or eat a banana! Doing so can delay your body’s alcohol absorption and help you have a softer landing.
- Stick to the same drink. This will help you keep track of the number of drinks you consume. And since you won’t be mixing different alcohols, syrups, and sodas, you’re less likely to have tummy troubles later.
- Alternate alcoholic beverages with glasses of water. This will help you pace yourself and keep dehydration at bay.
- Steer clear of dark liquors. Unfortunately, dark liquors like bourbon tend to contain higher amounts of congeners, a byproduct of fermentation that can worsen hangovers.
- The only way to 100% prevent a hangover is not to drink. A fruity mocktail is never out of the question these days.
Myth-Busting Hangovers
According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, common hangover misconceptions include:
Myth: Certain actions like drinking coffee or showering can prevent or cure a hangover.
Fact: The only way to avoid a hangover is not to drink alcohol. There is no “cure” for a hangover except time.
Myth: Your order of drinks will affect a hangover. (“Beer before liquor, never sicker.”)
Fact: The more alcohol you drink, the worse the hangover. This is true mostly whether you drink beer, wine, distilled spirits, or a combination.
Myth: Having an alcoholic drink in the morning after a night of drinking will help avoid a hangover (a practice known colloquially as “the hair of the dog.”
Fact: While this might temporarily minimize some symptoms, it could contribute to and prolong the malaise and other hangover symptoms.