So you’ve got a hangover
by B. Fins
A hangover isn't nearly as fun as what precedes it. But there are some ways to prevent one from happening. You can decide not to drink at all, which is the best way to completely avoid a hangover, but not particularly useful advice. You could not drink to excess. Ok, that's a little more useful, but by no means fantastic help. Another trick is to drink a glass of water in between drinks. This will keep you relatively hydrated compared to your non-water drinking friends. Sure, you might have to visit the bathroom a bit more, but at least you will be (mostly) ready for whatever awaits the next day. Additionally, you could eat before drinking. Eat fatty foods, as they stay in your stomach for longer and keep the alcohol from invading your bloodstream like an angry swarm of Scandinavian death metal bands. If you don’t have any fatty foods to eat, a spoonful of olive oil can protect you from a case of "instant drunk" and make your stomach thank you in the morning. The olive oil can be rough, though, so it’s best to eat instead.
If you’re not drinking beer, stick to drinks that are clear or near clear – like white wine, vodka, rum, and gin. Your head will pound less in the morning. Beer’s carbonation speeds up alcohol absorption – which is why you’ll get drunker (and sometimes sicker) doing beer before liquor than the other way around.
Now, the remedy. I call it a system, and it's not going to make one feel 100%, but it's probably better than pounding a Red Bull or curling up with some Pedialyte. Hair of the dog doesn't work. Aspirin alone isn't enough and messes with the stomach. Coffee? Ha.
1. Potassium. If it weren’t for my dad saying I should take a potassium supplement before a soccer game on a really hot day after a long night out, I would never have known potassium’s magical powers. Once you’ve broken the seal, you’ve started losing potassium and magnesium that you’ll need in the morning. So take a potassium supplement or eat a banana or a tomato in the morning.
2. B Vitamins. B Vitamins help the liver and the nervous system. Alcohol does quite a number on both. You likely won’t feel the difference very greatly, but you may have noticed how Red Bull makes you feel better than a mere cup of coffee. I just take a supplement in the morning. If you’re a heavy drinker, the see-saw effect on your body is probably not worth it.
3. Eat an egg. Somewhere along the line, I found out about the amino acid known as cysteine. While cysteine might sound more like a disease, it’s actually a good thing for you. Cysteine helps attack the toxins left in the liver from the metabolizing of alcohol. Fortunately, cysteine is found in eggs. So eat an egg when you wake up.
4. Drink some juice. Your body spent the last night getting rid of sugars. It’s time you repent by spending some quality time with a glass of apple, orange, or grapefruit juice - even tomato juice works. The point is the body is fragile. It’s more fragile when it’s recovering from a night of heavy drinking. Give it some Vitamin C and help it get back on track with some sugar.
Basically, the system is a lot like breakfast. However, one’s stomach is not always ready for cooking or eating breakfast when a hangover is visiting. In that case, a hard-boiled egg can be a kind friend. Eat the egg, take the potassium supplement and B complex, shower, drink a glass of cold water and take a nap. You’ll be on the road to another night out in no time.
