7 Ways to Avoid a Hangover

The holiday season is upon us! With Christmas and New Year’s around the corner, everyone can go a bit overboard during the festivities. Here are some ways to prevent the unpleasant aftermath of alcohol intoxication, simply known as a hangover:

1. Moderation is Key

Since the severity of hangovers increases with the amount of alcohol you consume, one of the best ways is to drink in moderation. The amount of alcohol that would lead to a hangover also varies from person to person and factors like how much they have eaten, or how much sleep they have had.

2. Drink Water

Alcohol is a diuretic which means it makes you urinate more often and can lead to dehydration. Drinking plenty of water can help a person stay hydrated and although dehydration is not considered a main cause of hangovers it does lead to thirst, headache, fatigue, and dry mouth.

3. Get Enough Sleep

Alcohol can impair both sleep quality and duration. Ultimately, disrupting your entire sleep schedule if you stay up too late. While this is also not linked to the cause of hangover symptoms, it may contribute to fatigue and irritability which are often linked to hangovers.

4. Pace Yourself

People who pace themselves when they are drinking alcohol and drink slowly are less likely to experience severe hangover symptoms the next day. One of the ways to do this is by measuring your drinks to be aware of how much you are drinking.

5. Avoid Drinks with Congeners

While ethanol is the main active ingredient in alcoholic drinks, some drinks also contain varying amounts of congeners which are impurities and can contribute towards hangovers. Therefore, try sticking to vodka, rum, or gin, which have low levels of congeners.

6. Eat Before Drinking

Eating something before or at the time of drinking can slow down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

7. Having a Good Breakfast

Having low blood sugar levels, a condition known as hypoglycemia, the next day can make a hangover worse. Eating a good breakfast may help with that.