As the nation prepares to welcome in the New Year with a glass or two of liquid joy, here are a few ways to help you avoid the dreaded hangover.
BEFORE YOU GO OUT
Line your stomach
It's dangerous to go out on an empty stomach, eating something greasy before drinking will help to line the walls of your stomach. The fat slows down the rate of alcohol absorptionwhich means you’ll be less likely to wake up with a splitting headache.
Drinking a pint of milk will also have the same effect, and a shot of olive oil helps too.
Drink lots of water
Drinking alcohol blocks the creation of a chemical called vasopressin.
This means that your kidneys will send water straight to the bladder instead of retaining it in your body – it's also why you need so many toilet trips once you ‘break the seal’.
Drinking alcohol can expel up to FOUR times as much water, which in turn leadds to dehydration - the main cause of the dreaded hangover headaches and dry mouths.
Try having a glass of water between each round of drinks.
Stock up on hangover supplies
Prepare for the inevitable.
You don’t want to end up needing a speedy cure but unable to crawl out from under the duvet to go to the nearest shop - only to find it closed.
You will probably reach for some painkillers, which should help with your headache – just make sure to pick the right ones.
Ibuprofen is the most effective, but only take the recommended dose.
Aspirin will also relieve a headache, but it can also wreak havoc if you’ve got a sensitive stomach and potentially make you feel more sick.
If you’re still able to function before you fall asleep after the celebrations, take an ibuprofen with a glass of water.
WHILE YOU'RE OUT
Different types of alcohol produce different types of hangover.
This is down to the congeners in the drink – something which is produced when the alcohol is fermented.
The more congeners there are, the worse your hangover is likely to be.
There are more congeners in darker drinks such as red wine, whisky or dark rum.
White wine, vodka and gin contain much less, making a better choice.
DON'T DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
If you exhaust yourself, you’ll end up more dehydrated and deplete your energy levels much faster.
WALK HOME (not alone)
Don't ever walk home alone if you've had a drink, ask a friend or three to accompany you.
Walking home can help you sober up and clear your head, making for a much less painful morning on January 1.
PACE YOUR DRINKING
The NHS recommends that men should not consume more than 3-4 units of alcohol daily and 2-3 units for women.
A small glass of wine is about 1.5 units and a pint of beer between 2 and 3.
It takes your body around one hour to break down 1 unit of alcohol.
Having a glass of water or a breather in between rounds will give your body a chance to process the alcohol ane reduce teh hangover symptoms.
DON'T MIX YOUR DRINKS
Mixing different types of alcohol never usually ends well.
Different types of alcohol have different levels of congeners as well as other chemicals, so they’ll all have a slightly different effect on you.
Mixing drinks often leads to a banging headache.
Cheers to the New Year, have a great Hogmanay!
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