How to Combat a Hangover

How many time have you uttered the words "I'm never going to drink again" through clenched teeth as what feels like a bass drum pounds the inside of your skull.

We all know that is a promise that will not be kept and by the next day the hangover is long forgotten until the next one arrives. The only way to not have a hangover is to not drink alcohol, simple. That however is not easily achievable for most of us weekend revellers. However there is good news! There are ways to minimise the effects of a hangover and make them more bearable.

The hangover headache is due to the dehydration caused by the alcohol consumption. A simple way to help combat this is to drink 1-2 pints of water when you get home before you go to bed. This way your body will have time to start rehydrating itself.

A strong cup of coffee will help with the headache, as the caffeine will narrow the swollen blood vessels in your brain. It will also help to give you a bit of get up and go!

A fried breakfast may not be the healthiest option but when needs must! The salt will help replace the sodium lost through dehydration. Bananas are also good as they will help to replace potassium.

You will most likely feel like crawling back under the covers and stay in bed all day but you will feel much better getting some exercise. Going for a walk or bike ride ( if you are up to it) will increase your endorphins and you will feel much better!

Before you go out you should eat a good meal, as alcohol will be absorbed much more slowly on a full stomach. Drinking on an empty stomach is a bad idea, as the alcohol will be absorbed very quickly and you will feel the effects much sooner.

Drinking slowly will also give your body the chance to cope with the alcohol content. One alcoholic drink per hour will give the body chance to process the alcohol and it will hit not it your brain so quickly! Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

If you drink spirits then good thing to remember is the darker the spirit the worse the hangover will be. If you are drinking spirits then Vodka is better than rum or whiskey.

Last of all if it is really that bad then there is always "Hair of the dog". This means having another drink of what you had the night before. This will not cure the hangover but likely postpone it for a while!

Anyway like I said "I'm never drinking again!".