Before all those champagne bubbles go to your head, let's take a moment to prepare for New Years Eve and all the libations that may come with the celebrations.
Basically, how can you enjoy a little bubbly but not begin 2013 with a big headache?
The easiest way to do that is, of course, not get wasted. If you don't drink alcohol, you won't be hungover in the morning. It's science.
But if you plan to get a little crazy, here are some tips to mitigate the post-party effects.
Before and during the party:
- Eat before you drink. Carbs are great because they're rife with fat and your body absorbs them slowly, providing a natural barrier to whatever you pour down your throat.
- Don't mix your booze . Imagine mixing that shot of tequila, stout beer and three flutes of champagne into the same glass before chugging it. Do you really want that churning around in your stomach?
- That said, stick to lighter drinks like clear liquors and white wines. They have fewer congeners, which cause headaches. Cheap booze does also, so splurge for top-shelf.
- Drink lots of water throughout the night and especially when the party ends. One huge cause of hangovers is dehydration. If you start off the revelry dehydrated, all the beer in the world won't fix it. So come pound some water before you get to the party, alternate alcoholic drinks with water and make your nightcap a tall glass of water.
In the morning:
- Drink more water (duh).
- If you go for coffee, make it weak. Strong coffee will just dehydrate you more.
- Have fruit or vegetable juice, or sip a Bloody Mary. It will help your body ignore the old alcohol while giving you some much-needed vitamins and minerals.
- Eat, but skip the biscuits and gravy. The grease is hard for your already weakened body to process. Have something light like toast and eggs, or a banana smoothie (the potassium will help you get back to normal). If you're feeling worldly, try these Eastern European hangover foods. Pickle juice, anyone?
- Exercise. Yes, it sounds cruel, but sweating out toxins and enjoying some endorphins can wipe out the tail end of a hangover.
Have any hangover-busting tips? Share them in comments below, and have a safe New Years Eve.
