Whether you have a New Year’s Eve bash coming up or just your weekly “Ladies’ Night” gathering, it’s important to be smart about your alcohol consumption not only for safety reasons, but let’s face it, nobody wants a hangover, ever.
Scientists say men have a higher percentage of water in their bodies which, to their advantage, helps dilute the alcohol better than women. So ladies, don’t try to drink your male counterpart under the table because you’ll be hurting worse in the morning.
The good news is -- if we women know smart ways of enjoying our favorite cocktails -- we can dodge the ugly nausea and pounding headache the next morning. Check it out:
Protecting the stomach with food (particularly dairy products) before you take off for the pub-crawl will slow down the absorption of alcohol. Not a dairy eater? Opt for 4 spoonfuls of olive oil or take advantage of free appetizers that some places offer. Forget your diet -- think “no hangover” instead.
Drinking water between each alcoholic drink keep you hydrated and helps avoid a hangover. It also helps you stay sober longer. Think, “No stumblies with my new heels is a good thing.” Nobody wants to see you butt over teacup, right?
Some women feel that wine is the least likely to cause a hangover. The truth is red wine contains tannins which can trigger a headache in some people after only one drink and has no less alcohol than most other drinks. Whiskey and other brown liquors can also produce a punishing hangover. Stick to beer or clear liquors like gin or vodka.
Avoid taking acetaminophen when you’ve been drinking or before you go to bed. Alcohol and painkillers are a dangerous combination and can cause inflammation and permanent damage to your liver.
“Stick to ibuprofen,” says David J. Clayton, M.D., co-author of The Healthy Guide to Unhealthy Living. “Get up and take 800 milligrams of ibuprofen an hour before you need to be functional. You’ll feel awful when you wake up to take it, but you’ll feel much better an hour later.”
Forget "the hair of the dog that bit you". It’s a myth. Having a Mimosa or Bloody Mary the morning after will just push your hangover until later in the day. Try Gatorade to replace those lost electrolytes, and, once again, water to thwart dehydration. Nothing is worse than feeling weak, light-headed, and the experiencing the dreaded "cotton-mouth".
Eat a good breakfast to kick-start your metabolism and help your body get rid of the alcohol. The less greasy the better. Stick to pancakes, eggs, oatmeal, and some whole-grain toast.
Take a walk. It may sound awful, but gentle physical activity can actually help a hangover by boosting the metabolism and ridding the toxins of alcohol. Don’t bother with an extreme workout. A 20-minute will work.
Sleep is your friend if you can get away with it. Smart women come home early on weeknights and follow this guide for weekend festivities.
Enjoy!
Sources:
WebMD – Health & Balance Center - 12 Myths About Your Hangover Slideshow. Web. 23, December, 2011
http://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-hangover-myths?ecd=wnl_day_122111
WebMD – Women’s Health – 9 Myths About Your Hangover. Web. 23, December, 2011
http://women.webmd.com/features/9-myths-about-your-hangover
iVillage - Holiday Party Tonight? Read Our Hangover Handbook. Web. 23, December, 2011.
http://www.ivillage.com/read-our-hangover-handbook/4-b-308160#308166
Daily Mail UK – Health - How to avoid the Christmas hangover: You don't need to give up drink, just pick the right tipple. Web. 23, December, 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1235848/How-avoid-hangover-Christmas-You-dont-need-drink-just-pick-right-tipple.html
Reviewed December 26, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith