Six Best Ways to Avoid a Hangover
Know your limit. The Change4Life Drinks Tracker app will help.
Don't drink on an empty stomach. Before you go out, have a meal that includes carbohydrates (such as pasta or rice) or fats.
Don't drink dark-coloured drinks. They contain natural chemicals called congeners (impurities), which irritate blood vessels and tissue in the brain and can make a hangover worse.
Drink water or non-fizzy soft drinks in between each alcoholic drink and before going to bed. Avoid carbonated (fizzy) drinks - they speed up the absorption of alcohol into your system.
The morning after, rehydrate the body. Bouillon soup, a thin vegetable-based broth, is a good source of fluid, vitamins and minerals, which can top up depleted resources whilst sugary drinks will help you feel less trembly.
Over-the-counter painkillers can help with headaches and muscle cramps. Paracetamol-based remedies are usually preferable, as aspirin may further irritate the stomach and increase nausea and sickness.
"Hair of the dog" (drinking more alcohol) does not help. Doctors advise that you wait 48 hours before drinking any more alcohol, in order to give your body tissues time to recover. Sometimes, of course, a hangover makes that advice easier to follow.
