London - Arabstoday
A number of factors play a part in whether or not you will get a hangover after a night of drinking. Part of one main reason are - Congeners. These are the by-products of the process of alcohol fermentation and exaggerate the symptoms of a hangover. The more congeners consumed, the worse a hangover is likely to be. Dark spirits such as brandy, whiskey and red wine contain more congeners than lighter spirits like vodka and white wine. Likewise, cheaper spirits have had fewer of these impurities removed and are more likely to cause a hangover. Curing a hangover is more often an "each one for himself" kind of thing. We are listing the simplest ways out of the many. Rehydrate your body The ethanol contents in alcoholic beverages have a dehydrating effect which causes headaches, dry mouth and tiredness. One glass of water for every glass of drink you have is required. Do the math. Also before going to bed, no matter how drunk you are, drinking a glass of water will help you wake up without the dreaded hangover. Cut the caffeine Caffeine can both treat and cause headaches and migraines, so this one is a personal preference. Also caffeine has a dehydrating effect on the body, which will only increase your troubles further. It might be great for temporary benefits but does not have a lasting effect in the cure. Fight the urge and replace it with a glass of juice. Say no to the morning-after drink Curing a hangover by having a rundown drink the next morning is a bad idea. It does not help cure it, just creates a numbing effect and only prolongs the inevitable results. Experts also say that this increases the risk of abuse and could lead to alcohol dependency. The toast After raising toasts through the night; waking up with a hangover cannot be dodged. While no food can calm your stomach down, carbs can help bring your blood sugar levels back up the morning after. Normally when blood sugar levels dip, your liver reacts by producing more glucose from stored carbs. But after drinking too much the liver is busy metabolizing the alcohol and can't handle the extra work, so the blood sugar levels stay down. This is why you feel irritable and tired. Having another kind of toast when you wake up helps reduce the effect of the hangover. Prevention is the best cure Responsible drinking is the key; also avoiding mixing your drinks helps. Eat before you start drinking. Food helps slow the absorption of alcohol, and the longer it takes the alcohol to reach your blood stream, the longer it is until you become intoxicated. Apply the "spill stop clause" to drinking; the moment you spill, or drop even a sip of your drink is where you should stop. If you can't handle the drink, your body will not handle the drinking.