Summer is the season for happy hours, pool parties, barbecues and boozy outdoor brunches.
But few of us are ever truly prepared for the next morning’s dreaded hangover.
We have all heard of ways to prevent and deal with the headaches, nausea and muscle pain.
However, those ideas often escape us when we’re feeling particularly low.
For those that are heading out for a cocktail or two this weekend, doctors Romy Block and Arielle Levitan have given Daily Mail Online their top tips for what to do while you’re drinking – and how to handle it the next day.
For those that are heading out for a cocktail or two this weekend, doctors Romy Block and Arielle Levitan have given Daily Mail Online their top tips for what to do while you’re drinking – and how to handle it the next day
EAT CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES – NOT BAR SNACKS
Drinking on an empty stomach significantly increases your rate of intoxication.
Having food in your stomach helps dilute the concentration of alcohol in your belly and slows the absorption process.
The best foods to aid this absorption process are proteins, fats and dense carbohydrates.
Before going out – or with your drinks – have a dinner of chicken and vegetables with rice, or a tomato pasta, or some avocado, or eggs on toast.
Bar snacks however, such as salty chips and nuts, are probably best avoided since the salt dehydrates you.
Although this may inspire some to order a glass of water, many may sate their thirst with another glug of beer – dehydrating you even more.
Before going out – or with your drinks – load up on proteins, fats and dense carbohydrates. Have a dinner of chicken and vegetables with rice, or a tomato pasta, or some avocado, or eggs on toast to fill yourself up
DRINK WATER – LOTS OF IT
Most of the symptoms you experience after a night of drinking is because of dehydration of your brain cells.
Alcohol is a diuretic, which naturally dehydrates the body.
So drinking water – during the night and the next morning – is your number one goal.
The effects of drinking water before you go out, between drinks, and when you get home cannot be overstated.
During summer, this is even more important.
It balances out the dehydration process, giving you your best chance of a palatable hangover.
Try to alternate each drink of alcohol with the same amount of water.
Though this is not an exact science, it is a good way of making it a habit, even after drinking a few.
You should also pace yourself, drinking alcohol slowly.
Alcohol is a diuretic, which naturally dehydrates the body. So drinking water is your number one goal
CAFFEINATE
Studies have shown that caffeine may help relieve a hangover-induced headache.
Makes sense – the stimulant is often found in over-the-counter headache medications.
However, Drs Block and Levitan do not recommend drinking beverages that combine caffeine and alcohol.
These drinks, such as Jagerbombs and vodka with coke, are generally not safe as they send your heart rate racing, putting strain on your arteries.
Save your caffeine for the morning after.
A good coffee, the doctors agree, is just what you need when you’re feeling tender.
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REPLACE ELECTROLYTES
Combat the diuretic effect of alcohol by replacing electrolytes with a sports drink or a supplement.
Gatorade is a tried and tested thirst-quencher, which hydrates the body.
Alka Seltzer is also a good addition to your morning.
The pill – a combination of sodium bicarbonate, aspirin, and anhydrous citric acid – relieves heartburn, acid indigestion, and stomach aches.
When patients are hospitalized with over-intoxication, they are put on an IV drip and fed a concentration of vitamins to counteract the effects of alcohol.
Combat the diuretic effect of alcohol by replacing electrolytes with a sports drink or a supplement
The fluid replenishes nutritional deficiencies and prevents alcohol from binding to certain cell receptors in the brain.
Drs Block and Levitan have created a pill that contains the vitamins used in hospitals: thiamine, folic acid and magnesium.
The supplement, called the Vous Vitamin Recovery Act, can also be used to prevent a hangover.
The doctors recommend taking one before you go out, one while you’re drinking, and one the next morning.
SLEEP
While alcohol may help people fall asleep faster, it has been shown to disrupt sleep patterns and results in a night of poor quality sleep.
When the alcohol wears off, it can make some people wake up suddenly.
After too many cocktails, try to rest and recuperate with time.