Water is the safest and most accessible option for most people. People can try to drink water between alcoholic beverages, before they go to bed, and throughout the day after drinking. Drinking sufficient amounts of water is vital for good health and can prevent dehydration.
Electrolyte solutions (such as sports drinks) and bouillon soup are good for replacing the salt and potassium you lose from drinking alcohol. Get plenty of rest. Even if you feel good the morning after heavy drinking, the lasting effects of alcohol reduce your ability to perform at your best.
Many drinkers suggest taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), like ibuprofen, before you go to sleep for the night to stop a hangover from setting in.
Other drinks that can alleviate your hangover include water, coconut water, green and fruit juices and smoothies, bone broth, teas, coffee, and miso soup.
Sports drinks and electrolyte-enhanced beverages
One of the best routes to recovery is to replenish the electrolytes lost to alcohol. Consuming a sports drink, coconut water or an electrolyte-enhanced beverage before you go to bed or as soon as you get up can help replace lost electrolytes from drinking.
Dehydration is a major contributor to the hangover symptoms you've come to know and loathe. Drinking water before bed and hydrating thoroughly the day after a night of heavy drinking can help to restore your body's hydration. Adequate water intake also ensures your body is able to flush toxins efficiently.
Alcohol may aid with sleep onset due to its sedative properties, allowing you to fall asleep more quickly. However, people who drink before bed often experience disruptions later in their sleep cycle as liver enzymes metabolize alcohol. This can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness and other issues the following day.
Alcohol and Sleep
Unfortunately, even small amounts of alcohol, such as one glass of wine before bedtime, can disrupt sleep. "Ideally, people should restrict alcohol consumption to four hours before bedtime," explains Dr.
Wait Between Drinking and Bedtime
It is recommended that alcohol not be consumed in the last four hours before bedtime. 1 Even though alcohol may help you fall asleep, it interferes with the quality of your sleep. Moreover, it can take one hour for your body to process one serving of alcohol.
It's often recommended that you should stop drinking water two hours before going to bed. This way, you're not flooding your body with extra fluids that may cause an unwanted trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Does eating before bed absorb the alcohol and help your hangover? No. By the time you get to bed, the alcohol will have left your stomach and been absorbed into your bloodstream, so it's too late to have any effect on alcohol absorption. Aim to eat before you drink – and drink in moderation – instead.
"Drinking water may help against thirst and a dry mouth, but it will not take away the misery, the headache and the nausea."
Magnesium has anti-inflammatory activity and so may help to reduce symptoms of a hangover. Taking a high strength magnesium supplement before an evening where you know you will be drinking alcohol may also be helpful.
Coffee and orange juice may also be your enemies.
"You also want to avoid citrus since it's harsh on your stomach," Tager said. She doesn't see a problem with drinking caffeine, as long as you stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, but others warn against caffeine consumption after a long night out.
Eating and drinking
Eating before, during, and after drinking can help slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Drinking plenty of water can also assist with dehydration and flushing toxins from the body.
Eating a nutritious meal before drinking alcohol can help you avoid a hangover or getting too drunk. Foods high in protein and healthy fats, like yogurt and salmon, can help slow alcohol absorption. Avocados and bananas also contain plenty of potassium, which you might lose after drinking.
Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach means your body will absorb alcohol faster and you'll feel the effects of alcohol more rapidly. Any food will help, but carbohydrates — like bread, pasta or potatoes — slow down how quickly your body absorbs the alcohol.
Carbonation – Carbonated alcoholic drinks increase the rate of alcohol absorption. This is because the pressure inside the stomach and small intestine force the alcohol to be absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream. Sugars and juices mixed with alcohol also speed up the absorption rate.
Experts say a a good maximum amount of wine for women would be a 5 oz glass of wine, and for men two 5 oz glasses of wine, no more than several times a week. Experts strongly advise women against having more than 3 drinks of wine per day, and for men, 4 drinks of wine per day.