Avoiding and Curing a Hangover

You awake in the morning (or afternoon) after an evening of over-indulgence, feeling as if you’ve been run over by a Mack truck. Your head is pounding; your mouth feels as if it’s the Sahara Desert, and standing up is usually more than you can do. If you’re lucky, that is. Sometimes you feel even worse and find yourself “assuming the position,” while uttering such words as “I’ll never drink again!” or “God, please take me now!” Is there any way to avoid such an evil feeling? The best way, of course, is to not drink at all – but if you must, this column may be for you.

One of the better ways to avoid a hangover is to take a few pre-emptive measures. Before going out for a night on the town, eat a good meal. Eating before drinking helps to slow the alcohol’s ability to be absorbed into your bloodstream. This is a good thing. Some of the best foods to consume are those heavy in fat and carbohydrates, such as a large cheeseburger with a side of fries. Adding a milk shake to the meal is a good idea, too, because sugar is another food that will help ward off the awful feeling. Another good choice is pizza, and no matter where you find yourself on spring break, rest assured there will be a Wendy’s or a pizza joint nearby. So get going!

OK, now you’ve had something to eat and you’re ready and you’re ready for the night at hand. Will what you choose to drink help with the morning after? You bet! All alcoholic beverages contain substances called cogeners. These toxic chemicals give alcohol its flavor and are the leading cause of hangovers. One rule to remember is that the lighter the drink in color, the lighter the load of cogeners. Vodka, gin and white wine contain lower amounts of cogeners. Brandy, rum and Scotch, meanwhile, contain about 6 times the amount of cogeners as gin. Bourbon contains eight times as many cogeners as gin – and a whopping 30 times as much as vodka. Another thing to keep in mind is that although drinking “top-shelf” liquor may hurt your pocketbook, it could save you a hangover later – remember this when you hear the bell to announce $1 well drinks. The cheaper the liquor is; the better chance you’ll get a hangover. Cheap liquor doesn’t have the same filtration process or purity that the more expensive name brands do – hence, you get what you pay for.

Once you’ve picked your you’ve actually gotten out of bed the next day, you have a few more choices to make. You need to hydrate yourself, so start drinking – water, apple juice or Gatorade, that is. If you’re a coffee drinker, have a cup. If you don’t, the caffeine withdrawal will only add to your headache. Keep in mind, however, it may further irritate your gastrointestinal tract, so be forewarned. A great caffeine alternative that helps to cure nausea is ginger. Try brewing a cup of ginger tea with a lot of honey in it and sip it slowly. Not only will the ginger help to make your stomach feel better, the sugars from the honey will add the extra punch that your body is craving. More Ibuprofen can be consumed, but aspirin may cause stomach upset. You may be tempted to partake in a little “hair of the dog” at this point, and actually, it’s not a bad idea. But remember, you’re just putting off the inevitable. If you’re feeling good enough to eat, you should. Fruits and vegetables are your best bet, but probably not something you’ll be craving. A big glass of V-8 is a good supplement, and there are people who swear by the healing properties of tomatoes in this situation. For me, it’s got to be cheese-scrambled eggs, cheese grits and sausage. A large cheeseburger, a side of fries and a chocolate shake also make a good base meal for recovery. If you’re feeling nauseated, you may want to try some chicken noodle soup and crackers and then a big meal when you’re feeling better.

And if this was a particularly BAD hangover, you may want to keep the memory fresh (great time for a Polaroid!) so that the next time you won’t be so tempted to over-indulge.