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Happygrrls' How-To:

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Battle a hangover...

Remember, if you must drink, drink responsibly.

Come on. You've been there. It was that wedding, or your birthday, or that wild night in Mexico. You ordered that extra drink even though there was no humanly possibly place to put it, stumbled back home, and collapsed into bed without checking if you were in the right house. And the next day it's Tylenol City, as you battle the worst hangover of your life. We've all been there, even though it's hard to admit that you spent the better part of last night over a toilet, praying that you wouldn't see your liver floating in the bowl.

Although hangovers are not preventable, and sometimes very inevitable, there are certain things that you can do to lessen the pain. Read on to find out what you can do, besides paying homage to the Toilet Gods.

What Causes a Hangover?
Alcohol is actually poisonous when ingested. Ethyl alcohol (drinking alcohol) produces acetaldehyde, a toxic substance. Luckily, our bodies are equipped with acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down the alcohol and converts it into acetic acid, which is used as energy. It is thought that men have more of this enzyme than women, which may explain the general higher tolerance that men have over women (and I say "general" because I've seen grown men collapse before I could bat an eyelash).

Unfortunately, the enzymes can only break down so much alcohol at a time, usually about 7 to 10 grams per hour (or about one glass of beer, wine or spirits per hour). Hangovers are a result of the body not being able to break down the alcohol fast enough, hence the nasty feeling the next day.

Symptoms of a Hangover
The symptoms are likened to a temporary version of withdrawal - the body is reacting to excess alcohol and the knowledge that it's not going to get any more sweet, sweet alcohol for a while. If you have any of the following, you're suffering from a hangover: headache, irritability, nausea, fatigue, dehydration, body aches, vomiting, dizziness, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. The most common symptoms are vomiting, fatigue, and drowsiness.

HOME REMEDIES Milk Thistle: Helps the liver function properly and process alcohol better. Ginger Root: Usually brewed as tea, it can settle an upset stomach. Fresh Fruit and Vegetables: The juices replenish lost nutrients and help rehydrate the body quicker than water. Soup: Soothes the stomach and rehydrates the body.

Rules of Thumb

1. Sweet drinks mask the taste of alcohol, so beware of that last daiquiri.
2. The stronger the drink, the more alcohol it contains.
3. Dark-coloured drinks will cause worse headaches. The level of congeners (the by-product of alcohol fermentation and distillation) can help determine how ill a drink can make you - usually, the higher the level of congeners, the darker the drink will be. More expensive drinks will also have less congener because they are subjected to a more rigorous distillation process.
4. From least headache inducing to worst headache inducing: vodka, gin, scotch, brandy, rum, bourbon.
5. Mixing drinks confuses the body detoxication system, so stick to the same drink.
6. The faster you drink, the faster the alcohol will hit your system.
7. Drinking more alcohol to relieve the effects of alcohol will merely delay the inevitable.
8. Drinking alone is a sign of alcoholism. If you find that you're drinking alone, or in excess, please seek help.

Myths Revealed

1. Coffee will not help a hangover. It can provide headache relief but increase dehydration and irritate the stomach. Do not drink coffee before going to bed.
2. "A hair of the dog that bit you" (the belief that more alcohol will relieve the pain of a hangover) does not work. It will only provide temporary relief from the mild withdrawal of an alcohol overdose, but might make it worse in the long run.
3. The saying "Beer before liquor, never been sicker; liquor before beer, never fear" is actually true. Beer is carbonated and absorbs alcohol more quickly.

Prevention
The best way to prevent a hangover is abstinence. But if you insist on drinking, remember these helpful tips:

1. Alcohol is a diuretic, which increases the flow of urine, thus causing loss of fluids. To combat dehydration, drink water throughout the night, before bed, and in the morning.
2. Eat food before, during, and after your drinking. Food slows down the absorption of alcohol, and decreases the concentration of alcohol by dilution.
3. If you feel like vomiting, don't fight it. It's a natural way for your body to get rid of the toxins. Keep in mind, though, that you can lose a lot of nutrients and vitamins. Replenish these by drinking plenty of water, juices, or Gatorade, eating fruit and honey, dairy products and anything high in fat and/or protein.
4. Taking vitamins such as B-complex and C before and during alcohol should help. A deficiency in the B1 vitamin makes it harder to break down the toxins.
5. Go to sleep sober. One of the reasons hangovers leave us fatigued is because the alcohol interferes with REM sleep, the most restful stage of the night. Once sober, rest as long as possible.
6. Do not take aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen. Mixing these with alcohol will result in liver damage, increased length of alcohol in your system, and an irritated stomach. If it helps, take aspirin or Tylenol the next day, once the alcohol is out of your system.

If you drink, remember to do so responsibly and never drink and drive. Also keep in mind that a clean drunk is better than a slobbering one, so be kind and lift the toilet seat. Cheers! ¤ C.Ho.