Yes, you've read hangover hacks before but usually they're to ease the hangover, not prevent it. Why not tackle the problem at the source like the intelligent scholar that you are. If you're planning on availing of the student deals later then listen up folks, find out exactly what you should eat to stay hydrated (the source of hangovers, FYI), happy and gorgeous all night, while still drinking all the G&T's you want.
1. Drink green tea during the day.
Green tea is fantastic for the liver, so sip on that during the day to prep your body for the onslaught.
2. Down a large glass of water before you go.
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This sounds stupidly obvious, but one of the reasons the first glass of wine goes down so well is because we're often dehydrated before we even get to the bar. Before you start on the booze, have a large glass of water with lemon (Our livers love lemon!).
3. Eat a meal before you start drinking.
Food has to be in your stomach before you start drinking for it to have any impact, so always try to have dinner before you head out. Because, honestly, those cheesy chips later on in the evening won't really help (no matter what your friend who never has hangovers says).
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4. Load up on fat (the healthy kind).
Fat helps slow down the rate at which food leaves the stomach, and the longer the food stays there, the slower the rate the alcohol will be absorbed into your blood (so the less likely you are to feel like death the next morning). Salmon, avocado, and nuts are all great options.
5. Add some liver-loving ingredients.
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Turmeric, cinnamon, kale, broccoli, beetroot, avocado, and lemon are all fantastic foods for helping support the liver, so eat plenty of these during the day before you head to the pub.
6. If you do skip dinner and go straight to the pub (it happens), order olives or nuts.
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Both are a good source of fat, and nuts are also a fantastic source of B vitamins, which get diminished when you drink alcohol.
7. Worried about bad breath?
The best natural remedy is chewing on fresh parsley. Also, munching on raw, crunchy fruit and veggies increases saliva production, which is another natural enemy of bacteria in the mouth. Try not to get dehydrated (Another reason to drink plenty of water!) and remember that fruits rich in vitamin C (oranges, strawberries, and raspberries) are also great for fighting oral bacteria. If you can, try a drink with fresh fruit.
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8. If you don't want to feel bloated…
Avoid sugary mixers and too many carbonated drinks. Drinking on an empty stomach can also cause bloating, so that's one more reason to eat a pre-pub dinner.
9. Try not to start too early.
Our levels of the enzymes that process alcohol spike in the evening, but are at their lowest at lunchtime. That's why a glass of wine at lunch can feel so much stronger than one at dinner.
Now, you really have no excuse. Follow these little hacks and I PROMISE it'll make a difference. Happy drinking!
