New Year's Eve is a worldwide party that, for most people, involves booze. Lots and lots of booze. The tricky thing about alcohol is that it doesn’t matter who you are, it will hurt you in the morning before it leaves.
And while New Year's Day might be better titled as National Hangover Day, there are certain steps that can be taken pre- and post-revelry to chase Mr. Scary away.
The two most important steps to making sure that you don't spend all day in bed following a night of heavy consumption are also basic tenets of day-to-day operation: drink on a full stomach and stay hydrated. After all, dehydration is a serious side effect of poppin' bottles.
Here now, are some recommended hangover helpers for the Dallasite that plans to enjoy saying goodbye to 2013 in style.
RESQWATER
Full of vitamins and nutrients including organic prickly pear cactus fruit extract, organic evaporated cane juice, B vitamins, N-acetyl L-cysteine, and milk thistle, RESQWATER works to metabolize acetaldehyde, a compound produced by the liver that is the main cause of hangovers.
It always helps to drink water throughout the night, but sometimes that’s easier said that done. Still, one of these before bed will help stave off the shakes in the morning.
A Greasy Breakfast
Maybe it’s not scientifically accurate to say that greasy food helps cure a hangover, but anecdotal evidence suggests that there are worse things in the world. Kel’s Kitchen in North Dallas is our personal go-to for a breakfast worth three days of caloric intake, and the giant chocolate milks have some magical restorative properties. If not the chocolate milk, there is coffee, which apparently, just maybe, might help you recover, in a scientific manner. Don’t overdo it on the meal, but it’s important to get your blood sugar back to normal, so think carbs.
Aspirin
Headaches are the most obvious of hangover symptoms. It stands to reason that aspirin or ibuprofen can then help you fight the pounding in your head. Avoid acetaminophen (which is Tylenol) as it can really damage your liver, and you need your liver for more booze down the road.
Hair of the Dog
Is it better to retox than detox? Not really, since all it’s doing is prolonging the inevitable. That said, a Bloody Mary — which has some vitamins — can ease the pain. Just know that this is a slippery slope to dependency, so don’t make a habit of it, and keep the water close by after your one drink. Note: college students live by this method, but you’re not 21 anymore.
Exercise
Another tricky one because exercise can make you even more dehydrated. Plus, you’re not really “sweating it out” since the alcohol has already done its job and you’re dealing with the aftermath. Still, the endorphins released from a jog or lift can make you feel better in the short term.
Pedialyte
If it’s good enough for dehydrated babies, it’s good enough for you. It’s full of electrolytes and has considerably less sugar than sports drinks. It can rehydrate you, particularly if you’re experiencing some less than ideal conditions in the bathroom the next morning.
Conclusion
One would think that for such an important subject as hangovers, science would have developed a perfect cure for it. But the truth of the matter is that the best way to fight the morning-after funk is prevention. Keep water nearby during your drinking — one glass of water for every drink is recommended — and you’ll be feeling better than your compatriots (plus your bar tab will be lighter.) The methods described above might help with the symptoms of a hangover, but the cause of it is simply too much alcohol over a short period of time, and for that, there’s nothing better than straightforward self-control.
Vitamin B-12 is your friend after a night of drinking.
