We’ve all had those nights—a few drinks turn into more than planned, and before you know it, you’re waking up the next day feeling far from fresh. But here’s the good news: it’s absolutely possible to prevent a hangover or at least reduce the severity of one with some smart preparation. From what to drink and eat before you go out to what steps to take when you get home, we’ve got the ultimate hangover prevention plan for your next big night out.
What Happens During a Hangover?
Before jumping into prevention, it’s important to understand what’s going on in your body during a hangover. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you pee more and leads to dehydration, a major cause of that pounding headache and dry mouth the next morning. It also disrupts your blood sugar, leaves toxins like acetaldehyde behind for your liver to process, and strips your body of essential nutrients like electrolytes. All these factors combine to create the classic hangover symptoms: headache, fatigue, nausea, and irritability.
How to Choose the Best Drinks for a Hangover-Free Morning
The type of alcohol you choose plays a significant role in how bad your hangover will be. Here’s what to look for:
- Go for Clear Spirits: Clear liquors like vodka, gin, and white rum are lower in congeners, toxic byproducts of fermentation that can worsen hangover symptoms. Darker spirits like whiskey, rum, and red wine contain more congeners, making them more likely to leave you feeling rough the next day.
- Skip the Sugary Cocktails: Avoid overly sugary drinks like margaritas or sweetened cocktails. The sugar combined with alcohol can spike your blood sugar, leading to a crash that worsens your hangover.
- Stay Hydrated: This might sound simple, but drinking water between alcoholic beverages is one of the most effective ways to prevent a hangover. Hydration is key. For an extra boost, drink coconut water or an electrolyte drink like a sports beverage. These drinks help replenish the minerals lost during alcohol consumption and keep your body balanced.
What to Eat Before a Night of Drinking
Your pre-drinking meal can be a game-changer. Eating before drinking helps slow alcohol absorption, reducing the impact on your system and giving your body more time to metabolise the alcohol. So, what should you eat?
- Carb Load: Eating complex carbohydrates like whole grains, pasta, or sweet potatoes will help stabilize your blood sugar levels throughout the night. These foods take longer to digest and help slow down how quickly alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream.
- Include Healthy Fats: Healthy fats like those found in avocados, olive oil, and nuts can help create a barrier in your stomach, further slowing alcohol absorption.
- Add Protein: Incorporating protein into your meal, such as chicken, fish, or tofu, will help you stay fuller for longer and further regulate how quickly your body processes alcohol.
Smart Snacking During the Night
Even if you had a great pre-drinking meal, snacking throughout the night can help you stay on top of things. Avoid greasy fast food, which can make nausea worse, and go for lighter snacks that provide nutrients.
- Light Carbs: Snacks like whole grain crackers, toast, or popcorn are easy on the stomach and help stabilise blood sugar levels while drinking.
- Potassium-Rich Foods: Alcohol depletes your body of potassium, so snacking on foods rich in potassium like bananas, dates, or oranges can help replenish lost electrolytes and prevent cramps.
- Lean Proteins: Small portions of grilled chicken, turkey, or boiled eggs are excellent choices. They’re high in protein and will keep you feeling satisfied.
Before Bed: The Final Steps to Prevent a Hangover
When you get home after a night of drinking, don’t just crash into bed. Taking a few extra steps can prevent a lot of misery the next morning.
- Hydrate Before Sleep: Make sure to drink a glass of water or an electrolyte-rich drink before bed. Alcohol dehydrates you, and rehydrating before you sleep will reduce that morning-after headache.
- Apply an After Party Patch: The After Party Hangover Patch is a lifesaver. It contains Glutathione and N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), two powerful ingredients that detoxify your liver and replenish antioxidants lost during drinking. Apply it before bed, and the patch will release these nutrients slowly over 24 hours, helping you wake up refreshed.
- Grab a Light Snack: Eating a small snack before bed can help stabilise your blood sugar and prevent that weak, shaky feeling the next morning. Try a slice of whole grain toast or a banana to give your body a quick energy boost.
What to Do If You Wake Up with a Hangover
Even if you’ve followed all these tips, hangovers can still sometimes sneak up on you. Here’s how to recover quickly:
- Start with Water: Rehydrating first thing in the morning is essential. Begin your day with a big glass of water or an electrolyte drink. Coconut water is a great natural option that replenishes lost minerals.
- Eat a Light Breakfast: Your body needs nutrients to recover. Opt for a light breakfast with eggs, whole grain toast, and some fruit to stabilise your blood sugar and give your liver the fuel it needs to detoxify alcohol.
- Sip Ginger Tea: If nausea is a problem, try drinking ginger tea. Ginger has natural anti-nausea properties that can soothe your stomach.
How After Party Hangover Patches Work
The After Party Hangover Patch uses transdermal technology, which allows nutrients to be absorbed directly through your skin and into your bloodstream. This bypasses the digestive system and ensures that key ingredients like Glutathione and NAC are delivered where they’re needed most helping your liver detoxify alcohol and fight oxidative stress caused by drinking.
The patch works while you sleep, delivering a 24-hour steady release of nutrients to help your body recover. By applying the patch before bed (or even before heading out for the night), you give your body the best chance to process alcohol efficiently and reduce the chances of waking up with a hangover.
FAQs
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What’s the best drink to prevent a hangover?
Clear spirits like vodka and gin are better options, as they contain fewer congeners than darker liquors. Also, alternating alcohol with water is a great way to stay hydrated. -
What foods help prevent hangovers?
Complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and lean proteins help slow the absorption of alcohol and stabilise your blood sugar. Whole grains, avocado, and eggs are great choices. -
How do After Party Hangover Patches work?
These patches use transdermal technology to deliver Glutathione and NAC directly through the skin, helping detoxify your liver and replenish lost nutrients over 24 hours. -
What should I do if I wake up with a hangover?
Rehydrate with water or coconut water, eat a light breakfast, and consider skipping coffee to avoid worsening dehydration.