Are you trying to reduce the effects of alcohol before a "good night" or have you already drunk the equivalent of your weight in beer and brandy? Do you want to spare yourself the terrible hangovers that make you want to go into an alcoholic coma, just to avoid a devastating headache? Or are you just worried that your breath smells like beer? As with many other things, here too the key to success lies in preparation and moderation. In other words: drink responsibly.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Drink with Caution
Step 1. Eat before drinking
When you consume alcohol, it remains in your stomach waiting to be metabolized. If there is also no food, the alcohol is processed faster and all at once. If you have eaten, however, the substance passes through the blood system more slowly, at a variable rate, and its immediate effects are less.
This is especially important when you know you will be drinking for a long time, for example on a pub crawl
Step 2. Drink slowly
By slowly sipping the drink, you allow your body to process the alcohol over a longer period, just as it does when you are on a full stomach. If, on the other hand, you drink the glass in one gulp, the drink will be metabolized with greater difficulty.
Step 3. Choose carefully what to drink
Opt for spirits with few congeners (the substances that are produced during the fermentation process), as they are less likely to cause a hangover. Light beers and white wine contain fewer congeners than dark beers and spirits. Avoid brandy, whiskey and red wine.
- Cheap products tend to trigger worse drunkenness, because the body expends more energy to metabolize the impurities left in these spirits.
- Lighter drinks, like vodka, gin, and white rum, are great choices.
Method 2 of 5: Hydrate the Body
Step 1. Drink lots of water
Have plenty of it throughout the day before switching to alcohol, and alternate drinks with a glass of water. Since one of the causes of hangover symptoms is dehydration, the more you fight this phenomenon, the better. If you are already suffering from hangover symptoms, remember to drink plenty of water anyway.
- Drink half a liter of water before going to sleep. As your body continues to process it even while you sleep - albeit to a lesser extent - you will always wake up more dehydrated than when you went to bed. The symptoms associated with a hangover are centered on the lack of hydration, so you can reduce the effects of alcohol by taking in more water.
- Keep a glass of water by your bed so you can drink as soon as you get up.
Step 2. Have some sports drinks
These isotonic drinks, in addition to water, are able to restore fluids within the body, provide the carbohydrates necessary to recover energy and restore electrolyte levels.
Sports drinks are also perfect for stomach ailments. Choose those with a good flavor that doesn't make nausea worse
Step 3. Drink orange juice
In particular, vitamin C is perfect for recovering energy and proves very useful when the lethargic effects of the "hangover" are felt. The fructose found in many fruit juices restores the sugar levels that the body used to metabolize the alcohol consumed. Tomato juice and coconut water are good alternatives.
Step 4. Stay away from caffeinated drinks
Since alcohol is a sedative and causes drowsiness, you may believe that coffee is a great way to counteract its effects; however, coffee increases dehydration. Also, if you are nauseous, this drink could make it worse. Just drink water and remember that rest is better than coffee.
Step 5. Try a Sprite
Chinese researchers tested the effects of 57 drinks and found Sprite to be the most effective against hangover. When you consume alcohol, the liver releases the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). The longer this substance stays in the blood system, the longer the symptoms of intoxication last. Get rid of it quickly if you don't want to suffer for too long the next day. These researchers have found that Sprite is able to make alcohol dehydrogenase flow out of the body faster than any other drink. Herbal teas, on the other hand, prolong their stay.
Step 6. Don't drink any other alcohol
Don't follow the old saying "nail drives nail"; Although many people will tell you to have some of the same drink as the night before to get rid of drunken-related ailments, don't listen to them. The only result you will get will be to prolong the effects of alcohol. The new dose is likely to relieve symptoms in the short term, but will worsen the situation in the long term.
Method 3 of 5: Eat to Counter the Effects of Alcohol
Step 1. Eat some eggs
This food is the basis of any hangover remedy. It contains an amino acid called cysteine which absorbs toxins introduced into the body through drinks. Eat a couple of egg whites and you will soon feel much better.
You can prepare them in a pan or scrambled; it doesn't matter how you cook them, as long as they are well done. The remedy of drinking a couple of raw eggs before going out for a good night is just a false myth. The slimy texture coupled with the ever-present danger of salmonella makes this remedy what it truly is: an unfounded legend
Step 2. Eat some crackers or toast
You may be craving a greasy, heavy cheeseburger, but don't give in to this temptation. Opt for something light like crackers or toast, as both contain sodium, a substance your body needs to function properly but is depleted by alcohol.
Step 3. Choose potassium-rich foods like bananas
Since you urinate even more when you drink a lot, it is normal to lose a lot of valuable potassium. When levels of this mineral are low, you feel lethargic, nauseated and weak. Bananas and kiwis are high in potassium, as are baked potatoes, green leafy vegetables, apricots, and mushrooms. Consider eating a banana after your last drink to help control the effects of alcohol.
Step 4. Eat nutrient-rich soups
Broth, chicken noodle soup, and miso soup are perfect for many reasons. They contain many essential nutrients that help the body overcome the hangover and sickening effects of alcohol. Sodium, cysteine and the rehydrating abilities of the water and broth will be of great help to you.
Method 4 of 5: Relax to Reduce the Effects of Alcohol
Step 1. Get some sleep
Hangover symptoms are best combated over time. Since alcohol causes drowsiness, you may be tempted to drink caffeinated drinks. However, this is not a good solution, as the body needs time to recover. Take a nap, as this is the best way to get rid of a headache; later, you will feel more clear about making decisions.
Step 2. Take a shower
Hot water raises the body temperature and helps the body sleep. In this way, you can avoid the terrible headache of the much feared hangover.
If you need to stay alert while drunk, take a cold shower to clear your mind
Step 3. Go out for a short walk
A perfect way to control the effects of alcohol is to walk. This speeds up your metabolism and stomach contents are metabolized, reducing the duration of alcohol-related symptoms. Obviously, alcohol impairs walking ability, so choose a safe place away from traffic and stairs (two big dangers for drunk people).
Method 5 of 5: Using Drugs Correctly
Step 1. Take ibuprofen, naproxen, and other over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
These medicines help you manage your pounding headache. Follow the instructions on the leaflet and do not exceed the dosage, unless advised otherwise by your doctor.
Do not take acetaminophen (Tachipirina), as it puts increased pressure on the liver causing mild or severe edema
Step 2. Take vitamin B6 supplements or in the form of injections
This substance is able to give new energy to the body. Vitamin B6 increases cognitive function while reducing nausea and vomiting. You can buy it in pharmacies and parapharmacies.
Step 3. Take an antacid
Stomach pain and nausea are common effects of alcohol. Antacid pills regulate the acidity level of the gastric tract. If your stomach feels upset, take alginic acid or potassium bicarbonate medications that you can buy at the pharmacy without a prescription. Always follow the instructions on the package and do not exceed the dose recommended by your doctor.
Warnings
- Even if you manage to mitigate the effects of alcohol, it is dangerous to drive after drinking. Avoid doing this.
- If you experience severe nausea, vomit or faint from drinking too much, you must be transported to the emergency room, where you will be given intravenous medications and resuscitated.
