Are you trying to reduce the effects of alcohol before leaving the house, or have you already consumed Budweiser and brandy? Do you want to be able to get past that morning hangover, which often tempts you to get drunk again to get rid of the headache? As with many things in life, the key to reducing the effects of alcohol is preparation and regulation. Bottom line: drink responsibly.
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Method 1 of 5: Drink Alcohol With Care
Step 1. Eat first
When you consume alcohol, it stays in your stomach while waiting to be processed. If there is no food in the stomach, the alcohol will process it more quickly and instantly all at once. If there is food in the stomach, alcohol will enter the body system more slowly and at varying rates. In this way, the effect is also reduced.
This is especially important if you know that you will be drinking on a continuous basis, such as when you visit a bar
Step 2. Drink slowly
Just like food, alcohol consumption is done slowly will allow the body to process it for some time. Meanwhile, if you put large amounts of alcohol directly into your body, it will be more difficult to process.
Step 3. Choose drinks carefully
Choose alcohol with fewer congeners (substances that are also produced during the fermentation process), which are less likely to cause hangovers. Lighter colored beers and white wines have fewer congeners than darker beers and harder liquors. Avoid brandy, whiskey, and red wine.
- Cheap liquor tends to make you more drunk. This is because the body will expend more energy processing the impurities left in the alcohol in cheap liquor.
- Clearer alcohols, such as vodka, gin, and white rum are good choices.
Method 2 of 5: Keeping Your Body Hydrated
Step 1. Drink plenty of water
Drink water throughout the day before you start drinking alcohol, and in between when you drink it. One of the key hangovers is dehydration. The more you try to anticipate it, the better you'll feel. If you get drunk, make sure to drink plenty of water.
- Drink 0.47 liters of water before going to bed at night. Because your body continues to process water while you sleep – even if it's just a little bit – you will wake up more dehydrated. Hangovers are a condition that gets worse when you're dehydrated. So, reduce the effect by consuming more water.
- Try placing a glass of water next to your bed so you can drink it when you wake up.
Step 2. Consume sports drinks
In addition to water, isotonic sports drinks can quickly replenish fluids in the body and add the carbohydrates needed for energy and electrolytes to your system.
Sports drinks can also be a good option for an upset stomach. Choose a taste that tastes good and won't make you nauseous
Step 3. Drink orange juice
Vitamin C helps boost energy, which is important when you're feeling lethargic from a hangover. The fructose found in some types of juice will help replenish sugar levels that are already empty in the body, to process the alcohol you consume. Tomato juice and coconut water are also good choices.
Step 4. Avoid drinks containing caffeine
Because alcohol is a depressant drink that will make people sleepy, many think that the way to deal with it is to drink coffee. However, coffee will only make you more dehydrated. If your stomach hurts too, coffee will make it worse. Keep consuming only water. Also, the more effective solution is actually resting, not drinking coffee.
Step 5. Drink the Sprites
Chinese researchers examined the effects of 57 drinks and found that Sprite was the most effective against hangovers. The enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase is released by the liver when you consume alcohol. The duration of this enzyme in the body is directly related to how long you are drunk. Get rid of it quickly if you don't want to hang around for long. The researchers also found that Sprite flushed alcohol dehydrogenase from the human system more quickly than any other beverage. In contrast, herbal teas actually retain this enzyme longer.
Step 6. Don't drink more alcohol
Remember, avoid danger. Although there are many people who will ask you to drink more, don't listen to them. If you do, the effects of the alcohol will last longer. In the short term, the symptoms you experience will seem to disappear, but then the hangover will get worse in the long run.
Method 3 of 5: Eat to Counter the Effects of Alcohol
Step 1. Eat eggs
Eggs are an important food to cure hangovers. Eggs contain an amino acid called cysteine, which absorbs toxins that enter the body through alcohol. Eat a few egg whites and you'll start to feel back to normal soon after.
Fried eggs or scramble; whichever method you choose, cook the eggs thoroughly. There is a myth that says to eat two raw eggs after you have gone out for a night of alcohol. The mucilage factor from egg whites mixed with the dangers of salmonella suggests that this indeed remains a myth
Step 2. Eat biscuits or toast
Your first inclination may be to eat a heavy, greasy cheeseburger. Do not do it. Eat something light, like crackers or toast. Both of these foods contain sodium – something your body needs to work properly, and something that tends to decrease with the alcohol you consume.
Step 3. Eat potassium-rich foods, such as bananas
Since you will urinate more frequently when you drink too much, your body will be deprived of valuable potassium. Lack of potassium can make you lethargic, nauseous, and weak. Bananas and kiwi are good sources of potassium. Baked potatoes, leafy greens, apricots, and mushrooms are also rich in potassium. Consider eating a banana after your last drink. Bananas can reduce the effects of alcohol.
Step 4. Drink nutrient-rich soup
Stew, chicken noodles, and miso soup are good soup choices for several reasons. All of these foods contain many of the nutrients your body needs to fight off hangovers and the nauseating effects of alcohol. The sodium, cysteine, and the rehydrating power of water and broth will help you immensely.
Method 4 of 5: Relax to Reduce the Effects of Alcohol
Step 1. Get some sleep
The best way to get rid of hangovers is to pass the time. Since alcohol makes you drowsy, you might look for drinks that contain caffeine. This is not good. The body needs time to recover. Go to sleep. Sleep is the most effective way to get rid of headaches and make more informed decisions when you wake up.
Step 2. Take a shower
A warm bath will raise your core body temperature. Warmer temperatures will prepare your body for sleep, so it's easier for you to miss a hangover headache.
If you have to stay awake when you're drunk, a cold shower can help
Step 3. Go for a walk
Another good alternative way to control the effects of alcohol is to go for a walk. Walking will increase your metabolic rate, so your body can process what's in your stomach faster. So, going for a walk will help reduce the duration of the effects of alcohol. Of course, alcohol does impair your ability to walk, so make sure you go somewhere safe – away from cars and stairs (two of the most dangerous places when drunk).
Method 5 of 5: Treating Properly
Step 1. Take ibuprofen, naproxen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
These medications will help you to not feel the headache. Follow the directions on the packaging. Do not eat more, unless on the advice of a doctor.
Do not take acetaminophen (Tylenol). Acetaminophen will further burden the kidneys, making them soft, and even causing severe swelling
Step 2. Take supplements or use B6 injections
B6 will help revitalize the body. B6 improves cognitive function and reduces nausea and vomiting. You can buy them at pharmacies or vitamin supplement stores.
Step 3. Take antacids
Stomach pain and nausea are common effects of alcohol. Antacid tablets will help regulate the level of acidity in the stomach. If you feel sick, take an antacid. Sodium alginate, and potassium bicarbonate, which are based on antacids, are over-the-counter and can be very helpful. Make sure you follow the instructions on the packaging. Do not drink more, unless advised by a doctor.
Warning
- Even if you reduce the effects of alcohol, it is dangerous to drive when your body is under its influence. Do not try to drive the car in these conditions.
- If you feel very nauseous or vomit or pass out from drinking too much alcohol, go to the emergency room for an IV and be resuscitated.
