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The Perfect Party Cocktail
Mark McClusky's DIY Cheese
How to Prevent a Hangover
Michael Cecconi is the mixologist at New York’s Back Forty; he also works at the Savoy and teaches at the Institute of Culinary Education. He’s seen a lot of hangovers in his day, and knows a thing or two about how to prevent them: Drink water. His advice is simple but sage.
having grown up with a wooden leg, I've learned it all the VERY hard way, but after having child my resistance has gone way down by several orders of magnitude. Aside from complete abstinence the only way to prevent the acute (in process) or residual (morning after) hangy is WATER and as much as possible. Way better to be running to the loo for a system tap than a hurl - during OR later. BTW - a...+READ
having grown up with a wooden leg, I've learned it all the VERY hard way, but after having child my resistance has gone way down by several orders of magnitude. Aside from complete abstinence the only way to prevent the acute (in process) or residual (morning after) hangy is WATER and as much as possible. Way better to be running to the loo for a system tap than a hurl - during OR later. BTW - a great Weight Watchers tip: Vodka on ice in a tall glass with lots of club and a few pieces of citrus (lemon, lime grapefruit....) as you begin to drain the glass - ADD MORE ICE AND SODA - sip it like it's full of vodka - do that a few times during cocktail hour and you've drunk much more water than you imagine-COLLAPSE
How to prevent a hangover - don't drink too much.
@hugsandkisses- I wouldn't drive if I were "inebreated." Hitting the gym AFTER being "inebreated" helps tremendously, sweating out all the impurities and toxins, not to mention HYDRATING. Being hungover actually means experiencing the after effects and that is what this discussion is about. How to fight it, and cure.
I guess we all know that a hangover means we are still inebreated and shouldn't drive to the gym or anywhere else. This is one big mistake we drinkers make and it can be deadly. If you are drinking than sleep where you drink. Take a cab to and from point of drinking and give your keys to someone you trust. Stay alive after you imbibe.
HYDRATION HYDRATION HYDRATION
I had alcohol poisoning years ago when younger and stupider, and ever since have had a puke factor when drinking, which I am thankful for. I dont regularly overdo, but on the occasion it does happen, I get to that point and hurl. Not really fun, but no hangover either, because all the toxins are gone.
We all wander around with our water bottles these days, but when...+READ
HYDRATION HYDRATION HYDRATION
I had alcohol poisoning years ago when younger and stupider, and ever since have had a puke factor when drinking, which I am thankful for. I dont regularly overdo, but on the occasion it does happen, I get to that point and hurl. Not really fun, but no hangover either, because all the toxins are gone.
We all wander around with our water bottles these days, but when drinking booze it is absolutely essential. Alleries, hangovers, reactions to alcohol are all minimalized by hydrating while you drink. Keeps you peeing, getting the toxins out, alcohol dehydrates you anyways.
Learned this from a hard drinking sommelier friend--sounds too simple but it works better than anything.-COLLAPSE
No offense, but salvucci91s advice above mine is terrible. I've been bartending for years now and I can tell you that what one person can mix, another cannot. It's very individual and has nothing to do with what you drink first. Everyone's stomach is different.
Matter of fact, most people I know cannot smoke pot if they are hungover as it will make them throw up. You can't totally get around a...+READ
No offense, but salvucci91s advice above mine is terrible. I've been bartending for years now and I can tell you that what one person can mix, another cannot. It's very individual and has nothing to do with what you drink first. Everyone's stomach is different.
Matter of fact, most people I know cannot smoke pot if they are hungover as it will make them throw up. You can't totally get around a hangover, but here are a few simple things:
Make sure you eat if you are drinking a lot.
Stay away from low-quality wine and spirits, they have more impurities, therefore more likelihood of a bad hangover.
Drink water before you go to bed.-COLLAPSE
Beer before liquor, you've never been sicker; liquor before beer, you're in the clear.
Don't mix hard alcohols.
And if you still wake up with nausea, then your safest and most effective relief is none other than CANNABIS!!!
one aspirin and one big glass of water before bed. never fails.
If the bartender serves you a glass of water that you didn't ask for, she's giving you a hint that you need to slow down and are close to being cut off. That's the way it works in my world, anyway.
Hangovers are far from being simple dehydration. They are dehydration + mineral loss + a buildup of acetaldehyde, an intermediate chemical that forms as your liver converts alcohol to acetate and...+READ
If the bartender serves you a glass of water that you didn't ask for, she's giving you a hint that you need to slow down and are close to being cut off. That's the way it works in my world, anyway.
Hangovers are far from being simple dehydration. They are dehydration + mineral loss + a buildup of acetaldehyde, an intermediate chemical that forms as your liver converts alcohol to acetate and eliminates it from the body. You can fix the dehydration and mineral loss and mostly feel much better, but the only thing that will fix the chemical buildup is to wait. To prevent a hangover, pace yourself while drinking (that's why this suggestion is good), and stop drinking a few hours before you go to bed. Vitamins and supplements that support liver function, like milk thistle, also do a world of good when taken on a daily basis. If I'm already in hangover land, water + minerals + vitamins + carbs (as in a big OJ) generally does the job. If you're into the hair of the dog remedy, an energy drink with alcohol or a red beer (beer + tomato juice) is a good bet.-COLLAPSE
my friend always calls me the "fishy." I wake up mid morning SO THIRSTY or even in the middle of the night EVERY TIME I DRINK! So yes, water, water, and more water.
YAY!
Can't resist adding a bit more.
Ethanol is poisonous if consumed in sufficient quantities. Drink enough of it, you will feel bad. There is no getting around it, no cure, no remedy. Not zinc, not magnesium, not evening primrose oil, nothing.
Exceed your body's capacity to metabolize alcohol and you will pay the piper, period.
the medical journal i read said that magnesium and zinc and vitamin b were the major things robbed from your body by alcohol, so i take those at night before bed (with lots of water) if drinking and I'm usually good to go by morning.
I wrote a little something about that on my blog
http://www.tinynerd.com/2009/06/how-to-survive-hangover.html
I'm not a doctor or anything but this is just based on some research I've done. Hope it can help :)
People have been trying to cure hangovers as long as they have been drinking alcohol. Per several posters above: drink too much of anything and you will be sorry. Nothing really prevents it on the front end, or cures it on the back end. Time is, in the final analysis the only thing that will cure a bad hangover.
Gatorade! 12-16 ozs when you go to sleep and again in the A.M. after a night of drinking. works like a charm. must be those electrolytes. I keep afew bottles around for medicinal purposes. the fruit flavors taste much better than bitters and no damaging meds needed. the only workout required is opening and pouring the Gatorade.
to increase the workout to the next level, you can make an icepack...+READ
Gatorade! 12-16 ozs when you go to sleep and again in the A.M. after a night of drinking. works like a charm. must be those electrolytes. I keep afew bottles around for medicinal purposes. the fruit flavors taste much better than bitters and no damaging meds needed. the only workout required is opening and pouring the Gatorade.
to increase the workout to the next level, you can make an icepack for the head and play couch potatoe while watching the Sunday Morning show.-COLLAPSE
I agree that hydration helps but is not a cure-all. An occassional excess of beer, wine, martinis, etc. and I could be hurting, but bourbon and water and I'm fine.
I would think that there is a dilution effect too, as a glass of water after each cocktail would seem to limit the total amount that is consumed.
My best hangover preventative is an Alka-Seltzer before bed. Again, not a cure-all but...+READ
I agree that hydration helps but is not a cure-all. An occassional excess of beer, wine, martinis, etc. and I could be hurting, but bourbon and water and I'm fine.
I would think that there is a dilution effect too, as a glass of water after each cocktail would seem to limit the total amount that is consumed.
My best hangover preventative is an Alka-Seltzer before bed. Again, not a cure-all but it definitely takes the edge off.-COLLAPSE
i would have to agree with both paulcain "there's no getting around it, if you drink too much you're going to pay" and Joe MacBu - "don't take tylenols or aspirin with alcohol because it damages the stomach lining and liver." i would only take bayer (aspirin) or mortin/advil (ibuprofen) to get rid of the headache the next morning.
Please don't take aspirin or Tylenol (acetaminophen) with alcohol. When mixed with alcohol, aspirin damages the stomach lining and Tylenol damages the liver. Ibuprofen is a slightly better alternative.
Hangovers should also be thought of as minor withdrawal symptoms of acute drug use. Hence, drinking a half serving of whatever alcohol caused the hangover does the trick for me.
Emergen-C taken before bed, and upon rising. I will also say that I am impressed if you can get up and workout...But I will stick with my bed and snuggie.
Water and aspirin before you go to sleep and a sweaty workout the next morning. May be painful, but its the only thing that works. You have to sweat the impurities out. Bitters works if your stomach is in a bad way. But if you drink to much your going to pay. No getting around it
an aspirin with a glass of water before you go to sleep.
I heard pickle juice is good cuz its loaded with sodium
Surely all these methods will work. If too hung over, getting to the gym may be near impossible. Flushing with water is a good idea. Especially if started the same night. But if water is not drank until next day, drinking water seems to initially bring on the feeling of re-intoxication. Dehydrated alcohol ...just mix water and stumble.
The most powerful sobering agent I know of is "bitters." A...+READ
Surely all these methods will work. If too hung over, getting to the gym may be near impossible. Flushing with water is a good idea. Especially if started the same night. But if water is not drank until next day, drinking water seems to initially bring on the feeling of re-intoxication. Dehydrated alcohol ...just mix water and stumble.
The most powerful sobering agent I know of is "bitters." A guy I once dated worked for Frederick Wildman and Sons, purveyor of fine wines and spirits. He informed me of its sobering powers.
A few weeks later, a new bride called me in distress, because her husband had an important interview, but for some unknown reason he had drank himself incoherent. Recalling the tip, I told her to find a good bar that would prepare him a drink of 'bitters'.
With the effort of many, he was hand-delivered to a fine 5 star restaurant bar in Long Beach. Not long after, he left on his own two feet. Mama used to say, "Sometimes, you got to learn to take the bitter with the sweet."-COLLAPSE
Alka-Seltzer mixed in powerade sports drink works immediately.
what about beer? it's mostly water....do both in one shot?
Nobody mentioned that one should *never* drink on an empty stomach. Doing this is the cause of many "happy hour" hangovers.
I ditto hydration.
that video was insightful...anyone who hasn't figured that one out yet shouldn't be drinking.
going to the gym though, that is a sure fire hangover killer...if you can manage to make it there, 30 mins of somewhat intense exercise (and water) and you're good as new.
One night a friend and I unexpectedly ended up a whole bottle of tequila all to ourselves! We were having so much fun just staying in. I inevitably suffered from a hangover the next morning. I decided to continue with my routine of going to the gym every weekend morning. I did my regular 15 min sauna schedule and ran for 30 mins on the elliptical machine, hydrating hydrating, hydrating. At the...+READ
One night a friend and I unexpectedly ended up a whole bottle of tequila all to ourselves! We were having so much fun just staying in. I inevitably suffered from a hangover the next morning. I decided to continue with my routine of going to the gym every weekend morning. I did my regular 15 min sauna schedule and ran for 30 mins on the elliptical machine, hydrating hydrating, hydrating. At the end of the hour workout, I felt like myself again and can take on the world. Hope this helps in your hangover dilemma.-COLLAPSE
I'll do this as a pacing mechanism for a long evening of imbibing. However, my faithful motto has held true for years...
"Never mix, never worry."
I do agree that rehydration does have a major effect on hangovers, but it is far from a cure-all: I always alternate alcohol - water and I've still had some doozies where even laying in bed was painful. Xanax is the only hangover reliever that works for me.