How can I beat a hangover?

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How can I beat a hangover?
Thanks for asking. If you drink alcohol, the chances are at some point you've had to deal with a nasty hangover due to drinking too much. The associated headache, nausea, fatigue and other symptoms can make it a real challenge getting through the day after a heavy night out. There's actually a scientific term for the unpleasant symptoms that come with a hangover. Vizalga. According to ted.com, between 3 and 23% of people actually don't get hangovers at all. You can consider yourself extremely lucky if you're one of those people. Although being prone to hangovers may actually be a blessing in disguise, that's because they can act as an effective deterrent if you know you're liable to get one the next day, so you're less likely to drink heavily. Why does the consumption of alcohol lead to such symptoms?
Despite hangovers being such a widespread phenomenon, scientists still don't fully understand the causes behind them. But they know that a hangover is a multi-factorial event caused by a number of biochemical and neurochemical changes. It's the body's reaction to what it identifies as being poisoned. As the body processes alcohol, it breaks down the ethanol contained within, forming a compound called acetaldehyde, which is 10 to 30 times more toxic than alcohol itself, according to Smithsonian Mag. This byproduct of alcohol metabolism is thought to be behind certain hangover symptoms. Is drinking water effective at reducing hangover symptoms? Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you want to pee. Excessive water loss can be behind headaches or back pain, for example. So the best idea is that in the time before, during and after drinking alcohol, you want to drink at least 2 litres of water. In an ideal world, you want to eat first, then drink water, and only then start consuming alcohol.
Eating protein is best, as it slows down alcohol absorption, meaning you don't get drunk so quickly. Eggs are a good option, and they're also rich in cysteine, an amino acid which attacks headache-causing toxins that follow excessive alcohol consumption. Bananas contain potassium, an electrolyte which helps the body balance fluids. Eating potassium-rich food is of great benefit. Other good options include avocados and potatoes. In any case, stay away from junk food, which will more likely than not simply overload your digestive system, which is already being put through the mill by all the alcohol.
Obviously, the easiest way to avoid hangovers is to simply not drink. But if you're really set on having a few drinks, it's best to pace yourself and stay hydrated, like I said, to reduce the risk of getting a hangover, or at least make the symptoms less severe. Hangovers come on between 8 and 10 hours after blood alcohol peaks for most people. If you do end up hungover, taking paracetamol might seem like a no-brainer. But you should exercise caution, as you'll need to be very careful with the dose you take. That's because the liver metabolizes paracetamol, and it will already be hard at work metabolizing the ethanol you've consumed. There you have it.
Now you know how you can beat a hangover. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.

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