The four B's for your hangover

Who doesn’t love the holidays? Aside from the normal stressful activities associated with the holidays, you can’t discount the fact the holidays are just another reason for everyone to celebrate and drink! To celebrate the new year, my friends and I went to a college friend's mansion (yes he has one, and all I have is a dinky studio apartment, tell me is life not unfair?) where we welcomed 2008 with a bang!

Party

For everyone's who's had to wake up in the morning after a night of drinking, nothing compares to the feeling of a dry throat, a head full of lead, and a sour taste to your tongue - Hangovers are inevitable when you're drinking. There are really no fast fixes for hangovers and as they say, prevention is always better than cure, so when you’re about to party hard just remember the four B's:

B – Burger

load up on the carbo

Eat a burger before drinking. You want to take in a lot of carbohydrates to soak up the alcohol you’re about to drink – this in turn will lessen the effects of the alcohol on you. Less alcohol absorbed = less sorry of a hangover you’ll have in the morning. Bread is good too.

B – Bathroom

The line may be long, but frequently relieving yourself can help pace you when drinking and naturally, flush the alcohol from your body. We’re only human, and we can’t process more than ounce of alcohol per hour – so take that trip to the bathroom.

B – Bloody Mary

No, you don’t have to chant in front of a mirror, you just have to make it. Popularly known as the “hair of the dog”, this concoction has vodka, tomato juice, and a variety of herbs and spices  to lessen the effects of your hangover. It’s very simple and takes only a few minutes to make (provided you can find the ingredients in your kitchen!).

Bananas before and after partying

B – Bananas

Bananas are a good source of potassium which you lose when you drink. They also have fructose and a great source of energy. Force yourself to eat one before going out for the night, and after taking a drink of the bloody mary.

Bottomline: moderate your drinking so your hangover will suck less – and just stick to one drink please – you’ll feel better in the morning, and your liver will thank you for it.