The party season is upon us, the dancing shoes have been dusted off and there are hangovers aplenty! When you've had too much to drink the night before did you know that the worst symptoms of your hangover are due to dehydration? Alcohol is a diuretic and so it speeds up the loss of water from the body causing that awful headache, dry mouth and nausea. However there are things that we can all do to prevent or minimise the hangover in the first place or at least aid the recovery process:
  • Rehydrate before you dehydrate: keep your water levels ‘stocked up' in the day before you start drinking alcohol in the evening
  • Alternate an alcoholic drink for a glass of water when partying – doesn't sound very exciting but will help to slow your drinking down and will rehydrate you as you go!
  • When you get home drink a pint of water before you go to bed. It's often the last thing you feel like doing but could really help your body to recover whilst you sleep.
  • Having woken up in the morning with the dreaded hangover, don't reach for a coffee! It seems like the most natural thing to do to get you out of bed but coffee is also a diuretic, making you even more dehydrated. Instead drink a big glass of water; you could add some lemon to help the taste if needs be.
Photo by vickyb.