One casualty of the Christmas season is the endless array of parties. I have been to Christmas parties almost every night for the past two weeks. Booze is abundant in such parties. I have been lucky. So far I have yet to come home and awaken the next day feeling like someone drove a spike through the back of my head.

A lot of guys have their so-called cure for a hangover. Some resort to sweating it out in a steam bath or sauna. Others resort to exercise. Some even choose to take another swig of beer or wine.

What I realized that once you have a hangover, there is no turning back. You have to grin and bear it. Time is the only cure for a hangover. Your body needs to flush out whatever toxins you have imbibed. Rest plus lots of liquids, perhaps some aspirin and some vitamins, may help relieve the pain and assist in the recovery.

The trick is really to avoid the hangover.

Some go to extremes in trying to avoid a hangover, including taking a teaspoon of butter which they claim will line their stomach with enough oil and fat to counteract the alcohol. I have only found one way to minimize the chances of a hangover.

Do you notice that you pee more often when you drink? That's because alcohol blocks the creation of vassopressin. Without this chemical, your kidneys send water directly to your bladder instead of it being absorbed by your body. Studies have shown that you will dispel four times as much liquid as gained. So that dry mouth, nausea, and headache you feel is actually the result of dehydration. (Source)

So to avoid the hangover, you have to drink water. And lots of it.

Water.

Drink water while you ingest alcohol.

Drink water even if you aren't thirsty.

Drink water when you get home.

I always have bottles of water in my car. I also keep a bottle of water at my bedside. If you are lucky and end up in a motel, remember that motels also have complimentary bottles of water.

So drink water and be ready for the next party!

(Photo by psychedelicyaya)