EASTON, Md., January, 11, 2013—If holiday partying walloped you, one of your New Year’s resolutions may be to be quit drinking. But for those who want to imbibe without suffering the next day, to avoid a hangover just follow these seven simple tips:
1. Drink lots of water throughout the evening since the major cause of morning-after headaches is dehydration. Drink at least as much water as alcohol, preferably switching off between a glass of one and then a glass of the other. Also, drink an extra big glass of water before bed.
Photo Credit The Wine Coach
2. Slow down and savor you drinks. Not only will you enjoy it more, but your kidneys can only handle 3-4 oz. per hour, so pace yourself.
3. Make sure you eat since food will help slow down the absorption of alcohol.
4. All drinks are not created equal with regard to their hangover causing potential. Congeners, like tannins from red grape skins, are natural by-products of alcohol fermentation. The higher the congener content in your drink, the greater the hangover you can expect. Clearer liquors like gin and vodka have the fewest congeners, whereas darker liquors like bourbon and red wine have the most.
5. Drinks that have carbonation including Champagne or sparkling wine as well as mixed drinks with sodas and tonics will hit your bloodstream faster than their bubble-free counterparts. The carbonation is thought to create pressure in your stomach pushing the alcohol into your system faster than drinks without bubbles. (One exception is beer. Although it’s carbonated, it’s generally much lower in alcohol than wine or spirits.)
6. Many people who wake up with a wine headache will blame sulfites which are usually not the culprit. Sulfites have been used safely to preserve wine throughout history. If you know you are allergic to sulfites, try organic wines that are lower in sulfites. Sulfites naturally occur in wine, so it is impossible to find a wine that will have no sulfites.
7. Women process alcohol slower than men due to their higher percentage of body fat, lower body weight and lower levels of the stomach enzyme dehydrogenase, which works to break down alcohol. Keeping pace with the guys may give you bragging rights, but not only will you be more intoxicated but you are far more apt to wake up with a hangover.
Happy New Year!
Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach®, is a wine educator, radio show host and author of the award-winning book “The Sipping Point: A Crash Course in Wine.” Her specialty is delivering wine edu-tainment for corporate events, group tastings and team-building seminars. She is also a sought after guest expert on radio shows across the country, including Martha Stewart Radio.
Read more of Laurie’s work at The Sipping Point in the Communities at the Washington Times.
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