Drinking alcohol is a common practice worldwide. Whether it is a social event, celebration or a simple way to relax after a long day, drinking alcohol has become a part of people’s routines.
However, with this habit comes the undesirable consequences of a hangover. While there is no actual hangover cure, there is one thing that can help prevent it; water.
What is a Hangover?
A hangover is a collection of unpleasant symptoms such as headache, fatigue, dehydration, and nausea, among others.
It is a result of drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, which causes the body to produce an inflammatory response that results in these symptoms.
How Does Alcohol Affect the Body?
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases urine output, leading to dehydration. When you consume alcohol, your kidneys produce more urine than usual, which can lead to dehydration.
The symptoms of a hangover such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and fatigue are mainly due to dehydration caused by alcohol.
How Does Drinking Water Help?
When you drink alcohol, the best way to avoid and reduce hangovers is by drinking water. One reason for this is that water can help you stay hydrated. It can also help flush out the toxins in your body that contribute to hangovers.
Drinking water before, during, and after drinking can also help reduce the severity of a hangover.
Water can help prevent dehydration that is associated with alcohol consumption. It can improve the body’s ability to excrete waste and help with the proper functioning of organs such as the kidneys and liver.
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Hydrate before you inebriate
This can reduce the amount of time it takes the body to process and eliminate alcohol.
How Much Water Should You Drink?
The amount of water you should drink while consuming alcohol depends on your body type, gender, age, and alcohol tolerance. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended that you drink one glass of water for every alcoholic drink consumed.
The recommended amount of water consumption for an adult is 64 oz. per day. However, this amount may vary depending on individual needs and lifestyles.
Ideally, you should always have a bottle of water with you while drinking alcohol and sip from it regularly to stay hydrated.
Other Tips to Avoid Hangovers
Aside from drinking water, there are other ways to avoid hangovers. These include:.
- Eating a hearty meal before drinking alcohol to reduce the absorption rate of alcohol in the bloodstream.
- Avoid mixing different types of alcohol to reduce the risk of intoxication and hangovers.
- Limit alcohol consumption to a low or moderate amount. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate alcohol consumption for women is one drink per day, and two drinks per day for men.
- Avoid drinking alcohol at a fast pace to reduce the risk of intoxication and hangovers.
- Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of intoxication and hangovers.
- Get enough sleep after drinking to allow the body to process and eliminate alcohol.
Conclusion
Drinking alcohol is a social norm for many people. However, it often comes with undesirable consequences. One of the most common consequences of alcohol consumption is a hangover.
Water is a simple but powerful solution to avoid or reduce the severity of a hangover. Drinking water before, during, and after alcohol consumption can significantly help prevent dehydration, flush out toxins, and facilitate the body’s processing and elimination of alcohol.
Additionally, following other tips like eating a hearty meal before drinking, avoiding mixing different types of alcohol, drinking alcohol at a slow pace, and limiting alcohol consumption can also help prevent or reduce hangovers.
