Hangovers 101

So what's the quickest road to recovery? The first step may be to realize what's going on inside your body.

Why hangovers happen:

Hangovers can happen after as little as 3 drinks. A typical 150 pound man's body takes about an hour to metabolize one ounce of alcohol and if you're like me, those shooters pile up.

Since different alcohols have different ingredients, combining the mix with the various impurities in alcohol can lead to a massive hangover. Congeners, the byproduct of fermentation, can lead to a hangover that will rock your world so hard you thought you got laid. Gin and vodka contain the least while bourbon, red wine, brandy, whiskey, tequila have the most.

Ever hear the rule beer before liquor never been sicker, liquor before beer you�re in the clear? Well, if you listened to that when you were a kid like I did then I hope your body was able to handle the mix. The carbonation speeds up the absorption of alcohol. Drinking a nice cold beer after a hard shot of Jagermeister will give your body less time to metabolize the alcohol and leave you with a hangover that will make you like a horses ass.

So, how do we get better?

Raw eggs and stiff smell DO NOT make you better.

While some home remedies may work, the thought of gin and cream, tuna surprise and raw meat don't really wet my appetite. So here are a few steps towards the road of recovery

DRINK WATER.
Everyone knows this however. Water dilutes the toxins, balances dehydration (one of the causes of hangovers) and cleans you right up. Adding sugar or home helps balance out blood sugar levels and soothes an upset stomach. Here's a little secret: Sports drinks. Chug down one of these babies and the extra ingredient (electrolytes) will beat that hangover to a bloody pulp.

Even better, DRINK JUICE.
Juice not only does all those things water does with honey and sugar but the various vitamins and minerals will take the place of everything your body lost the night before.

EAT Fruit:
Although a giant big mac or a greasy plate of fries may seem appetizing, these foods contain so few nutrients that all they will do is you full and pass out for a few more hours. This does work however but if you need to get up and move then I wouldn't suggest this. Fresh fruit cleanses and rehydrates your system of lost electrolytes and potassium

COOKED Eggs
This has been an age long secret of mine for ages. Eggs are high in protein, zinc, vitamin B and your body can digest these babies like no other. The large amounts of amino acids beak down even more toxins in your body and they're mighty tasty.

TAKE Vitamins:
Taking vitamins has also been another method of mine. Your body aches because it's missing something. Well here it is. After a heavy night of drinking, your body will have used up all it's vitamin C due to the diuretic effect of alcohol in your body. Also as everyone knows, even though it doesn't seem like it sometimes, alcohol is a downer. This can lead to increased anxiety and stress due to the heavy use of vitamin B in your body. Lesson is, TAKE a B-complex and C vitamins.

INGEST Pain-relievers
This step is debatable. Purists prefer to tough it out but sometimes a hangover isn't just a pounding headache and an upset stomach. While this route only hurts your liver more, sometimes it's unavoidable if you wish to have a semi-productive day. Avoid Tylenol, it can cause sever liver damage after a night of drinking.

In the end the only thing that heals a hardcore hangover is a little rest, time and a relaxing day.