St. Patty's Day is here which means a lot of fun and frivolous drinking will go down this weekend! Here's how you can prevent that horrible hangover:
1. Drink Gatorade or coconut water. It's smart to have a glass of water between drinks so you don't get dehydrated . . . but coconut water or Gatorade is even better. They hydrate you AND replace electrolytes, which are nutrients you lose when you drink.
2. Take vitamins. Hangovers aren't JUST about dehydration. Inflammation and the production of free radicals in your body also make you feel like crap. Antioxidants help with that, so pop a multivitamin, or drink acai or pomegranate juice before going out.
3. Order a burger instead of a salad. The severity of a hangover is directly related to how you metabolize alcohol . . . and THAT depends a lot on what you eat.
You want to eat a meal that contains carbs, protein, and fat BEFORE you go out drinking . . . and red meat has an especially high concentration of amino acids and B vitamins that help process the negative byproducts of alcohol.
4. Stick with clear liquor. Vodka and gin have fewer toxins and impurities than dark spirits like whisky and rum.
Have fun and STAY SAFE!