The wrath of the spirits ...and how to get rid of your hangover

You chugged water, popped pills and even rolled in the sheets to ease that throbbing headache, nausea, dizziness and general misery that often follows an intense night of drinking. Here then are some tips from experts on how to cure the after-effects of alcohol, plus tips to avoid them the next time.

- Nivedita Jayaram Pawar

The only way to avoid a pounding head and queasiness is to drink in moderation, or to stay away from alcohol entirely. But that’s easier said than done. With festivities and new year just around the corner, it’s easy to overindulge and go overboard. Most people ring in the new year with a splitting headache and a sandpapery tongue. No wonder that ‘hangover cure’ tends to be the number one Google search on New Year’s Day. According to experts, preventing a hangover is better than trying to find a cure for it.

BEFORE YOU DRINK

Eat before you sip 

The severity of a hangover isn’t just related to how much you drink, but how you metabolise alcohol, and that depends largely on what you eat. “What you eat after drinking doesn’t matter. It’s what you eat before is what can help lessen the hangover. Make sure you eat a meal containing carbs, protein and fat before you take your first sip of alcohol,” suggests Keval Soni, beverage manager at The Westin Mumbai Garden City. Eating high protein food before your drinking session (egg whites, fish steak) helps slow the absorption of alcohol. The longer it takes the alcohol to reach your bloodstream, the longer it takes you to become intoxicated.

Pop some pills