In Part I of our “How to Cure a Hangover” series, we talked about the importance of staying thoroughly hydrated with NON-alcoholic beverages to avoid the “brown bottle blues.” Most of us are probably pretty good at staying hydrated on the alcoholic kind.
In this post, we will talk about ways to slow alcohol absorption, and increase its metabolism.
Part 2 – Absorption and Metabolism
This is a two pronged approach to curing your hangover. By slowing the absorption of the alcohol, it gives your body the time it needs to properly metabolize the alcohol. As the same time, by speeding your metabolism of alcohol, your body doesn’t need as much time to absorb the alcohol. We’re attacking the problem from both ends.
In order to slow alcohol absorption, eat a big, protein filled dinner before going out to party. Protein blunts the absorption of alcohol. Food also reduces the irritation of your stomach lining, so that you feel less queasy the next day. But don’t worry, you can still get plenty drunk, it just won’t be at warp speed. Think Ford Mustang rather than Formula 1 Racer.
Speaking of race cars, you can also pace yourself during the night and avoid getting blinding drunk altogether. Not only do you absorb alcohol slower (your pouring it down your throad slower), you don’t drink nearly as much, leaving you more hydrated.
And, speaking of hydration (you love how this all flows together, huh?), why not have a glass of water or juice between drinks to help pace yourself. Or better yet, eat a little, drink a little alcohol, drink a little water, repeat. You get the best of both worlds!
Speeding alcohol metabolism is another trick you can use to blunt the effects of a night out partying.
It is rare that advocate a big, carbohydrate filled meal, but these are special times. A late night slice of pizza or bowl of pasta can help speed the process by which your body absorbs the alcohol. The cheese on the pizza, and the carbohydrates from the crust and pasta are rich in amino acids which also help increase the body’s metabolism of alcohol. The tomato sauce contains fructose, a sugar that speeds alcohol metabolism.
That is why you sometimes see people drinking spicy tomato juice following a night out drinking. The fructose combined with the fluid have both a metabolizing and hydrating affect on the body.
So, that’s it for part two. Stay tuned for part III – Replacing Lost Nutrients - coming soon.
Here’s to safe and hangover free partying!
Sources for the hangover series (Parts I-IV) include:
Men’s Health, 2/2005
Filed under: Blog, Entertainment, Food, Hangover, Health, Health and Fitness, Misc, Miscellaneous, New Years, Party, Random, Thoughts | Tagged: Health
is this ben philip’s blog? wowza its gd. anyways you posted a comment on my page so thanks and just wanted to check who it was
[...] Part II focuses on tips you can use to make your absorption of alcohol slower, and your alcohol metabolism faster to prevent hangovers. [...]
How is it possible to have not been caught by a hangover?