Hangovers are the unpleasant aftermath of alcohol intoxication.
They strike hardest after alcohol has left your body and are characterized by headache, fatigue, thirst, dizziness, nausea, and a loss of appetite.
Hangover remedies abound, but the evidence behind them is limited or hypothetical.
Even so, a few strategies do show potential.
Here are 7 evidence-based ways to prevent hangovers, or at least make them significantly less severe.
1. Avoid drinks high in congeners
Ethanol is the main active ingredient in alcoholic drinks, but they also contain varying amounts of congeners.
When sugar-fermenting yeasts produce ethanol — simply referred to as alcohol in this article — congeners are formed as well.
Congeners are toxic chemicals that include methanol, isopentanol, and acetone.
Alcoholic drinks with high levels of congeners seem to increase the frequency and intensity of hangovers.
Two studies suggest that methanol, a common congener, is strongly associated with hangover symptoms.
Drinks high in congeners include whiskey, cognac, and tequila. Bourbon whiskey is exceptionally high in congeners.
On the other hand, colorless drinks — like vodka, gin, and rum — have low levels of congeners. Vodka contains almost no congeners at all.
In studies that compared the effects of vodka (low in congeners) and whiskey (high in congeners), both the frequency and intensity of hangovers were greater for whiskey.
Summary: You can significantly reduce the severity of hangovers by drinking low-congener beverages, such as vodka, gin, or rum.
2. Have a drink the morning after
Treating a hangover by having another drink seems paradoxical, yet it is a famous hangover remedy.
Although this habit has not been proven effective, there is some interesting science behind it.
Simply put, drinking more alcohol is believed to affect the metabolism of methanol, a well-known congener found in trace amounts in some drinks.
After drinking, your body converts methanol into formaldehyde, a highly toxic substance. Formaldehyde may be partly responsible for many hangover symptoms.
However, consuming alcohol the morning after drinking heavily can inhibit this conversion process, preventing formaldehyde from forming.
Instead, methanol is discharged harmlessly from your body via your breath and urine. That’s why ethanol is often used to treat methanol poisoning.
That said, having another drink in the morning is strongly discouraged as a hangover remedy — as it may simply delay the inevitable.
Morning drinking is often associated with alcohol dependency, and mitigating a few hangovers is not worth risking your health.
Summary: Drinking more alcohol the next morning is a famous hangover remedy. However, this risky method may do more harm than good.
3. Drink plenty of water
Alcohol is a diuretic, making you pee often.
Therefore, alcohol can contribute to dehydration.
Although dehydration is not considered a main cause of hangovers, it may contribute to symptoms like thirst, headache, fatigue, and dry mouth.
Fortunately, dehydration is easy to avoid — just make sure to drink enough water.
A good rule is to drink a glass of water — or another non-alcoholic beverage — between drinks and to have at least one big glass of water before going to sleep.
Summary: Drinking plenty of water can help reduce some of the main symptoms of hangovers, including thirst and headache.
4. Get enough sleep
Alcohol can interfere with your sleep.
It can impair both sleep quality and duration while disrupting your entire sleep schedule if you stay up too late.
Although poor sleep doesn’t cause most hangover symptoms, it may contribute to the fatigue and irritability often associated with hangovers.
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Getting plenty of sleep after heavy drinking can help your body recover.
If you are unable to sleep in and take it easy the next day, getting drunk may not be such a good idea.
Summary: Alcohol can impair your sleep quality. Give yourself plenty of time to sleep in after a night of celebration.
5. Eat a healthy breakfast
Hangovers are sometimes associated with low levels of blood sugar, a condition known as hypoglycemia.
They also tend to be more severe in people with low blood sugar.
Although hypoglycemia is not a major cause of hangovers, it may contribute to symptoms, such as weakness and headache.
After drinking, having a nutritious breakfast or a late-night meal might help maintain your blood sugar levels.
Summary: Eating a good breakfast is a renowned hangover remedy. It can help restore blood sugar levels, which mitigates some hangover symptoms.
6. Consider supplements
Inflammation helps your body repair tissue damage and fight infections.
Evidence suggests that many hangover symptoms are caused by low-grade inflammation.
Some anti-inflammatory drugs are quite effective against hangovers.
Many plant-based foods and medicinal herbs may also reduce inflammation and help prevent hangovers.
Supplements that impact hangovers include red ginseng, ginger, and prickly pear.
Prickly pear is worth highlighting. This is the fruit of the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica, which is believed to be native to Mexico.
In one study in 55 young, healthy individuals, taking prickly pear extract five hours before drinking reduced the risk of a severe hangover by 62%.
Although they won’t completely prevent a hangover, particular plant-based supplements might significantly ease your symptoms.
Summary: Certain dietary supplements — including prickly pear, red ginseng, and ginger — may reduce hangover symptoms.
7. Drink in moderation or not at all
The severity of hangovers increases with the amount of alcohol you consume.
Suggested read: 7 science-based health benefits of drinking water
For this reason, the best way to prevent hangovers is to drink in moderation — or abstain completely.
The amount of alcohol needed to produce a hangover varies among individuals.
Some people need only 1–2 drinks, but most need much more. About 23% of people do not appear to get hangovers — no matter how much they drink.
Summary: The severity of hangovers is directly related to alcohol intake. Limiting or abstaining from drinks are the best ways to prevent a hangover.
Summary
Alcoholic hangovers refer to adverse symptoms — dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea — that appear when people sober up after excessive drinking.
Several strategies may help reduce the severity of hangovers. These include getting adequate sleep, having a hearty breakfast, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding drinks high in congeners.
But the best way to avoid hangovers is to drink in moderation or abstain completely.
