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your poison
As most serious drinkers know, some drinks are more likely to give
you a hangover. This depends on the toxic chemicals, or congeners,
present in alcoholic drinks. On a scale of least (and therefore
less likely to result in a hangover) to most (to give that head
kicked in by a gorilla feeling):
- Vodka.
- Gin.
- Scotch.
- Single Malts.
- Brandy.
- Rum.
- Bourbon.
For non-spirits, the list is:
- White wine.
- Beer.
- Lager.
- Cider.
- Red wine.
- Port.
Also, the old rule of not mixing grape (wine and Cognac) with grain
(beer and whisky). Sticking to one type of drink is good, and as
a general rule the darker and sweeter the drink the more likely
it is to cause a hangover.
Prevention.
1) Eat
before drinking, as food slows down the rate of alcohol absorption
and protects the lining of the stomach.
2) Don't mix drinks.
3) Don't smoke. It makes you want to drink more because alcohol
causes arteries to expand, whereas nicotine causes them to contract.
Not good for a happy morning after.
4) Drink a pint of water before retiring. Alcohol is a diuretic,
anddehydrates your body. Replacing this lost water at the earliest
possible time will help you liver and kidneys no end.
5) Take evening primrose oil. It apparently boosts liver activity,
and therefore the enzymes that break down alcohol. Although both
sexes have these enzymes in their livers, only men have them in
their stomachs, so we can start breaking down alcohol earlier! Nice
one....
Cure.
1) Drink as much water as you can take without going insane. As
before, it replaces water lost due to the dehydration effects of
alcohol.
2) Take vitamin C, such as in fresh fruit juices, which neutralises
the effects of alcohol.
3) Exercise will help sweat out the toxins, and get your metabolism
shifting. Although the chances of going for a run on a hangover....
4) A good balanced breakfast. Alcohol stimulates the production
of insulin which reduces blood sugar levels and causes effects such
asdrowsiness, trembling and hunger. (ie. coma, DTs and munchies.)
5) There is a homeopathic remedy for hangovers called "Nux
Vomica" (seriously!) available from health food stores.
Remedies.
These recipies are the more "traditional" methods of curing
hangovers. I take no responsibility if these make you feel worse
than you already do.
Hilda's Hangover Cocktail.
1 large bottle of tomato juice.
3 Tbs Vinegar.
1 lemon.
4 slices of onion.
3 Tbs sugar.
4 stalks of celery.
3 Tsp Tabasco Sauce.
Salt and Pepper.
Mix ingredients in a
container, allow to stand for as long as possible, preferably overnight
although that means actually predicting a hangover. Which of course
is impossible. Strain and Serve.
Hangover
Breakfast.
Tomato Juice.
Black Coffee.
2 Raw Eggs.
Aspirin.
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