by Laura Johnson

Created on: March 12, 2009

It starts out as dinner with friends. You have a couple of beers with dinner, and then decide to hit up a local bar afterward. At the bar you drink a few more beers, a couple of shots, and a mixed drink. A friend then suggests to end the night dancing at the hottest nightclub in town. At the club, you down a couple more shots, chased by more beer. By the end of the night, you've lost track, but you've had at least 10 drinks. You know tomorrow is going to be rough. Sound familiar? If a night of partying, dancing, and drinking with friends leaves you out of commission the following morning, you may be searching for a miracle cure for your hangover. Unfortunately, it takes time to completely erase the effects of the alcohol. Here are five steps to put you back on the right track to feeling well again.

1. Hydrate yourself. A night of heavy drinking can leave your body extremely dehydrated, which in turn leaves you with dry mouth and a scratchy throat. Start off with a cup of black coffee or tea. Besides the comfort of the warm liquid, the caffeine will also help to alleviate a headache. Drink lots of water throughout the day. Orange juice also helps by providing essential Vitamin C. At first you may find it difficult to gulp so many liquids, but it really is crucial to your recovery.

2. Replenish your energy with food. In order to start your day off right, you need a good breakfast. The best option would be a meal that contains both carbs and protein, such as a breakfast sandwich. For lunch, eat something healthy and with a high water content, such as a salad with grilled chicken.

3. Pop a Multivitamin/Vitamin C. Vitamins may help your body to regain the important elements it needs to recover. You're already halfway there to curing your hangover. You should be feeling better already.

4. Shower. Alternate with blasts of hot and cold water. This will not only help to wake you up, but it will also make you feel cleaner, refreshed, and ready to face the day.

5. Sleep. Even if you sleep eight hours after a night of partying, your body will only feel like you've gotten two or three. A long nap will work wonders for your body. So, if you have the luxury of taking a nap during the day, this will help tremendously.

You can take this one step farther and prevent hangovers before they occur. For every alcoholic beverage you consume, drink one glass of water to counteract the effects of the alcohol.

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