by Susan Z. Miller

Created on: December 07, 2009

The only 100% foolproof way to dodge a hangover is to avoid consuming alcohol. Now if you're reading this article, you've probably already missed your chance at sobriety, right? If you have found yourself with the head throbbing, stomach churning symptoms of a hangover, you are not alone. The website How Stuff Works reports that more than 75% of alcohol consumers have received a hangover at least once. There is not a definite "cure" that works for everyone to kick that awful day-after-drinking illness. But with a little bit of planning, you can enjoy a few drinks with friends without regretting it the following day.

(1) Plan ahead by eating healthfully and drinking plenty of water.
The best offense against a hangover is actually a bit of defense. If you know you are going to be consuming alcohol, plan ahead by drinking lots of water throughout the day. Make sure to also eat 3 healthy meals. Most alcohol is actually absorbed through the small intestine. If there is food in your stomach, this will help to prevent the alcohol from speeding right into your small intestine. You have probably heard that food in your stomach helps to absorb some alcohol, and this is true.

(2) Take a vitamin B6 supplement during the day.
Studies have shown that vitamin B6 improves your body's ability to fight a hangover. Beware of supplements that claim to prevent hangovers if you take them while drinking. These often contain super high doses of B6. More than 500 milligrams per day can be dangerous for your system. An appropriate amount of B6 would be two doses of 50 milligrams each. Take one after lunch, and one after dinner, since taking supplements on an empty stomach can cause a tummy ache. Also, make sure to look for all natural vitamin supplements. Synthetic ones, such as Centrum, are not effectively absorbed by the body.

(3) Carefully choose what you drink.
Try to select one type of alcoholic beverage and not mix different kinds. The saying "beer before liquor, never been sicker" is an absolute myth. If you drink enough of any alcoholic beverage, regardless of the order in which it is consumed, it will make you feel sick.

(4) Drink light colored beverages.
As a general rule of thumb, the darker the alcohol, the harder it is on your body. Light colored alcoholic drinks such as white wine, vodka, and gin contain less congeners. Congeners are byproducts of the fermentation process, and are toxic to your system. The highest levels of congeners are found in dark beverages such as

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