7 of 18

Write now Article Tools

For many people drinking, at least in the early stages, feels so good that it's easy to want more, to have more, to lose track of how much you've had, and to forget the horror that awaits you the next morning. It's natural to want to extend the sense of warmth, the glow of goodwill, the relaxed, ebullient feeling, but waiting in the wings is the Killer Hangover.

There are various types of hangovers. Some are relatively mild, involving not much more than a headache, a sense of dryness and a craving for greasy food. You know you probably had a bit much the night before, but you can still function. Some are so severe they almost warrant hospitalization.

Anyone who has ever suffered a mega-hangover, will never forget the sensation. The inability to keep down anything at all, whether it's water, paracetamol or even just a cup of tea. The agony lancing through every nerve in the body, and the absolute conviction that you are going to die. When you are in the grip of one of these, you are virtually incapacitated. Going anywhere or doing anything is not only excruciating, but ill-advised. You are probably still over the limit to drive, and nobody likes to witness public vomiting, a distinct danger for someone in this condition.

There are ways to prevent this type of hangover from occurring. It's pointless to say don't drink'. People always have, and probably always will, so damage control is the name of the game. It's well known that pacing yourself with water will help alleviate your hangover symptoms the next day. Some argue that a sports drink before bed is just as effective, if not more so. I haven't tried this, so I can't testify to its accuracy. But there is an option that has helped me to avoid the onslaught of the Hangover from Hell'. It's eating cheese.

It's well documented that eating a good meal before you drink slows down the absorption of alcohol, and its subsequent effects. This is because alcohol is absorbed most quickly and efficiently through the small intestine, rather than the stomach. When food is eaten first, the valve at the bottom of the stomach closes, in order to hold the food there for digestion. This prevents the alcohol from reaching the small intestine, and the alcohol that is absorbed from the stomach is done so more slowly and less effectively.

With the absorption of the alcohol being suppressed by food, the body is also able to eliminate the alcohol that is absorbed, at a faster rate. This is because the body's ability to clear the alcohol

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Homemade cures for a hangover?
We want to hear your view. Write now!