by Louanne Cox

Created on: January 30, 2008

Hangovers are caused by dehydration, it seems strange that the more (alcohol) you drink the more dehydrated you are. They are also caused by a lack of the vitamin B complex and vitamin C, something in the alcohol depletes them from your system. The third cause of a hangover is acetaldehyde, try saying that when you've had a few drinks! Acetaldehyde is a toxic by product of alcohol metabolism, it occurs when the liver is breaking down the alcohol. It also gives you the effect of a mild overdose of antidepressants. It causes your organs to work hard to detoxify your system. All of these factors lead to the headache, nausea, tiredness and shakiness we can experience.

Preventing a Hangover

How to cure a hangover, well the best way is to prevent it from occurring. What no drinking? I hear you say and while that is definitely an option it is not the only way to prevent a hangover. According to Dr Weisse, on the TV show "What's Good for You" it takes a three prong attack.

Step One

Take a glass of water for every glass of alcohol you drink throughout the evening. This does not mean taking it all at once at the end of the night as you will overload your kidneys. Alternating the drinks will ensure that you have full hydration which allows your system to handle the alcohol.

Step Two

When you do get home drink a sports drink before going to sleep. This will make sure that your electrolytes remain balanced and also help keep you hydrated.

Step Three

Take a paracetamol before going to bed. The experiment that they ran on the show showed that this working. Dr Weisse believes that it probably helps to stop the inflammation before the symptoms start to occur.

Another solution which I am sure a lot of us have tried is the effervescent vitamin B. Some people take this before going out, others when they get home and yet others take it in the morning when the headache is pounding. As your system is depleted this seems to be a good idea, it does not appear to stop the hangover, but it does help your body to recover.

Eating while you are drinking is also a good idea. Although food does not, contrary to popular opinion, absorb alcohol it does increase metabolism. This means that it increases the speed in which the body absorbs the alcohol.

Hangover Cures

Well you wake up and realize that you didn't take any of the steps above and you've got a dry mouth, throbbing head and are feeling really sorry for yourself.

Get up and take a multi vitamin tablet washed down with a glass of orange juice and

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