A hangover is caused mostly by-products of alcohol, and one particularly nasty chemical by the name of acetaldehyde. It may be responsible for the worst of your hangover. After you ingest alcohol, your body breaks it down into (among other things) acetaldehyde, before converting it into less harmful substances. The acetaldehyde causes the pain in your brain and at the same time a host of depleted minerals are short-circuiting your nervous system, as well as low blood sugar and the classic headache-and-dry-mouth caused by dehydration. The result: nausea, twitchy nerves, unpleasantness, pessimism, terrible brain pain, and a temporary suspension of balance.



The severity of a hangover varies according to . . .

- The amount you've guzzled in a given period of time

- Your own innate enzymatic capacity to deal with the poisons

- Your age

In essence the more you drink in a short amount of time, the more you'll feel the alcohol. One's weight is also a factor (the less you weigh, the more you'll feel it), as is a genetic predisposition. Finally, the older you get, the more you'll feel the alcohol the next morning.

So, what can be done? well the easiest solution is to drink less and responsibly. Also prepare for a night out. Try to get a good base of pasta or other carbohydrate in your system. The reason that food is so important is because it' will help to soak up the alcohol so that it doesn't all go directly into the bloodstream.

Hydrate hydrate hydrate. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Every glass of juice or water you drink at night is worth two in the morning. Alcohol acts as a diuretic. You need to replace that liquid.

So the basics are to eat, drink (water), and you'll be merry in the morning.

There are poisons besides alcohol that contribute to a brutal hangover. Chemicals called congeners occur naturally in all fermented drinks. The general rule is that darker drinks, such as red wine, bourbon, scotch and brandy have more congeners than lighter drinks like white wine, vodka, and gin. Also keep in mind that whatever your drink's color, the cheaper it is, the more poison will be in it. So avoid cheap booze. Red wine also contains an extra hangover-inducing poison called tyramine. So be especially careful of a double whammy with cheap red wine.

Alternate alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages. This simple measure will help keep you hydrated. Fruit juice (which is particularly good at re-hydrating the body is an especially good choice. Another good choice is soda water with a lime or lemon. It looks like you are having a cocktail so you won't have to worry about feeling uncomfortable without a "drink" in hand.

Consume less than one drink per hour. Your liver breaks down alcohol at the rate of about a beer, glass of wine, or shot, an hour, so spreading out the drinking over the course of an evening will lessen the likelihood of a hangover.

When you get home drain the contents of a very large, very full glass of water. Drink as much water as you can even if it is unpleasant. If you prefer, drink some orange juice or Gatorade. The thing is, you need electrolytes, which will keep you hydrated.

Finally, remember that you shouldn't take analgesics (that is, headache medicine) of any kind at this stage. Some folks pop pills as a preventative, even though the inevitable headache hasn't yet arrived. This isn't a good idea. Aspirin upsets the stomach and aggravates the symptoms of a hangover. Acetaminophen (Tylenol), when mixed with the alcohol still in your bloodstream, might cause your liver to explode (and you REALLY don't want that). If you want to take a pill, a multivitamin might help by replenishing some of the B vitamins that have vanished from your body through the course of the night.

In the morning lay off the coffee. Any sort of caffienated beverage will aggravate dehydration. At this point it is probably better just to take an aspirin instead. And the old "hair of the dog" cure does not work either. It's just going to prolong you hangover.

However, there are some things that are great to put into your body to ease the pain and assist rapid recovery, including rest and a little-known substance called cysteine. Cysteine directly counteracts the poisonous effects of acetaldehyde. I also found that the following milkshake is so loaded with the anti-toxins your body needs, that it can really help ease your hangover and get you feeling like a real human being again.

1. Take 2 aspirins

2. Take 200mg cysteine (available at specialty food stores)

3. Take 600mg vitamin C

4. Take 1 tablet vitamin B-complex

5. Mix the following ingredients together in a blender:

- 1 banana

- 1 small can V-8

- 6 large strawberries

- 2 tablespoons honey

- 1 cup orange juice

- 1-2 cups milk (or soy milk), to desired consistency

- ? tsp. salt

- dash of nutmeg

6. Prepare this the night before indulging and drink it all up the morning after.

A few other quick cures I found that seem to have some credence are:

500-1000 mgs aspirin, a rehydrating sports drink like Gatorade, and one 25 mg Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate) tablet which will drive vertigo, and nausea.

- Eat a banana as they contain potassium which is guaranteed to revitalize your body after a heavy session.

- Excedrin Migraine. Its got a little bit of caffeine, pain reliever and anti-nausea medicine. Although I shy away from the caffeine, some swear by it.

- Pedialite Popsicles. They taste better, have the same effect as regular Pedialite which tastes terrible and work just as quickly. It's also easier to keep the ice down when you are feeling sick and it's nice and cold to help your pounding head.

Good luck and party safely!