Knowing how to avoid a hangover might come in handy when going to a party where people will be drinking alcohol. Have you ever gone to a party and drank so much that the next day you had a terrible headache, loss of appetite, dehydration, nausea, dizziness, body aches and even diarrhea? If so, you were experiencing a hangover. Hangovers are basically a mild and temporary version of what drug addicts suffer when they experience withdrawals. It's nature's way of warning us that we are harming out bodies. Following you will find clever tips on avoiding hangovers.

Naturally, the best way to prevent a hangover is not to drink at all. Hangovers are caused by a combination of dehydration, toxins in the drink, withdrawal from alcohol, and depletion of blood sugars, vitamins and minerals. That terrible headache you experience the day after is caused by dehydration, because alcohol has a diuretic effect. Because the brain is dehydrated, you may feel dizziness and irritability. If you do plan to keep drinking, the following items will help you in your quest to prevent having a hangover next time:

• Bottled Water
• Vitamin C
• Pasta
• Bread
• Ibuprofen
• B-Complex vitamins

Everyone is different; some can drink more than others before getting intoxicated. Remember this general rule: limit yourself to 3 drinks in 1-2 hours, and no more than 5 drinks in one night. http://www.forbes.com/2006/12/12/gatorade-excedrin-tylenol-ent-hr-cx_mf_1212hangover.html Also, females are more susceptible to hangovers because of their lower metabolic rate (caused by their higher ratio of body fat). http://www.taft.cc.ca.us/newTC/StudentServices/health/alcohol.htm Did you know that vomiting after drinking too much is actually a good thing because you allow your body to quickly dispose of some of the alcohol in your system? You will be thank yourself in the morning.

Eat a meal before you start drinking. Carbohydrates such as pasta or bread will help slow down the absorption of alcohol. Also, drink a glass of milk before alcohol. It coats the lining of your stomach and slows the absorption of alcohol, like the carbohydrates. Consuming fatty foods combined with alcohol will lead to increased weight gain/fat mass and perhaps a fatty liver. A fatty liver may be much less able to metabolize alcohol.http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-a-Hangover

Choose light-colored liquors such as vodka and gin over dark liquors (like brandy or whiskey). Light-colored liquor has fewer congeners, which contribute to hangovers. Studies show that hangover symptoms varied by the type of alcohol consumed. Choose less concentrated drinks (beer over whiskey). http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-a-Hangover

Drink water to stay hydrated before, during and after alcohol consumption. Alcohol makes you urinate more, which can lead to dehydration. Sports drinks are also good since they replenish glucose and electrolytes. An easy way to stay hydrated is to have one glass of water after each drink. Make sure you don't drink caffeinated beverages; those act like diuretics also, and will only make you urinate more.

Stick with one type of alcohol. Mixing drinks will only lead to a terrible hangover the next day. Also, avoid very sweet drinks that disguise their alcohol content. Don't think you're drinking less because you're drinking white wine instead of Jack Daniels and Coke. Carbonated drinks like sparkling wines actually speed up the absorption of alcohol, so stay away from these. Also, the more expensive brands of alcohol undergo a more extensive distillation process that removes many of the congeners that make you ill.

Take a B-Complex vitamin with vitamin C before and after you drink alcohol. A deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1) makes it harder for your body to break down alcohol. Did you know that beer actually contains a substantial amount of thiamine? Do not mix any pain relievers with alcohol. It's safe to take a pain reliever like Ibuprofen the next day to combat the side effects of the hangover. http://www.drinkfocus.com/articles/hangovers/hangover-prevention.php

Studies have shown that people who are not happy, who have a neurotic personality, who are depressed and have suffered negative life events in the past 12 months will suffer worse hangovers than people who haven't. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/314/7073/2 Don't drink while you are tired, sick, or stressed, it will only make things worse because your body is already functioning poorly and can't process the alcohol as well as it normally can. http://www.drinkfocus.com/articles/hangovers/hangover-prevention.php

The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a physician before using the advice in this guide.