Curing and Preventing Summertime Hangovers

With the warm weather comes all kinds of indulgent summertime activities: happy hours, street fairs, pool parties, boozy outdoor brunches and more. And with the festivities, your audience may find themselves enjoying a few cocktails and then experiencing the effects of too much alcohol.�

We all have an idea of ways to prevent and deal with the dreaded hangover; however, we often overlook common sense and could benefit from insights shared by Romy Block, MD, and Arielle Levitan, MD, authors of "The Vitamin Solution" and co-founders of Vous Vitamin.

Their tips for hangover help:

Drink Water, and Lots of It
Since alcohol dehydrates the body, begin and end your night on the town with plenty of water. If you're out for several hours, alternate between alcoholic beverages and a glass of water.

Eat
Be sure to eat before or while drinking because drinking on an empty stomach significantly increases your rate of intoxication. Having food in your stomach -- particularly, proteins, fats and dense carbohydrates -- helps dilute the concentration of alcohol in your belly and slows the absorption process.

Caffeinate
Studies have shown that caffeine may help relieve a hangover-induced headache. Makes sense -- the stimulant is often found in over-the-counter headache medications. However, Drs. Block and Levitan do not recommend drinking beverages that combine caffeine and alcohol, as these drinks are generally not safe. Save your caffeine for the morning after.

Replace Electrolytes
Combat the diuretic effect of alcohol by replacing electrolytes with a sports drink or a supplement, like Vous Vitamin Recovery Act, which contains thiamine, folic acid and magnesium. The unique formulation was inspired by a fluid used in hospital settings to treat heavily intoxicated patients, and works by replenishing nutritional deficiencies and preventing alcohol from binding to certain cell receptors in the brain. The Recovery Act supplement also can be used to prevent a hangover, and comes in a handy pocket pack so you can take one and share one with a friend.

Sleep
While alcohol may help people fall asleep faster, it has been shown to disrupt sleep patterns and results in a night of poor quality sleep. After too many cocktails, try to rest and recuperate with time.