When it comes to drinking, it’s all fun and games until the morning after. You know, that next morning, “why did I do this to myself” feeling. If you’ve been there before, then you probably wonder if there’s a magical method to prevent those awful hangovers. While they may not be magical, we do have a few tips for preventing hangovers.

Preventing Hangovers: Tips to Avoiding the Morning After

Drink Moderately

The first trick in preventing hangovers is really no trick at all. Although it may not seem like the most fun option, drinking within moderation is the best way to prevent a hangover. In short, drinking moderately means having a modest amount of alcohol. It also means drinking that alcohol over a longer time span. Instead of loading up on drinks quickly, have a couple over several hours throughout the night.

Drink More.. Water

Another great way for preventing hangovers is to drink more water. Dehydration plays a huge part in causing hangover symptoms and making them much worse. So in order to prevent that, you want to remain well hydrated. The problem is alcohol works against you by causing dehydration.

So one way to help you stay hydrated while drinking is to alternate between alcohol and water. For each glass of alcohol, drink a glass of water afterwards. This can help you balance your water and alcohol intake, thereby staying hydrated.

Eat Hearty Foods

Eating can certainly be a great way of preventing hangovers. But the key is that you want to be sure to eat before you begin drinking. By doing this, you can help slow down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. It can also give your body the fuel it needs to process alcohol correctly. So in addition to eating, you want to choose some hearty food options. Both fat and protein work well in slowing that process and fueling your body.

Choose Your Drink Carefully

Congeners are toxins in alcohol that tend to make hangover symptoms worse. So if you’re finding that you are constantly suffering from bad hangovers, it could be because of your drink choice. Therefore, another way of preventing hangovers is to avoid certain alcohols that are high in congeners.