Drink lots of water. Alcohol is a diuretic; it dehydrates our cells, causing us to feel tired, headachy and generally out of sorts. The sooner you can start replenishing your supply of H20, the faster you'll start to feel healthy again.
Get plenty of salt and potassium. Heavy drinking purges the body of these two important electrolytes, which together help transport and distribute nutrients and water throughout your body. To restock your body with these two essentials, try a sports drink (most contain ample amounts of both sodium and potassium), or eat a potassium-rich kiwi or banana and have a serving of broth made from bouillon cubes.
Fill up on fruit juice. Fruit sugar (fructose) is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, so any kind of juice will give your energy level a big boost -- fast. In addition, some studies have shown fructose to play a part in speeding up the rate at which the body eliminates toxins -- including those from alcohol. Orange and tomato juices are good bets, since both are also rich in nutrients such as vitamin C.
Don't forget your B and C vitamins. Supplies of these two are severely depleted when you drink -- thanks again to alcohol's diuretic effect -- so when you're consuming alcohol, your system needs these vitamins more than ever. There's no time like the morning after a big night out to load up on supplements. Better yet, get your dose naturally in a glass of fresh-squeezed fruit juice.
Caffeinate or pop a painkiller. Alcohol causes blood vessels to swell, which can also lead to serious head throbbing. Caffeine counteracts that, but since it's also a diuretic, limit yourself to just one cup of coffee. If that doesn't work, use ibuprofen, but skip aspirin -- it could help heal your pounding head, but this over-the-counter drug is known for wreaking havoc on a tender tummy.
Stick to light, low-fat foods. Because alcohol can upset your digestive system, it's important to line your stomach with food while you're drinking and the day after, too. Plus, a balanced meal will help restore your nutrient supply. Just remember: No matter how tempting it may be, steer clear of fatty and/or fried food the morning after, because it'll only make your stomach feel worse.
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