On this final level, you (all of us?) could also be questioning if there’s a foolproof approach to bypass stated hangover signs—and one of many tips is likely to be to slay your hydration recreation earlier than imbibing. To see if ‘pre-hydrating’ has the potential to cease a dreaded hangover in its tracks, we requested Kim Rose, RDN, CDCES, CNSC, a registered dietitian nutritionist primarily based in Florida, for her knowledgeable intel.
Is pre-hydrating earlier than ingesting alcohol the last word hack to stop a hangover?
“The human physique is composed of roughly 60 p.c water, and extreme alcohol consumption can result in dehydration,” Rose says. It’s essential to keep in mind that alcohol is a diuretic—which means it revs up the excretion of water from the physique. An excessive amount of water loss with out replenishing it may well result in dehydration, which may compound a hangover (after which some).
Now, for the principle query of the day: Will downing H2O earlier than having fun with a cocktail, glass of wine, or no matter your grownup beverage of alternative could also be *actually* assist stop a hangover? In a single phrase: maybe. “Whereas no analysis helps the notion that ingesting water earlier than ingesting alcohol can stop inebriation, ingesting a glass or extra of water alongside each alcoholic drink will help rehydrate the physique, which can end in milder hangover results,” Rose says. And naturally, whether or not or not you’re going to sip on alcohol, staying persistently hydrated is important to help every little thing out of your immune system to your temper, psychological well being, power ranges, and extra.
Associated Tales
An RD’s suggestions for staying hydrated (whether or not or not you’re ingesting alcohol)
Once more, whereas pre-hydrating earlier than ingesting alcohol could mitigate the consequences of a hangover, rotating your alcoholic bevs with water is one other expert-approved hack to make the subsequent day extra nice and fewer painful. With that stated, your greatest wager will likely be to make hydration a precedence day in and time out.
Whereas suggestions for day by day water consumption differ by the supply and as a consequence of a bunch of things, Rose provides a baseline suggestion that may be useful—particularly if you understand you don’t down sufficient H2O. “As a basic rule, the Nationwide Academy of Drugs suggests 13 eight-ounce cups of water for wholesome males, and 9 eight-ounce cups for wholesome ladies,” she explains. But once more, there are lots of variables to contemplate that can affect the best consumption way more so than intercourse alone. As an example, Rose cites the temperature of the setting, altitude, your bodily exercise, and age as only a few of the numerous.
Pivoting again to alcohol and hydration, your drink of alternative may additionally affect how a lot H2O it is best to intention on the day you imbibe. “For instance, the consumption of a extra concentrated alcoholic drink—for example, a combined drink versus crimson wine—could warrant a larger enhance in water consumption,” Rose says.
Rose additionally takes care to notice that it’s not simply how a lot water you drink day by day that issues, but additionally how a lot you drink all through the day. (Learn: Chugging a liter or two at dusk to make up for water loss earlier within the day gained’t fairly steadiness issues out—to not point out doing so will seemingly hinder your sleep high quality if it’s essential to make twilight journeys to the lavatory.) “Since water is misplaced by means of sweat, exhaling, and the gastrointestinal tract—to call a couple of—it’s best to sip on water as quickly as you get up within the morning,” Rose reminds us. “Throughout waking hours, contemplate it a greatest apply to drink fluids step by step all through the day.”
“Since water is misplaced by means of sweat, exhaling, and the gastrointestinal tract—to call a couple of—it’s best to sip on water as quickly as you get up within the morning,” Rose reminds us. “Throughout waking hours, contemplate it a greatest apply to drink fluids step by step all through the day.”
The underside line
All issues thought-about, pre-hydrating earlier than ingesting alcohol actually isn’t a nasty thought—and doing so could doubtlessly prevent from a gnarly headache, nausea, and the just like the day after. Nonetheless, one of the best factor you are able to do to remain hydrated, whether or not or not alcohol is concerned, is to make constant hydration a built-in element of your day by day routine.
Should you’re the sort to go up on H2O as a result of its taste isn’t to your liking, Rose suggests discovering a supply that you just really get pleasure from ingesting. “Relying on the supply, water can have an off style,” says Rose. “Good-tasting water makes correct hydration simpler earlier than, throughout, and after an evening of ingesting alcoholic drinks.”
So should you’re on a mission to maintain hangovers at bay *and* stage up your larger hydration recreation, Rose recommends investing in Berkey Filters for house use. “They naturally take away over 99.9 p.c of viral, pathogenic, pharmaceutical, and different contaminants, which creates water that tastes good whereas leaving its pure minerals intact,” she says. Cheers to that.
