by Ronnee Ruselle

There are as many so-called remedies for curing a hangover as there are types of drinks at your local cocktail bar. Unfortunately once you have the hangover you cannot speed up your recovery from it. Your liver will process the alcohol at the rate it needs to and you're along for the ride. But with a little pre-planning you can lower your chances of a hangover and how bad the side-effects are from it.

Sleep - This and Water are the two most important elements of curing a hangover. Drink Water - Do this before you do anything else. Alcohol dehydrates your body, causing the body to take the water it needs from your brain and other essential areas. This is why you end up with a headache.

The ideal thing to do is to ensure that you drink plenty of water leading up to the big night out. Drinking a glass of water between each alcoholic drink will go a long way towards stopping the headaches. If you forget, then at least drink water to help recover from the hangover.

Drink less - Depending upon your size, age, how much you've eaten and your metabolism, you will have a limit to how much alcohol your body can safely consume. If you find that you normally have trouble remembering your nights out, then chances are you need to slow down. Take sips instead of gulps and buy smaller glasses or spread them out. It will be putting less toxins into your body and keeping more money in your pocket. Tip: Instead of taking your credit card, take a limited amount of money and once you've spent it, that's your hint to leave or drink water. Spread out your drinking by buying coke or other drinks in between alcoholic ones.

Vitamins - As drinking depletes vitamins from your body, it's important to replace them. Vitamins A, B (esp. Vit B6) and C need to be replaced. Consider vitamin enriched juices such as passion fruit, orange or tomato. A healthy meal can help too. It may settle the stomach and return some of the much needed vitamins.

For Nausea - Ginger (possibly in the form of a cup of ginger tea), ginseng, coffee and coke can help with the nausea and give you a little pick me up. Bananas help with nausea, replace lost potassium and the fruit sugar in them helps pick you up too.

Ultimately when you wake up feeling like death warmed up, take a pain killer for the headache, have a nice warm bath or shower to help refresh you, eat a nourishing meal (take vitamin supplements too if you have them) and rest. Remember that ultimately drinking alcohol is the same as taking poison into your body. Of course it's going to feel bad afterwards.

Wishing you a swift recovery from your hangovers!