Dehydration is the culprit for most of the nasty effects of a hangover, while the queazy feeling is caused by the direct action of alcohol irritating the stomach lining.

If you know that you'll be drinking moderately or quite heavily, then how do you set yourself up so you don’t wake up with the hangover from hell?

Before going out

• Drink lots of fluids all day (it's good for you anyway). Dehydration is responsible for the nastier effects of a hangover so it is best to hydrate your body before going out.
  
• Protect the stomach lining with a glass of milk – it helps to slow the absorption of alcohol, meaning you won’t get drunk as quickly and be tempted to drink far too much far too early.
  
• Eat a good meal. One school of thought is to allow yourself on this one occasion to eat a fatty meal, as fat is digested slowly and will protect the stomach from the irritating effects of alcohol. However, another approach would be a more healthy option: eat a variety of foods that are broken slowly, which will give you constant energy during the night. Protein-rich oily fish such as herring or mackerel, along with liver-detoxifying vegetables like broccoli or celery, are thought to be a good option, but not as mmm as the fatty meal.
  
• Consider taking a supplement – such as vitamin C (recommended) or evening primrose oil – to lessen the effects alcohol has on you.
  
• Artichoke extract, milk thistle and the Chinese herb kudzu are all found to protect the liver from the damaging effects of alcohol (and all three are widely available here in Minot, lol).

While you are out

• Don’t do it to yourself. The simple answer is that drinking too much alcohol is the root of your problem, so try not to overdo it. Not drinking is the best form of prevention – but then we have to be realistic!
  
• Try alternating water or non-fizzy soft drinks with alcoholic ones to limit the amount of alcohol you consume as well as rehydrating the body as you go. Fizzy drinks should be avoided as they increase the amount of alcohol getting into the bloodstream.
  
• Think about avoiding wines and spirits that contain colorings and additives. These are likely to contain substances called congeners which magnify the effects of a hangover and irritate the stomach lining. This is why white wines and clear spirits such as vodka generally cause a less intense and prolonged hangover.
  
• If you’re in a fit state and it is safe, then consider walking home in the fresh air to help lessen the effect of your hangover.
  
• Take a ‘healthy option’ snack bar to ward off any late-night food cravings, and to prevent you opting for the late night greasy breakfast.
  
• Avoid salty snacks which only have the effect of making you more thirsty, meaning you consume even more alcohol.

When you get home

• Before going to bed, drink as much fluid as you can reasonably get down, and perhaps some orange juice – vitamin C speeds up the metabolism of alcohol by the liver. This may mean you spend half the night going to the toilet, but that is better than the alternative of a bad hangover.
  
• Try eating something simple like toast to ward off that shaking feeling in the morning – and it will help to settle your stomach too.