Have you ever been to a bachelor party and woken up the next morning with a heavy head, nauseous feeling, and an overall sense of regret? In this guide, we'll cover ways to prevent the seemingly inevitable hangover from a bachelor party.
The Science Behind Hangovers
Let's demystify hangovers: when you consume alcohol, it gets broken down in your liver into a compound called acetaldehyde. This is a toxic compound in itself, and it then breaks down further into other substances that are mostly harmless. When you drink excessively, your liver can't keep up to break down acetaldehyde quickly, which leads to inflammation - a cause of many hangover symptoms.
Additionally, alcohol acts as a diuretic. This means that it makes you urinate more frequently and dispel electrolytes, magnesium, and other vitamins and minerals. Due to this, many people end up dehydrated after drinking a lot of alcohol, which makes hangover symptoms worse.
Preparing for a Bachelor Party
Hydration Before the Party is Crucial
An excellent way to prepare your body for a night of potential excess is to hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more. Start your day with a big glass of water (or two) and keep drinking water throughout the day. Remember, alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you urinate more frequently, which leads to dehydration.
Here is the recommended daily intake of water from physicians at Harvard:
| Age | Daily Adequate Intake |
|---|---|
| men, 19 and older | 13 cups, or 104 ounces |
| women, 19 and older | 9 cups, or 72 ounces |
| pregnant women | 10 cups, or 80 ounces |
| breastfeeding women | 13 cups, or 104 ounces |
Eating the Right Foods
Before you start drinking, make sure to have a substantial meal. Foods rich in vitamins, proteins, and fats can slow down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream, allowing your liver to have a better chance of keeping up with your alcohol intake.
Limiting Alcohol Intake
Yes, it's a bachelor party, and yes, there will be alcohol. But who said you need to overindulge? Try to pace yourself and remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint! One easy way to moderate your alcohol intake is to drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink. This has the added benefit of keeping you hydrated, because again, alcohol is a diuretic. You've probably heard this advice before, and while it can be hard to follow, it truly works to prevent hangover symptoms.
Take an Electrolyte Supplement Designed to Prevent Hangovers
When you urinate frequently, your body loses electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals. In essence, this makes your body more dehydrated and makes hangover symptoms worse. You can avoid this by taking a hangover prevention supplement like PREGAME. Keeping your body full of the nutrients that it needs to function is an important step to avoiding a hangover.
We recommend avoiding supplements that contain sugar, as you will likely already be consuming a lot of sugar throughout the night, which can also lead to bad hangover symptoms. That is why we've developed PREGAME to contain no sugar. It's an electrolyte and vitamin powder specifically designed to prevent hangovers using scientifically backed ingredients that help your body stay hydrated and replenish key nutrients lost during a night of drinking.
Dealing with a Hangover Post-Party
Rehydrating Your Body
If you wake up with a hangover, hydration is key. Drink water, fruit juice, or rehydration solutions to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes. While hydration after the fact is important, it's important to stress that once you have a hangover, the only thing that will truly get rid of it is time. So it's best to avoid getting hungover in the first place.
Eating Post-Party
Hungry? Opt for easy-to-digest foods like toast and cereal. They can help to raise your blood sugar levels without irritating your stomach. It's important to get a good meal into your body after a night of drinking.
The Importance of Quality Sleep
Alcohol can disrupt your sleep, leaving you feeling fatigued. So, catching up on sleep can help you recover. After breakfast or brunch, sometimes the group needs a nap and that's okay!
Long-term Solutions for Managing Hangovers
Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle
If you frequently suffer from hangovers, you may want to reevaluate your drinking habits. You should follow the advice given above in this guide. In addition to that, regular exercise, a balanced diet, and good sleep can significantly enhance your body's ability to cope with alcohol.
Limiting Alcohol in General
If you've built a tolerance to alcohol, then you need more alcohol to feel the same effects. Research also shows that you may not reach the same positive effects when you've built a tolerance - you will drink more and not feel as good. Given this, reducing your tolerance, and thus, the amount of alcohol that you need to drink to feel its effects, can be helpful in preventing hangovers.
FAQs About Hangover Prevention for Bachelor Parties
- How long does a hangover usually last? Typically, hangovers last for about 24 hours but can vary depending on alcohol consumed and individual health factors.
- Are there any quick fixes for hangovers? Unfortunately, there are no magic cures for hangovers. Rehydration, rest, and a balanced diet can help manage symptoms, but once you have a hangover waiting is the only thing that will cure it. It's best to prevent getting hungover in the first place.
- Is it safe to exercise with a hangover? Exercise might help you feel better, but it's important not to push too hard as your body is already stressed. You should also be careful while working out during or soon after drinking in case you are still intoxicated.
- Does coffee help with hangovers? Coffee can help with fatigue, but as it's a diuretic, it might worsen dehydration. Water is the best choice.
- Are there supplements that can help with hangovers? Yes, but mainly as a preventative measure before, during, and immediately after drinking. Supplements like PREGAME are a great choice. Once you have hangover symptoms, there is no quick fix to get rid of them.
