That's Fit

Savvy consumers can buy organic meat, organic dairy products, and organic fruits and vegetables. But did you know you can also drink organic alcoholic beverages? Not only that, according to one columnist, they might just be the solution to your hangover problem.

Sean Evans over at NY Daily News recently tried a decidedly unscientific experiment. He went out one night and drank about nine too many organic drinks at a bar. After a couple days to rest and recover, he repeated the experiment with more conventional choices. Both nights he ended up laying in bed with the room spinning. But the morning after he drank organic-only drinks, he claims his hangover was minimal at best. Compared to the head-pounding, nausea-inducing hangover from his second night out, he says that his "organic hangover" was a breeze.

Of course, That's Fit readers know that bingeing on any kind of alcohol can be dangerous, or at the very least isn't a healthy habit. But if you know you're hitting an end-of-summer party and know you need to be at your best the next day, you might try this experiment yourself and see if Evans is barking up the right bar stool.

After a booze-fueled night out, you'll probably find yourself gorging on junk. But don't let a few too many shots derail your diet.

I've never been a craaaaazy drinker, but I definitely had my fair share of times when I threw back one ... er, make that four or five too many. And, I've been to enough ragers to know that I'm not the only one. But it's usually around four o'clock in the morning -- when you're stumbling around, looking for someone to hook up with ... only to realize that your ride has left you and the only people left are you and a few stoners who fell asleep on a coffee table -- that you know you're in for it the next day.

Fortunately, as we get older we tend to make smarter decisions. This is especially helpful since we also fare much worse with hangovers as the years pass. One thing that doesn't change, however, is the ravenous appetite a long night of drinking can leave you with the following day. Even as your head pounds, the earth spins, and your throat burns like the Mojave desert, many times you're still in the mood for some chow (save for the times when your stomach doesn't exactly find that plan to be copacetic).

This is largely due to dehydration and low blood sugar levels. Hunger is your body's way of calling you an idiot and telling you that it needs to be replenished with fluids and nutrients. Do give into this craving; take sips of water throughout the day and eat foods high in protein and vitamins and minerals. That should at least curb your appetite. As for your hangover, well, I can't help you there.

Did you drink too much green beer over the weekend? If so, I have a sneaking suspicion that you're not alone. You've probably heard of some crazy hangover "cures" at one time or another. A University of Michigan doctor has laid down the truth about hangover cures:

• Soda. Kind of true. The sugar and caffeine in soda may give you a temporary jolt of energy, but beware the later sugar crash.
• Greasy food. False. If eaten before drinking, food will act as a "soaker" and delay the absorption of alcohol. But as a hangover cure it doesn't do much of anything except maybe restore some of the salt and blood sugar you lost (but you can also restore that by much healthier means).
  
• Sports drinks. True. Electrolytes can be depleted by drinking alcohol so sports drinks are quite likely to make you feel a bit better.
• Ibuprofen. True. Be sure to take any painkiller with food and it's best not to take them with alcohol. The day after, ibuprofen or Tylenol may help your achy head and muscles.
  
• Coffee. False. Not the best idea, the caffeine will alleviate some symptoms but will make you more dehydrated.
• Orange juice. False. The sugar will temporarily boost your energy, but the vitamin C doesn't seem to have any effect on a hangover.
• Activated calcium carbonate. True. Found in Tums and some OTC hangover remedies, this will help neutralize stomach acids.
• Burnt toast. False. It's a complete old wives' tale. This will do nothing more than make your kitchen smell like burnt toast.
• Bananas. True. Eating a banana will help you restore some of the potassium you lost.
• Drinking more alcohol. False. It only delays the inevitable hangover.
• Water. True. Alcohol dehydrates you. Drinking water will help replenish your fluids.

Everyone has a theory on what it takes to cure a hangover. Some will suggest drinking Pedialyte or Gatorade to restore electrolytes and reduce dehydration. Others claim that the 'hair of the dog' method works best. And some believe that taking vitamins can offset the effects of alcohol.

Truth be told, there really is no such thing as a hangover cure. The Pedialyte/Gatorade approach is a good idea, as dehydration is part of what makes you feel so crummy. But, it's still not going to "cure" your hangover. The classic "Hair of the Dog" approach is not a good idea, for it requires you to keep drinking more alcohol. More or less, all you're doing with this method is prolonging the inevitable. As for popping vitamins, this won't really do much, either.

In pill form, vitamins are not absorbed very well by the body. And, since alcohol will only further hinder this absorption, your efforts at replenishment will likely fall far short.

The only "cure" for a hangover is to simply wait it out and be sure to stay hydrated. Oh yeah, or don't get drunk in the first place. That one works every time.

I tend to think that moderation is the best way to go when it comes to most things, including alcohol consumption. However, I'd be a liar if I said I always followed my own rule. We all overindulge from time to time -- sometimes it can be easy to get carried away when you're having a good time. Despite the resulting hangovers, life goes on and we all have to pay for our overindulging.

If you find yourself in a situation where you've woken up with a raging headache, nausea, red eyes (etc) and don't have the luxury of laying around all day recovering in front of the TV, here are some tips from AOL's All About You on how to look good if you're hungover but still have to go about your daily life.

With yesterday's game coming down to the wire the way it did, there were very few people who left their respective Super Bowl party early. There have been plenty of Super Bowls that turned out to be completely one-sided blow-outs; making a third quarter or early fourth quarter departure from a party perfectly okay. Not yesterday, though. That game literally came down to the last play, so leaving early was not an option. For some, this also meant that there was at least one more full quarter of boozing, and today you may be feeling the effects.

Chances are, you've heard your fair share of hangover cures over the years. In fact, you've probably heard plenty of drinking tales, too. But, the truth is that most of them are nothing more than myths. If last night's Super Bowl party is causing your head to feel like its being sacked by Michael Strahan, don't listen to people who tell you to drink a mimosa or try any other misguided method. Just the same, don't believe all those tired "liquor before beer" sayings, either.

Here is a WebMD list of popular drinking myths, many of which you've possibly already had suggested to you this morning by co-workers:

Myth #1 - A MORNING MIMOSA EASES A HANGOVER

Myth #2 - POPPING ACETAMINOPHEN BEFORE YOU GO TO BED MAKES MORNING EASIER

Myth #3 - DRINKS WITH FEWER CALORIES ARE ALWAYS A HEALTHIER CHOICE

Myth #4 - EATING BEFORE BED WILL ABSORB THE ALCOHOL AND MUTE A HANGOVER

Myth #5 - WINE IS BETTER FOR YOU THAN BEER

Myth #6 - DRINKING THROUGH A STRAW GETS YOU TRASHED FASTER

Myth #7 - IF YOU WEIGH THE SAME AS YOUR BROTHER, YOU CAN MATCH HIM DRINK FOR DRINK

Myth #8 - IF THE DRINKS ARE FREE, THE CALORIES DON'T COUNT

Myth #9 - BEER BEFORE LIQUOR, NEVER SICKER

Ok, it's New Year's Eve -- the one night where the whole world parties in unison, and chances are, you're going to be enjoying a few with friends and family, and as long as you do so safely, go for it! But nobody likes a bad hangover, so here are some things to keep in mind:

• EAT! It's not often that we tell you to eat more, but when you're drinking it's a must -- trust me, I've been there. If you drink on an empty stomach, you will feel 100 times worse tomorrow than you will if you ate a big meal.
  
• Alternate. Water is key to preventing a hangover so for every alcoholic beverage you have, have a glass of water.
  
• Stick to what you know. Mixing is killer, and so is pounding back shots. Stick to a drink you know doesn't make you ill -- clear liquids often do the trick. For me, beer is killer (especially from a keg) but white wine rarely gives me a hangover.
  
• Take Supplements. According to this eDiets article, taking vitamins B and C and Primrose oil before going to bed will help.
  
• Avoid taking Tylenol and Aspirin. But to take another painkiller to quell the throbbing headache.
  

Here's an interesting take on the European approach to alcohol consumption entitled "Booze, Brits and Binge Drinking." In the piece, the author poses the question of why British youngsters seem to act irresponsibly with alcohol, as compared to the French, for example. I think this is a perfectly relevant question for my generation, especially over here across the pond.

I mean, it's no secret that the quintessential American college experience has more to do with football and booze than grades and learning. So why haven't we young people learned to drink responsibly yet? This is a polarizing question by design, of course, because there are many people my age who manage to drink in a sensible way. But the danger comes from those who haven't learned how, as it only takes one trip behind the wheel to ruin other people's lives too.

Is it a matter of setting bad examples? The article points a finger at people who teach that it's okay to binge drink your night away, blacking out only to wake up with the mother of all hangovers. Can't remember the night before? Then it must have been fun. Or maybe its the age at which we're exposed to it (or supposed to be)? The French seem to teach responsibility early on... very early on. Children as young as 4 could have watered-down variants. It's legally 18 for the British (and 21 over here). Some people think it should be lowered in the US! Is that the answer? It's a complicated question with many complicated elements to consider, but in the end its up to those boozing it up.

Pounding headache, a tongue that feels like cotton, miserable fatigue -- holiday parties might be fun, but the day after definitely isn't. You've got big party plans for this weekend, what can you do to make sure it doesn't take you the remainder of the weekend to recover?

WebMD tells us why hangovers happen in the first place, as well as the best ways to prevent them:

• Choose your drink wisely. Some alcoholic beverages are thought to cause worse hangovers than others. Vodka and gin, for instance, may be better than brandy or whiskey.
• Eat before that first drink. Having food in your stomach will slow the alcohol down.
• Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Not only will you reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, you'll also replenish the fluids that you're losing.
• Drink a big glass of water before you go to bed. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes your body to lose water.
• Take something for the pain you're sure to experience in the morning before you fall asleep. Avoid acetaminophen, which shouldn't be mixed with alcohol.

Of course, knowing that those alcohol calories are empty calories, you could also just not overdo in the first place. Here's to a safe, happy, hangover-free holiday season!

It's hours away from starting ... the Biggest Party Night of the year!! I find it amazing that the night before Thanksgiving has somehow stolen the title from New Year's Eve, but as long as good times are being had, I'm all about it. Speaking of good times ...

Tomorrow (you know, when the actual holiday occurs) many people will enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with a bevy of loved ones. The people who may not enjoy it so much, however, are those who enjoy tonight a bit too much. It's very easy to let a couple of drinks become a couple more than you should be drinking, which may cause you to wake up feeling -- shall we say -- less than jovial.

Here are a few tips that may help reduce (note: not cure, just reduce) your hangover, thereby making a three hour sit down dinner with your annoying cousins at least bearable:

1. Pop an Ibuprofen. This will help reduce the pounding headache from which you're likely suffering.

2. Drink Plenty of Water. Common knowledge, I think. Alcohol can cause you to become dehydrated, so it's vital that you replenish your body the following day. After a while, switch to Gatorade or Powerade to also replace the electrolytes you've lost. Some people feel that drinking coconut water, due to its high levels of potassium, is a great way to rehydrate.

3. Eat a Healthy Meal. Although eating fatty and greasy foods may help absorb (for lack of a better word) some of the alcohol in your system, more important are foods rich in magnesium and potassium, such as bananas, whole grains, and, as mentioned, coconut water.

4. Don't Skip Your Morning Cup of Joe. If you're a regular coffee drinker, avoiding your morning cup may cause a bit of caffeine withdrawal, which will only serve to increase the severity of your already pounding headache.

Remember, none of these measures will help eliminate a hangover entirely, so keep that in mind tonight when you're out on the town.

I try to avoid fast food at all costs, but after my birthday celebration last week, I found myself a bit under the weather the next day. Ok, really under the weather. So I sent Jon out to grab me something -- anything -- from the nearest fast food joint, because it's common knowledge in my social circle that greasy food is the best cure for the day after a big night.

I'm not alone -- greasy fast food is the main choice of people feeling under the weather due to their own accord, according to this article from eDiets. But while greasy foods might help you keep from getting too drunk if you consume them the night before, I'm not so sure they're all that helpful the next day -- what do you think? What do you do for a hangover?

Yoga has a number of therapeutic benefits for both your body and soul. But here's one you might not have thought of -- using yoga as a natural remedy for your aches and pains. iYogaLife has a series of articles on yoga postures and exercises that can help with common ailments like heel pain, eye strain, chest congestion and yes, even a hangover.

In all honesty, I think we're far to reliant on drugs to numb our pain these days, whether they're over-the-counter, prescription or other. So to see something like this that offers natural, constructive advice on deal with common ailments is really quite awesome. And while doing yoga might not give the instant gratification that taking an aspiring would, you're doing something better for yourself in the long run.

What do you think of yoga as a treatment for what ails you?

So how did your weekend go? Depending on what stage you're at in life you may have spent Friday and Saturday nights out socializing, maybe drinking a little too much? Hopefully it's not a regular habit (among other negative health effects drinking can really pack on the pounds) but dealing with a hangover is always a challenge. This article lists all kinds of information to make your hangover as mild or nonexistent as possible, with tips for before you go out, while you're out, after you get home, and even for the day after. Some are pretty much common sense (like drinking lots of water), but are there any that surprised you? Personally I hadn't heard the B6 idea before (I'll have to make a mental note to remember that one!).

Ah the hangover. Nature and your body's way of telling you you've gone way overboard. Unfortunately for some of us, it's a lesson we just can't seem to learn. I spent 8 hours driving home from a long weekend getaway yesterday and every one of my friends and I were feeling pretty rough in the car. I'm not naming names, but some had to pull over for a speedy emergency roadside pit-stop (I will say that it wasn't me!).

If you've known the pain of too much drinking and want help for similar situations in the future, or are currently suffering and need aid now, take a look at this article on natural remedies for the dreaded hangover. Sleep and gentle exercise are two easy suggestions, but if that won't cut it the piece also suggests trying B vitamins (B6 and B12) as they help flush out your overworked liver. For a few more ideas, you can see the article here. Of course, the best plan is moderation (but we all know that sometimes even the best of intentions can be ruined by a party that turns into a runaway).

Have you got any great hangover cures that you swear by?