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!

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