Five Ways to Beat a Hangover

Remember, the only surefire way to avoid a hangover is to not drink at all.

Get Pumped
At first, it may seem to only increase the pain, but exercise gets the heart pumping harder and helps oxygenate the body. Even something as minor as a light jog could help get you back on track.

Drink Up!
Alcohol is a diuretic and some hangover symptoms, such as headaches and a dry mouth, come from dehydration. Downing a few glasses of water (or a sports drink rich in electrolytes) before you hit the sack will help keep your body balanced.

Leave it to a Pro
Alcohol can irritate the lining of the stomach, leading to nauseous feelings the next day. Taking a probiotic supplement, like acidophilus, has been claimed to help restore your stomach's natural flora balance.

Go Bananas
If you're feeling down the morning after, a banana milkshake might be just the thing to pick you up. Rich in minerals, bananas help restore your body's magnesium and potassium, which are severely depleted during drinking. Plus, both the milk and the banana will help soothe an unsettled stomach.

Pear with Me
According to one study, drinkers who took prickly pear extract found that it helped prevent nausea and dry mouth, and even boosted their appetite. Unfortunately, the prickly pear is not a magic bullet as the study indicated that it did not affect other hangover symptoms.

Of course, we are not doctors. Please drink water, eat bananas, get light exercise, ingest pear extract and take a probiotic supplement at your own risk!