5 Wine Habits That Are Causing Your Hangovers
Is there a better holiday than National Drink Wine Day? Whether you sip red or white, we hope you enjoy a nice tall glass of vino when you're done with work today. We also hope you take the necessary precautions to avoid a massive hangover tomorrow.
In honor of this singular holiday, we've pinpointed five bad wine drinking habits you've likely been guilty of in the past that result in hangovers. Below are our tips for correcting each of these bad habits, with the hope that you rarely have to flirt with a hangover again. Also, don't miss 100 Easiest Recipes You Can Make for dinner ideas that you can pair with tonight's cup of wine.
You're not drinking enough water
It's easy to forget to drink enough water during the winter months. Cooler temperatures may make you feel like you don't need to drink as much water to stay hydrated, but that's not necessarily the case. While our individual needs are different, women generally require about nine 8-ounce cups of water a day, whereas men need about 12.5, Sakiko Minagawa, MS, RD, LD previously told Eat This, Not That!
Drinking several glasses of wine can dehydrate you—especially if you haven't consumed an adequate amount of water throughout the day. This may result in a gnarly hangover the following morning.
Tip: Try drinking a glass of water in between glasses of wine to stop your hangover in its tracks.
You're drinking on an empty stomach
This is a classic college mistake! It's so important to eat food before drinking alcohol. Without it, your stomach speeds up your body's absorption of alcohol.
Tip: Consider eating a balanced meal full of carbs, proteins, and fats before you imbibe to avoid a dreaded hangover tomorrow. Try one of these 50 Healthy Recipes to Make in 10-Minutes (or Less) if you're in a time crunch!
You're not taking advantage of sulfite-removing tools
One direct way that alcohol contributes to hangover symptoms? When you drink too much, your blood vessels widen, which can result in a nasty headache. However, there's another potential cause for headache: sulfites. While there isn't a lot of scientific evidence as to why sulfites could cause headache, some people do appear to be more sensitive to this preservative.
Tip: If you believe sulfites may be tampering with your wine night, consider treating your glass of red wine with Drop It. The solution uses proteins that bind to the tannins in wine to precipitate the sulfites out.
You're not taking a non-drowsy antihistamine
Maybe it isn't the sulfites in your wine that are giving you a massive headache immediately after drinking—or even the next day. Histamines could also be to blame, which some people can't metabolize. Consider taking a non-drowsy antihistamine, such as Allegra or Claritin, before drinking wine to help prevent feeling like you have a bad hangover.
Tip: If you'd prefer not to take allergy medication, The Wand from PureWine is another excellent way to purify your wine and rid it of both histamines and sulfites.
You're drinking way too much
At the end of the day, only you know your limit. For some people, one glass of wine is enough to prompt a hangover the following day. On the contrary, others can handle much more and feel completely fine the next morning. If you notice yourself cruising past what you normally consume, consider taking a step back.
Tip: Before you go out with friends for drinks, set a goal for many glasses of wine you want to have to avoid mindlessly drinking all night long—which can feel almost too easy to do!
For more, be sure to check out The Worst Drinking Habits for Blood Pressure, According to the Mayo Clinic.
