Happy New Year! What kind of day will January 1st 2008 be? Will you rise and shine or crawl back into bed and pray your hangover will go away?

My niece Victoria asked me why adults drink to celebrate things. I told her it’s because being intoxicated gives us a feeling of euphoria, it helps us be less self conscious and it breaks down barriers to those around us. We drink because we want to be happy and social.

But I also warned her that drinking to excess is akin to poisoning yourself. Above all, be careful and be responsible. When you drink alcohol faster than your body can absorb it, you get intoxicated and a hangover occurs. Byproducts of alcohol in your bloodstream, dehydration, loss of sleep, low blood sugar and headaches are all symptoms to guarantee you’re going to be miserable the next day.

Watch out for those hangovers!

Here are some quick tips on making sure you’re going to have a Happy New Year, or at least one that’s not so miserable:

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR DRINKS
Because it’s easy to lose track over how many drinks you’ve had after your second drink, mark an “X” on the back of your hand with a Sharpie to remind yourself and others how many drinks you’ve had. Know your limits! When you have your limited X’s, stop. I got this great idea from my sister Talia. I’m limiting myself to three.

PRE-HYDRATE
Order a glass of water with every cocktail, wine or beer. You’ll still get tipsy but you won’t suffer as much from the dehydration you get from drinking booze.

GO CLEAR
Studies show that clear alcoholic beverages like vodka have less of the impurities that cause hangovers than brown ones such as whiskery, scotch, dark rum, red wine or beer. Although, some people claim that they can drink as much vodka as they like and not be hungover, this simply can not be. You will get a hangover if you drink too much. If you hear your friend say “I can drink a whole bottle of Grey Goose and not be hungover,” you can confidently call them delusional and self-destructive. Still for some, booze is booze and for some it doesn’t really make much of a difference.

GO EASY ON THE BUBBLY
Some studies show that carbonation, the bubbles in champagne, beer and other fizzy drinks actually speed up absorption compared to non-carbonated wine. One glass of Champagne at midnight really may be enough.

Okay, so still got hung over the next day, what’s the best way to heal as soon as possible?

RE-HYDRATE
Drink Gatorade, water or anything that will help with the dehydration caused by drinking the night before. Got an upset stomach? Bland chicken soup will help soothe your bowels.

EAT FRESH FRUIT BEFORE AND AFTER
Watermelon, papaya, mango, cantaloupe all have vital nutrients and sugars that help the body heal. Even having some when you come home that night will do wonders to help you heal the next day.

COMFORT FROM COMFORT FOOD
Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and meat-loaf all share in common they are starchy, greasy and helpful in balancing out your body. BUT! If your stomach is irritated then avoid these heavy foods and simply eat shaved ice, pureed apples and chicken soup.

MILK THISTLE AND CHARCOAL TABLETS
Okay, they wont help you feel less of a hangover, but studies show that taking Milk Thistle MAY protect your liver from damage from alcohol, which is a big MAYBE. The best way to prevent it altogether is not to abuse your liver in the first place. A lot of these “hangover pills’ active ingredient is activated charcoal. Activated charcoal binds to everything in your stomach (both good and bad) and helps your body get rid of it. Some say it works, others say it just a placebo. If you do take it, make sure you take these supplements with plenty of water and don’t be alarmed the next day, charcoal will make your stool look black or green.

AVOID DRINKING ALTOGETHER
Why not try it once and see how it feels? You can celebrate and join in on the fun by drinking a caffeinated beverage or just bring some fancy iced teas along for the party. You’ll thank yourself when you see everyone else miserable the next day and you’ll feel and look fabulous that week! Either way, have a wonderful 2008.

“To alcohol, the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems.” -Homer Simpson