I’m a doctor – my five tips to dodge a hangover this New Year’s Eve and why you should avoid bubbles at all costs

HOW to prevent a hangover after New Year’s Eve in just five steps, according to an expert.

Brits across the country will ring in the new year with friends, family and most likely lots of booze.

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But how can revelers wake up refreshed on New Year’s Day?

dr Megan Rossi, also known as The Gut Health Doctor on Instagram, has posted her top five tips for avoiding a nasty hangover.

Prepare your intestines

The first tip is to prepare your gut microbes — these are the living things like bacteria in your body.

These microbes work like an army against your hangover because they produce something called butyrate — which helps the body fight the inflammatory effects of alcohol.

Most of us enjoy grabbing a bite to eat after a night on the town, but this colon doctor suggests swapping the Burger King for a banana.

dr Megan Rossi told her followers, “Before and after the party, enjoy nutritious plant-rich dishes like well-loving Greek baked beans that also satisfy salty and carb hangover cravings.”

Avoid blisters

Although drinks like Prosecco are particularly popular on New Year’s Eve, it’s best to stay away from them.

Researchers at the HPRU Medical Research Center in Guildford have found that people who drank fizzy champagne felt drunk faster than those who took it flat.

dr Rossi advised: “Anything with blisters is likely to make you feel worse.

“That’s because bubbles cause the alcohol to be absorbed into your bloodstream more quickly, outstripping your liver’s ability to digest it at such a rate — and the higher your blood alcohol concentration, the more toxic the effect.”

And it’s not just alcoholic fizzy drinks that can leave you hanging the next morning.

Be careful with blenders

The gut health expert also warned night owls about drink mixers that contain artificial sweeteners.

Amazingly, the research found that those who drank vodka with diet soda had a 25 percent higher blood alcohol concentration than party-goers who drank regular soda.

“Better yet, replace the sugary soda with frozen berries and soda water to further slow alcohol absorption,” added Dr. Added Rossie.

And the type of soft drinks you choose between alcoholic beverages also makes a difference.

drink enough

It may seem like an obvious suggestion, but Dr. Rossi reminded partygoers that it’s important to stay hydrated before, during and after the party.

“Try switching every other drink to non-alcoholic bottled water with frozen berries or kombucha,” she added.

Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning you need to go to the bathroom more often, which can lead to dehydration.

Dehydration can then contribute to many hangover symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and dry mouth – so it’s important to keep non-alcoholic fluids flowing as well.

Prioritize eating over drinking

The gut health graduate student’s final tip was to make sure you’re eating before you start your night.

Filling your stomach with some party munchies before opening a bottle could mean the difference between a New Year’s walk in the country or one huddled under the covers.

It stops alcohol from getting into your small intestine quickly and is one of the most handy ways to control how quickly alcohol affects you.

She said, “Always eat something first to slow alcohol absorption and give your liver a chance to keep up.”

Your small intestine has a very large surface area and this is where a lot of alcohol absorption takes place, which is why this tip is so important.

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