If you are planning on attending a New Year's celebration, you may want to take a few precautions to lessen your chances of starting the New Year with an alcohol-related hangover. The surefire way to keep a clear head is not to drink at all, and to be the designated driver for your friends who do. Alcohol is a strong toxin to both the liver and the nervous system, and it irritates the upper digestive tract and urinary system as well. If you do drink, remember:

1. Moderation is the best way to avoid hangovers - make sure to pace yourself.
2. Eat food if you have more than a drink or two.
3. Avoid dehydration (and cut down on alcohol intake) by drinking as much water as possible while you're drinking alcohol.
4. Take a B-complex vitamin supplement plus extra thiamine (100 mg) to counter the B-vitamin depletion caused by alcohol.
5. Choose beverages that are "cleaner." Some distilled beverages are rich in types of alcohol called congeners - toxic impurities that can greatly add to your woes. Bourbon, rum, and cognac are particularly dirty, while vodka, which is just pure alcohol and water, is the cleanest.

Simple Steps for Better Health
Whether you want to eat better, socialize more, or simply improve your overall health, Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging is for you. Hundreds of recipes, articles and tools are all designed to help you get and stay on the path to health, no matter what your age! Start your 14-day free trial now and save 30%!