Best Foods to Eat while on your Period

Most women experience symptoms of bloating, fatigue, cramps, headache, digestive problems and mood swings before and during their menstrual cycle. One of the best ways to prevent and treat these symptoms is via a healthy diet, which can also aid general health and overall well-being.

Beans

The high fiber content of beans and peas reduces the congestive symptoms of cramps by producing bulkier stools with higher water content. This rids the body of excess fluid 

and also normalizes digestion, reducing both constipation and diarrhea, according to Dr. Susan Lark, director of the PMS Self-Help Center in Los Altos, California, and author of “Dr. Susan Lark's Menstrual Cramps Self Help Book.” Legumes are also a good source of B vitamins, which prevent cramps and menstrual fatigue. Although beans can create excess gas, this can be minimized by eating small amounts and increasing slowly, or by taking a digestive enzyme like Beans.

Green Vegetables

Green vegetables are high in calcium, magnesium and potassium, which relieve and prevent the spasms that lead to cramping pain. Lark also adds that these minerals can calm and relax emotions, reducing irritability. Dark green vegetables also contain high amounts of vitamin K, which is needed to coagulate blood and prevent excess bleeding.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

A group of hormone-like substances in the body called prostaglandins are involved in muscle contractions and menstrual pain. One way to shut down the prostaglandin effect is by consuming omega-3 fatty acids like those contained in salmon, walnuts and flaxseed. A 1995 study in the “European Journal of Clinical Nutrition” found that women whose diets are balanced in favor of omega-3s, rather than other fats, tend to have milder menstrual symptoms.

Pineapple

A report from Dr. Phyllis Johnson, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, found that young women who consumed low amounts of manganese had an increased menstrual flow of up to 50 percent, leading Johnson to recommend that women with menstrual discomfort increase their manganese consumption.

Fruits are high in manganese, but one of the richest manganese food sources is pineapple. Pineapple also contains high levels of bromelain, an enzyme thought to help relax muscles and therefore prevent menstrual cramping.

Tea

Tea is another source of manganese, according to Johnson, although women should avoid the caffeinated version, which can actually lead to greater menstrual discomfort. Ginger tea may be helpful in relieving nausea and bloating, and chamomile tea also contains properties that relieve muscle spasms and reduce the tension that can lead to anxiety and irritability.

Water

Excessive fluid retention is one of the main causes of congestive symptoms seen with cramps, which are characterized by dull, aching pain. One of the very best ways to help decrease water retention, even though it may seem counterintuitive, is to increase water consumption--if a woman isn’t drinking enough, her body may overcompensate by retaining extra water.

Whole Grains

A study by British doctors found that eating small amounts of carbohydrates every three hours and within one hour of going to bed combated PMS symptoms in 70 percent of women. Dr. Lark adds that whole grains are excellent sources of magnesium, which reduces neuromuscular tension. Whole grains also have B-complex vitamins and vitamin E to combat fatigue and depression.

How to eat before menstrual cycle

Your menstrual cycle is a bodily process that is healthy and normal; unfortunately, it is not always painless. Cramps, bloating, headaches and muscle stiffness are just some of the possible side effects of menstruation. Regularly eating a balanced diet can greatly improve these symptoms. There are certain foods that you should avoid as much as possible in the days before and during your monthly period. See your doctor or gynecologist if you experience menstrual symptoms that are severe enough to interrupt your daily activities.

Step 1

Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats on a daily basis. Regularly eating well will reduce the severity of your premenstrual symptoms.

Step 2

Eat foods rich in iron on the days before and during your period. Continue eating vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables. Eliminate salt from your diet as much as possible prior to menstruation, because sodium increases water retention and makes you feel bloated.

Step 3

Avoid refined sugars and processed foods before and during menstruation. These simple carbohydrates cause blood sugar fluctuations, which can make you feel irritable.

Step 4

Take a calcium supplement or eat calcium-rich foods; try to consume 1000mg per day. Some research by scientists at Columbia University suggests that that calcium reduces the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Step 5

Drink lots of non-caffeinated fluids in addition to eating a healthy diet. Reduce or eliminate alcohol from your diet before and during menstruation.

Tips

• Do not eat "junk food" while you are menstruating. Many snacks and fast foods contain refined carbohydrates and lots of sodium, both of which can worsen your symptoms.

Warnings

• Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement that claims to improve menstrual symptoms. Some supplements interfere with prescription medications such as birth control and antibiotics.

RIPPLES OF THE OCEAN

HEAVE-HO HEAVE-HO
So the sailors pulled with might,
A stormy sail propelling along the ocean path in sight,
Waves swaying around as the wind thrust in-depth,
Fear aboard as the passengers crept.

HEAVE-HO HEAVE HO
Behold! A sea monster whirling around the sea,
Pass the spear or sinking will be the option to see,
Whoosh! The spear hits the sea monster in a slash,
The monster wails and off it goes in a flash.

HEAVE-HO HEAVE HO
The sun rises as the rays hit the face,
Passengers smile as they pass the danger phase,
The storm is calm as the wind goes down in haste,
As silent as a graveyard they venture in fate.

HEAVE-HO HEAVE HO
The captain sights the horizon with it an island,
Days in darkness, in the hope of finding light at hand,
Command from above; "Sailor Stand",
All ye! The journey is coming to an end,
Row along the ripples of the ocean as it trend.


ROJA_writes


Reach out to Roja through the e-mail: Larry_roja@yahoo.com

My generosity is my greatness

Some people will say "I don't have enough, I can't give out now", some also say " I worked for my damn money! I can't give it out" well it's unfortunate they are ignorant of what can take them to greater heights. I want to tell you that Generosity is the true way to success, greatness and popularity. From Latin, Popularity is called Popularitas and it means "an effort to please the people".

 Most people think popularity comes by the achievements they acquire or the wealth they possess.
 When I look at the life of Bill Gates, I realised and concluded that the greatness of a man is not by what he receives but by what he gives. The greater your giving, the greater your living. You want to be popular? Be Gerenous!

Generosity is changing one's focus from self to others. If your focus is on others and not yourself alone, they will all turn their focus at you. When you are generous you become prosperous and famous. The question is, what can I give? Well, out of many, I highlighted few things you can give. You can give your;

• Money
• Talents
• Time
• Knowledge
• Assests and lots more.

If you think giving is not helpful, let me share with you 5 reasons you should give. Giving is important because:

Giving helps the giver

This is the most important reason you should give. When you help others, you can't help but benefit. I will share a little experience I had. I went to a tutorial center to receive lectures for an exam I was to write in February. The classes holds February to February and I joined them 1st of November, 2017 which means, I had 3 months and some weeks to the exam. Along the line I noticed a particular subject physics 102 has not been really thought and no one understood it. So I got a textbook on that subject to read and understand. Then I decided to teach them what I have read, they were all understanding and it encouraged me to read more meanwhile I'd never for once like anything in physics. So I said to myself, "You can't light the path of others without casting light on your own." That's exactly how giving helps the giver, it betters the life of a giver just as teaching helped me to know more.

Giving adds value to others

Who is not happy when he adds value to others? I was glad every moment I finished teaching them, it makes me feel great.When you add value to others, it doesn't remove anything from you. At first I thought if I teach these people, they will be better than me but they were not. Don't think a part of you will go when you add value to others, it's not true. Whoever you add value to will help you in one way or the other later or sooner. Just like in Chemistry, covalent bonding is about sharing electrons, the sharing didn't subract any electrons from the electron rich element. How you think about investments is how you should take adding value to others too.

When you share your knowledge and ideas, it adds value to others, you might not have money to give but there is a rich man out there who needs someone to impact him, if you don't share knowledge you might miss such opportunities.

Giving is not loosing

This is exactly what kills the generosity of many people, they all think they are loosing when they give. Giving is like investment, when you want to invest, your money reduces first. There must be a deduction before an addition. There must be a decrease before an increase. That is how giving works, haven't you seen it in the life of Windows CEO Bill Gates, he gives yet emerges as one of the top richest human. If you think giving is loosing, see what Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate who gave away millions of dollars siad:

No man becomes rich unless he enriches others

This is a statement made from a rich man, so what else or from who else will you learn that giving is not loosing. Even the holy book which is the Bible says "Give and it shall be given unto you".

Giving helps make a living

Living your dear life without giving is not a proper way to live a life. Ruth Smeltzer siad:

You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you

It is unfortunate people think they are the owners of their money, assests and wealth, so they can't give a little of it out but the truth is, some people suffered themselves just for you to make that money you claim to own and yet you still can't give a dime. The greater your giving, the greater you're living. US president Woodrow Wilson said it this way

 You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with a greater vision, with a finer spirit of home and achievement. You are here to enrich the world and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand

 He said you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand meaning when you think you are making a life by only spending, eating and so on for yourself alone, you are only gonna ruin your life. You must live for others if you wish to live for yourself.

Giving suppresses depression to make you happy

No one likes to be around people who only think only of themselves. In contrast, nearly everyone enjoys being around people who are giving. When you're occupied with giving to others and helping others to succeed, it drives away sadness. And that not only makes the world a better place, it makes the giver happier. As the Roman poet Seneca said:

No man can live happily who regards himself alone, who turns everything to his own advantage

I have also learnt that "No man lives happier than a person who has generously given out to the needy in a day."

Patience

Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems or sufferings without becoming annoyed or anxious. 

  Read More

And then if you feel you want to be generous but don't know how to, let me help you with two important tips:

Give others your money

John C. Maxwell made me understand that wherever your money is, that's where your attention goes. Haven't you found that to be true? If you invest heavily in the stock market, you probably check the financial page or your earning statements frequently. The scriptures from the Bible confirms that when it said "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."                                                        

                                                                                                      If you begin to give your money to people who really hunger, thirst and are deeply in need of it, you will care about people more. And that will help to foster a more generous spirit in you. If you wait until you feel like it to give, you may wait forever. I sat down one day to think about these so called celebrities that buy expensive things just for us to recognize or know how rich they are, they think they are making waves, but it's painful that the people they think they are showing their riches to have long way forgotten about whatever they had bought. No one cares about anything that doesn't add value to them. Why not give out your  money and see how your riches will be felt. Give others yourself

Give others yourself

Martin Luther King Jr. said:

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are we doing for others?

What do people value more than your money? The answer is your time and attention. Just like nothing can take the place of a spouse's affection. People also believe that a good mentor is more valuable than a mere monetary reward. And this is because, mentors give their time, love and attention to others. When you give the gift of yourself, you are being as generous as you can be. Rabbi Harold Kushner said

The purpose of life is not to win. The purpose of life is to grow and share. When you come to look back on all that you have done in life, you will get more satisfaction from the pleasure you brought to other people's lives than you will from the times you outdid and defeated them 

When you invest in other people's life just for the sake of seeing them great and blossom, with no thoughts to any benefit you might receive despite their status, you will be the kind of generous person others want to be around.

Take away

I have really said a lot, but if you think all these doesn't concern you and you feel you are generous enough, I want you to know that. People give not from the tip of their purses, but from the bottom of their hearts. So how do you give? And if you desire to  become a more generous person, don't wait for your income to change, change your heart. When you do that, you automatically become a giver regardless of your income or circumstances. Make that desire to become a giver. Sometimes, you want to give but something holds you back, learn to fight and disobey that spirit by focusing on the reasons you should give which I have already explained earlier.

And lastly, my word from me to you is
Don't give to those who already have because you want to make a name, give to those who don't have and they will  make you a name.

Note these two laws:

• There must be a reduction before an addition
• There must be a decrease before and increase

The prayers of the needy to the giver are always enormous!
Live to Give.

Why You Should Add Garlic to Your Diet

Those were words from the father of Western Medicine, the ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates.

I remember living amongst Indians as a child in the Eric Moore Area of Surulere, in Lagos, and most times when I pass them on the road, I percieve what seem to me then, as a fowl smell. They all had a peculiar odour oozing from them; however, within these odour, lies a secret, a secret which I shall share with you today.

This odour came from Garlic.

GARLIC – Allium sativum, commonly known as Garlic, is a specie in the Allium family (Onion family). The healing effects of this vegetable are said to be due to an active ingredient called Allicin. This Allicin, is also what gives garlic its distinctive taste and strong smell.
So, what are the health benefits of Garlic?

Enhances Physical Performance:

This will interest men more. There is hardly a man who doesn’t want to perform better in bed, at work, exercise etc.
Garlic has a long history of being used in ancient cultures to reduce fatigue and enhance the work capacity of laborers. Call it the modern day energy booster.

Lowers Heart Disease Risk:

Garlic lowers the risk of heart disease, either in adults or youths, by reducing the total LDL cholesterol level in the syatem. It fights the
body’s ability to dissolve blood clots that would otherwise, increase the risk of heart attacks by closing the arteries.

Lowers Blood Pressure:

Cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes are the world’s biggest killers. However, active compounds in Garlic, can significantly reduce blood pressure in person’s with high blood pressure, comparable to the effects of prescribed drugs.

Fights Common Cold:

Garlic’s allicin can serve as a health aid during times of illness, by boosting the immune system against common cold and flu.

Detoxify Heavy Metals in the Body:

At high doses, the sulfur compounds in garlic have been shown to protect against organ damage from heavy metal toxicity.

Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia:

Garlic contains antioxidants that protect against cell damage and ageing. It support the body’s protective mechanisms against oxidative damage

Improves Bone Health:

Garlic is really high in manganese, which contains enzymes and antioxidants that facilitates the formation of bones and connective tissues, bone metabolism, and calcium absorption.

Garlic May Help You Live Longer:

Given the beneficial effects of Garlic, which we have discussed so far, and with risk factors like blood pressure, it makes sense to say, that garlic could help you live longer.

The fact that it can fight infectious disease is also an important factor, because these are common causes of death, especially in adults or people with dysfunctional immune systems.

As Food Supplement:

Garlic is very rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Manganese. It also contains trace amounts of various other nutrients. For example, 1 ounce (28 grams) serving of garlic contains:

Manganese: 23% of the RDA.
Vitamin B6: 17% of the RDA.
Vitamin C: 15% of the RDA.
Selenium: 6% of the RDA.
Fiber: 1 gram.
And fair amounts of Calcium, Copper, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron and Vitamin B1.

So, whether you take your garlic raw, powdered, salted, or minced or in supplement form, you can reap the surprising benefits of this multipurpose vegetable, for optimal health.

How can you lower your blood sugar levels?

Blood sugar levels are a primary concern for people with diabetes. High blood sugar, known as hyperglycemia, occurs when a person's blood sugar is over 180 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

High blood sugar levels can be dangerous if not promptly managed and lead to both short-term and long-term problems.

In this article, we look at some different ways to help people lower their blood sugar levels. These steps include lifestyle changes, diet tips, and natural remedies.

Why is managing blood sugar important?

For those with diabetes, managing blood sugar levels can help to prevent serious complications.

Keeping blood sugars at target levels helps people with diabetes avoid serious complications from the disease. High blood sugar can cause many ill effects, which can be sudden, such as acid buildup in the bloodstream, or occur gradually over time.

Over time, keeping blood sugar at unhealthful levels can damage small and large blood vessels in several organs and systems, leading to serious consequences, such as:

• vision impairment and blindness
• foot ulcers, infections, and amputations
• kidney failure and dialysis
• heart attacks and strokes
• peripheral vascular disease, a condition where blood flow to the limbs is reduced
• damage to the nervous system, leading to pain and weakness

By keeping blood sugar levels under 100 mg/dL before eating and under 180 mg/dL after eating, people with diabetes can significantly reduce their risk of adverse effects from the disease.

How to lower blood sugar levels

1. Monitor blood sugar levels closely

High blood sugar levels often do not cause symptoms until they run well over 200 mg/dL. As such, it is essential for a person with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar several times a day. Doing so will mean that blood sugar levels never get that high.

A person with diabetes can use a home glucose monitor to check blood sugar levels.

Recommendations for how frequently to check glucose levels during the day will vary from person to person. A doctor can make the best recommendations regarding blood sugar monitoring to a person with diabetes.

2. Reduce carbohydrate intake

Researchers have carried out studies showing that eating a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet reduces blood sugar levels.

The body breaks down carbohydrates into sugar that the body uses as energy. Some carbs are necessary in the diet. However, for people with diabetes, eating too many carbohydrates can cause blood sugar to spike too high.

Reducing the amounts of carbohydrates a person eats reduces the amount a person's blood sugar spikes.

3. Eat the right carbohydrates

The two main kinds of carbohydrates — simple and complex — affect blood sugar levels differently.

Simple carbohydrates are mainly made up of one kind of sugar. They are found in foods, such as white bread, pasta, and candy. The body breaks these carbohydrates down into sugar very quickly, which causes blood sugar levels to rise rapidly.

Complex carbohydrates are made up of three or more sugars that are linked together. Because the chemical makeup of these kinds of carbohydrates is complicated, it takes the body longer to break them down.

As a result, sugar is released into the body more gradually, meaning that blood sugar levels do not rapidly rise after eating them. Examples of complex carbohydrates include whole grain oats and sweet potatoes.

4. Increase dietary fiber intake

Eating plenty of soluble fiber, including whole grains such as brown rice, may help.

Fiber plays a significant role in blood sugar management by slowing down the rate that carbohydrates break down, and the rate that the body absorbs the resulting sugars.

The two types of fiber are soluble and insoluble fiber. Of the two types, soluble fiber is the most helpful in controlling blood sugar.

Soluble fiber is in the following foods:

• vegetables
• legumes
• whole grains
• fruit

5. Control portion size

At most meals, a person should follow portion guidelines provided by a doctor or nutritionist. Overeating at a sitting can cause a spike in blood sugar.

Although simple carbohydrates are typically associated with elevated blood sugar levels, all food causes blood sugar levels to rise. Careful control of portions can keep blood sugar levels more controlled.

6. Exercise regularly

Exercise has many benefits for people with diabetes, including weight loss and increased insulin sensitivity.

Insulin is a hormone that helps people break down sugar in the body. People with diabetes either do not make enough or any insulin in their body or are resistant to the insulin the body does produce.

Exercise also helps to lower blood sugar levels by encouraging the body's muscles to use sugar for energy.

7. Hydrate

Proper hydration is key to a healthful lifestyle. For people worried about lowering high blood sugar, it is crucial.

Drinking enough water prevents dehydration and also helps the kidneys remove extra sugar from the body in the urine.

Those looking to reduce blood sugar levels should reach for water and avoid all sugary drinks, such as fruit juice or soda, which may raise blood sugar levels instead.

People with diabetes should reduce alcohol intake to the equivalent of one drink per day for women and two for men unless other restrictions apply.

8. Try herbal extracts

Herbal supplements, such as green tea, may help to boost the diet with essential nutrients.

Herbal extracts may have a positive effect on treating and controlling blood sugar levels.

Most people should attempt to gain nutrients from the foods they eat. However, supplements are often helpful for people who do not get enough of the nutrients from natural sources.

Most doctors do not consider supplements as a treatment by themselves. A person should consult their doctor before taking any supplement, as they may interfere with any prescribed medications.

Some supplements a person may want to try include:

• bitter melon
• Aloe vera
• green tea

9. Get enough sleep

Sleep helps a person reduce the amount of sugar in their blood. Getting adequate sleep each night is an excellent way to help keep blood sugar levels at a normal level.

Blood sugar levels tend to surge in the early morning hours. In most people, insulin will tell the body what to do with the excess sugar, which keeps the blood sugar levels normal.

Lack of sleep can have a similar effect to insulin resistance, meaning that a person's blood sugar level could spike significantly from lack of sleep.

Summary

Managing high blood sugar is key to avoiding serious complications from diabetes.

There is a range of lifestyle interventions that can help a person struggling with high blood sugar to lower their glucose levels.

A person should always follow their doctor's advice for lowering high blood sugar.

Source: Medical News Today

How to cure a hangover

A hangover is a collection of signs and symptoms linked to a recent bout of heavy drinking. A person with a hangover typically experiences a headache, feels sick, dizzy, sleepy, confused, and thirsty.

Hangovers can occur at any time of day, but are usually more common in the morning directly after a night of heavy drinking.

As well as physical symptoms, the person may experience elevated levels of anxiety, regret, shame, embarrassment, and depression. The severity of a hangover is closely linked to how much alcohol was consumed, and whether the sufferer had enough sleep; the less sleep, the worse the hangover.

It is impossible really to say how much alcohol can be safely consumed to avoid a hangover - it depends on the individual and other factors, such as how tired they were before they began drinking, whether they were already dehydrated before the drinking began, whether they drank plenty of water during their drinking session, and how much sleep they got afterward.

Fast facts on hangovers:- Hangovers are caused by overconsumption of alcohol.
- Symptoms include headache, nausea, sensitivity to light,            and fatigue.
- The best method of prevention is to drink alcohol in moderation, or avoid it altogether.
- The most effective cures are rest, rehydration, and sleep.

Cure

In the vast majority of cases, hangovers go away after about 24 hours. Responsible drinking can help avoid hangovers.

There is no "treatment" for a hangover - the best way to avoid one is either not to drink, or to drink sensibly and within the recommended limits.

A hangover has to run its course, and that can be best done with rest, drinking plenty of water, perhaps some painkillers, and simply waiting.

Do not go for a "hair of the dog" - an alcoholic drink to get rid of a hangover. This is a myth, and will likely just prolong hangover symptoms.

The following tips may help:

Drink: Sip water throughout the day. Water is the best fluid.

Eating: Go for bland foods, such as crackers or bread, which may raise blood sugar and are easy on the stomach. Fructose-containing foods might help metabolize (break down and get rid of) the alcohol more rapidly.

Pain: Some people may take a painkiller. Be aware that certain painkillers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol) attack the liver in high concentrations, while aspirin might not be ideal for a very delicate stomach. If you are not sure what to choose, ask a qualified pharmacist.

Rest: Sleep may help speed up recovery. Have some water next to the bed.

In short, you should not drink more than you know your body can handle.

Symptoms

Bloodshot eyes are one of the most visible symptoms of a hangover.

The signs and symptoms of a hangover generally start to occur when the blood alcohol drops considerably.

Typically, this happens in the morning after a night of high alcohol consumption, and may include:

• accelerated heartbeat
• anxiety
• bloodshot eyes
• body and muscle aches
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• halitosis (bad breath)
• headache
• hypersalivation
• flatulence
• lethargy, tiredness, fatigue, listlessness
• nausea
• photophobia (sensitivity to light)
• problems focusing or concentrating
• sensitivity to loud sounds
• depression (dysphoria)
• irritability
• moodiness
• stomachache
• thirst
• trembling or shakiness, erratic motor functions
• vomiting

If the individual has the following more severe signs and symptoms when or after drinking, they may have alcohol poisoning. This is a medical emergency. Seek medical help as soon as possible if any of the following occur:

• breathing loses its regular rhythm
• breathing slows down to less than eight inhalations per minute
• confusion or stupor - the drinker is in a daze
• fits
• the body temperature drops
• passing out
• the skin becomes pale, or takes on a blue tinge
• vomiting continues and does not stop

The symptoms vary in severity, and some people may experience some more strongly than others.

Causes

A hangover is a consequence of having consumed too much alcohol, which causes several adverse effects:

Urination: Alcohol makes a person urinate more, which raises the chances of dehydration. Dehydration can give the individual that sensation of thirst and lightheadedness.

Immune system response: Alcohol may trigger an inflammatory response from the immune system. This can affect appetite, concentration, and memory.

Stomach irritation: Alcohol consumption raises the production of stomach acids; it also slows down the rate at which the stomach empties itself - this combination can lead to nausea, vomiting, or stomachache.

Drop in blood sugar: Some people's blood sugar levels can fall steeply when they consume alcohol, resulting in shakiness, moodiness, tiredness, general weakness, and even seizures in some cases.

Dilation of blood vessels: Alcohol consumption can cause the blood vessels to dilate, which can cause headaches.

Sleep quality: Although sleeping when drunk is common, the quality of that sleep will often be poor. The individual may wake up tired and still sleepy.

Congeners: These are substances that are produced during fermentation and are responsible for most of the taste and aroma in distilled drinks (whisky or gin, for example). They are known to contribute to symptoms of a hangover. Examples of congeners include esters and aldehydes.

Toxic byproducts: Alcohol metabolism produces toxic substances that can cause many of the symptoms of hangovers.

The body processes alcohol at a certain rate. Consuming more alcohol before the body has had time to recover means the likelihood of a hangover increases.

Prevention

The easiest way to prevent a hangover is to moderate or avoid alcohol intake.

Drinking plenty of water alongside alcoholic beverages or consuming a late-night meal after a session of heavy drinking may also temper the hangover that may occur the following morning.

Source: Medical News Today