Do not be deceived by miracle cures online. The only guaranteed way of avoiding a hangover is not to drink alcohol. But if you would like a few drinks without the hangover the next day, then there are some things you can do before, during and after drinking that will help.

Do not drink on empty stomach. Eat a meal or large snack before drinking, as this will slow the rate at which alcohol enters your bloodstream. One study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that when compared to men who drank on an empty stomach, those who ate beforehand had a ‘pronounced’ lowering of blood alcohol levels. Eating also increased the speed at which the alcohol was cleared from their bloodstreams.

Stay hydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you need to urinate more. Dehydration is not the only cause of a hangover but it contributes to many of the familiar symptoms – thirst, fatigue, headache and dizziness.

Increasing your water intake while you are drinking alcohol (try alternating between water and alcoholic drinks) will help keep your blood alcohol level from rising too fast and may reduce some of your hangover symptoms.

Make sure you keep up your water intake the following day too, to help counteract dehydration.

Eat a good breakfast. The first thing when you wake you with a hangover, get some food to help you maintain your blood sugar levels.

Low blood sugar does not necessarily cause a hangover, but it can worsen symptoms such as nausea and fatigue.

Eating a healthy breakfast – eggs on wholegrain toast with spinach, for example, or muesli with fresh fruit and yoghurt – can also give you vitamins and minerals that may be depleted after excessive alcohol intake. Studies have found that zinc-rich foods – such as nuts, seeds, eggs and wholegrains – may help.

Try painkillers. If you need some pain relief, try an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen. It is best to avoid paracetamol. Your liver breaks down both alcohol and paracetamol, and your body is more susceptible to the toxic effects of paracetamol when you drink alcohol.