Experts have the perfect plan to beat a hangover

Drink water, eat loads of bananas and steer clear of “health” drinks

Drink plenty of water, eat bananas and cut out sugary “health” drinks and you could swerve a Christmas hangover and not pile on the pounds!

That’s the claim from Birmingham City University experts who have come up with a foolproof “survival guide” aimed at reducing the impact of one too many mince pies and too much sherry.

Dr Matthew Cole, senior lecturer, and four students from his sports and exercise nutrition course, came up with simple rules to tackle a perennial problem at this time of year.

Their tests found that toxins from alcohol, extra sugars from so-called healthy drinks – which can be anything but – and physical inactivity, were among key issues.

The group then drew up a shortlist to help people over the Christmas period. Their top five tips are:

Drink more water. It flushes toxins from over-indulgence, rehydrates and boosts the immune system.

Cut sugary “health” drinks. They’re often a hidden cause of too much sugar making many so-called “health” drinks often anything but.

Exercise . Inactivity over Christmas is a major cause of weight gain and a reduction in bone and muscle health. Exercise reduces toxins and boosts mood.

Increase vitamin intake . Eating foods rich in potassium (like bananas), magnesium, iron and zinc will keep you going on the dance floor. Dried fruit and green vegetables will help, too.

Balance your eating. Eat a mix of macro-nutrients, like carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and micro-nutrients, like vitamins and antioxidants.

Dr Cole said: “We all know people will be partying, seeing friends and family, and having fun over Christmas, but that often comes with the drawbacks of illness, tiredness and hangovers.

“We wanted to give people a few basic tips that could help them feel a bit fresher over the Christmas period.

“Some are very simple, others highlight potential hidden dangers.

“While we all know that mince pies and chocolate are going to contain high levels of sugar, what is often hidden is the amount of sugar in some healthy drinks and fruit juices.

“People often reach for the shop-bought health drink to help them deal with the evils of overindulgence but in fact they could be doing more harm than good and adding to their problems.”