How to avoid a hangover on cheap wine

Anyone who has suffered through a cheap wine hangover knows that the experience is not one to repeat.

But better quality wines that might prevent the horrendous pain one can often feel the day after a night of drinking can come at a price.

However wine expert Amelia Singer has told FEMAIL exclusively that you don't have to give up budget booze as there are life hacks you can use to avoid a hangover even on the cheapest plonk.

And her tips include taking a few supplements before and after a night of heavy drinking, consuming plenty of water, and taking steps to prevent yourself from becoming too drunk before you start boozing.

1. TAKE AN ANTIHISTAMINE
If you know that you get hangovers only from red wine then it could be that you have a histamine problem.

If you want to go out and enjoy red wine then take some antihistamine before you drink and that should definitely make a difference.

2. HAVE VITAMIN C BEFORE
Take Vitamin C before you drink. Although this does not stop you from getting drunk, it has been proven to lessen the toxicity of alcohol and the irritable side effects that you have the next day.

I normally take 800 to 1,000mg of easy-to-absorb and soft-on-the-stomach vitamin C capsules.

3. TAKE MILK THISTLE
Similarly, I have heard people swear by milk thistle. Silymarin is the active compound found in milk thistle, a herb commonly used to improve liver health and protect the liver from alcohol and other drugs.

4. BOOK EXERCISE CLASS FOR THE NEXT DAY
That is the best hangover prevention - the fear will stop the final wine order.

5. TAKE MULTI-VITAMIN BEFORE SLEEP
Take a good-quality multi-mineral vitamin before you go to sleep. Alcohol depletes your body of important minerals, especially magnesium, potassium and zinc.

6. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER
Most hangovers come from being dehydrated - therefore it is more likely to do with the quantity that you drunk as opposed to the price of the wine you were enjoying. Therefore, always match each glass of wine with a glass of water.

I always drink a large glass of water before bed. I put it by my bedside before I go out so I have no excuse.

7. LOWER-ALCOHOL WINES
Drink lower-alcohol wines - they are so trendy right now. Wines that tend to be lower in alcohol normally come from cooler climates - therefore in Australia, Tasmanian wine is usually much lower in alcohol than wines from the Barossa valley.

Ask your waiter or look for wine labels that emphasise cool climate. Great low-alcohol options to go for are: old world Pinot Noir, Riesling, Beaujolais, Sauvignon Blanc, spritzers, Provence Rose, Vinho Verde, Austrian and German white wine and wines from the Loire valley.

8. WATCH OUT FOR GLASS SIZES
Be aware that wine glasses in restaurants and pubs are far bigger than they used to be: a 250ml glass of 14 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV) wine at 3.5 units contains more than double the alcohol of a 125ml glass of an 11 per cent ABV one, which is just 1.4.
Also, a large glass (250ml) is a third of a bottle... something worth keeping in mind when you tell yourself that you only had two glasses at the pub!

9. EAT WHILE YOU DRINK
Be European and eat while you drink! This slows down the rate of alcohol absorption into the blood.

10. AVOID SUGARY DRINKS AND FOOD
Avoid highly-refined sugary soft drinks or food while drinking alcohol.
Refined sugar can activate the immune system and trigger inflammation, which can affect your mental processes the next day.