Getting drunk is, for better or worse, the poisoning of your body. Alcohol enters your bloodstream at a rapid rate, smothering the frontal lobe of your brain, which releases its control of your judgment and social inhibitions. All symptoms of hangovers stem from your body's attempts to process alcohol and rid your system of it. Contrary to popular belief, dehydration is not the only cause of hangovers. A lesser-known, but equally serious cause is congeners.
Congeners are toxic chemicals that are created during the alcohol fermentation process.
They give flavor, smell and appearance to alcohol and exist in varying amounts in different liquors. Unfortunately, congeners are also the main cause of the notorious hangover headache. To cut down on miserable headaches, try to favor drinks made from liquors with fewer congeners. Many people believe that drinking on a full stomach prevents a hangover because the food in your stomach absorbs alcohol. The effect is true, but the cause is malarkey.