Even the most devout teetotaler has heard that drinking alcohol leads to dehydration, which leads to a hangover. Is this true? Well, yes…and no. If you plan on doing some serious partying this holiday season, then plan ahead and make yourself hangover-proof.

Proof 1: Alcohol makes you sluggish because it diminishes your body’s potassium supply. So super-hydrate before a night of drinking. Guzzle replenishing fluids like coconut water. Also, have an electrolyte tablet or powder for every couple of drinks (our favorite is Emergen-C Super Orange).

Proof 2: Alcohol encourage your body to stop retaining water—which is why the bathroom line is always so long at bars. So avoid coffee, black tea, and sugary sodas before heading out to party. The next morning have a liter of ice-cold water with lemon and Celtic or Himalayan pink salt to aid water retention. Also, be sure to scarf fruits and vegetables with high water and vitamin content like celery, cucumber and watermelon.

Proof 3: Alcohol releases a chemical called acetaldehyde that exacerbates hangover symptoms like headaches, nausea, and diarrhea. So the day after a binge, grab some cysteine. Cysteine is an amino acid that helps the liver break down the toxic after-effects of booze. It is found in poultry, dairy, broccoli and garlic. Toss them all into a salad, or try a cysteine-based cleanse like Hangover Gone, or PreToxx, or Mt. Capra’s CapraClease.