When it comes to hangovers, everyone has a swear-by-it remedy, and hundreds are free for the taking online. The problem: “In terms of anything that’s proven to ‘cure a hangover,’ there isn’t anything,” says Michael Fingerhood, an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. That doesn’t mean you have to be miserable all day, though. Experts suggest one of these tricks to take the edge off a hangover and end it a little faster.

Drink lots of water

It’s hardly groundbreaking advice, but it should be a top priority. Alcohol makes you pee. That can lead to dehydration, prompting the hallmark dizziness and lightheadedness of a hangover. In addition to water, sip on some flat ginger ale, since it will help soothe your stomach. And down some juice, since vitamin C helps replenish your energy.

Stay away from the coffee (and booze)

It won’t wake you up. Rather, caffeine will further dehydrate you and could aggravate your stomach, making you feel even more queasy. And put down that beer, because even though it might temporarily numb your symptoms, it’ll make your headache worse in a couple hours.

Eat, but don’t binge

Crackers and toast can boost blood sugar that may have dipped while drinking, contributing to your fatigue and overall weakness, according to Mayo Clinic. Also consider pretzels and a banana to replace the salt and potassium lost through urinating so much. 

Chow down on some asparagus

Recent research suggests that asparagus helps alleviate hangover symptoms, likely due to its amino acids and minerals, which lessen the toxicity of alcohol on liver cells. Plus, it’s a diuretic, so it’ll make you pee and get some of that alcohol out of your system. Another green veggie, the artichoke, could also help: Research suggests it tempers the bloating and nausea that come with hangovers.

Get your body working faster

When alcohol gets into the system, it’s got to be metabolized. So will exercise, if you can force yourself to get moving, he says. Stick with light cardio or a yoga class, which won’t dehydrate you as much as other workouts.

Retreat under the covers

You may have gotten your usual eight hours, but it was probably interrupted by a few trips to the bathroom and a lot of tossing and turning, decreasing the quality of your snooze. Think ahead and consider taking a nap before a night out, Fingerhood says.

Take a pain reliever, but sparingly

They’ll likely alleviate a headache, but aspirin can upset an already irritated tummy, and acetaminophen could lead to liver damage, according to Mayo Clinic. Don’t go over the recommended dose. In fact, try half a dose, and see if it works.

Ditch the cigarettes

Recent research suggests that people who smoke cigarettes on the same day they drink suffer worse hangovers than those who stick to booze alone. 

Try some prickly pear

Research suggests that extract from the prickly pear cactus may lessen that next-day sting.  Supplements made with prickly pear extract, which helps replace the B vitamins drinking depletes, are commonly available at vitamin shops and online.

Choose wisely

Yes, you can take steps to prevent a hangover before you even start drinking. Darker-colored alcoholic beverages – bourbon, scotch, tequila, brandy, ales – have a greater amount of chemicals called congeners, which are more likely to cause a hangover, according to Mayo Clinic. But light or dark, excess alcohol can lead to a perfectly awful day after.