You've probably received all kinds of advice to aid planning your New Year's Eve celebrations: champagne recommendations, cocktail recipes, dinner ideas, the best bars to hit.

But think about New Year's Day: chances are you'll be waking up with a hangover. You've spent hours planning your New Year's Eve, why not put a little effort into the pre-production of the morning-after to ease the pain.

What: THE HANGOVER

Science:

Consider the three things you'll be facing:

- dehydration

- withdrawal symptoms affecting the nervous system

- the toxins that remain in the body.

Researchers claim food speeds up the metabolism helping the body get rid of the booze.

Real Life:

"Why did I have that last Scotch?" "How many glasses of Champagne did I have?" "What was her name?"

What: COFFEE

Science:

Caffeine is a stimulant and a vasoconstrictor, so it reduces the size of blood vessels.

Real Life:

You are groggy. You have a pounding headache. A good cup of coffee will start you on the right foot. Beans from Intelligentsia or Stumptown Coffee will begin your New Year right.

Consider:

Caffeine is a diuretic, which causes dehydration. Not the best cure, but it might help jump start your day.

What: FRUIT JUICE

Science:

Fructose naturally increases the body’s energy and increases the rate which the body rids itself of toxins. Juice helps replenish nutrients that were depleted from alcohol’s diuretic effect.

Real Life:

There is nothing quite as reviving as a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

What: TOAST & BACON

Science:

Bread is high in carbohydrates and bacon is full of protein, which breaks down into amino acids and helps clear the head.

Real Life:

Just the smell of bacon can revive some from the dead. Two words: Bacon Butty. Try Flying Pigs heritage breeds bacon and pick up a multi-grain loaf from your local bakery (think Balthazar or Sullivan Street).

Consider:

Nothing to consider here, it's been proven by science.

What: EGGS

Science:

Eggs replenish certain amino acids, which break down the hangover-causing toxin acetaldehyde in the liver's easily depleted glutathione.

Real Life:

Eggs are the perfect accompaniment to bacon. It's like the breakfast holy trinity: eggs, bacon, toast.

Consider:

The cholesterol? After what you did to your body on New Year's Eve, just get on the mend. Work on the New Year's resolutions on January 2nd.

What: HAIR OF THE DOG

Science:

It reintroduces ethanol (alcohol) into your system at a point when your liver is breaking down an alcoholic compound called methanol, which is more toxic than the ethanol.

Real Life:

Convince yourself there are vitamins in the tomato juice and feel better in the short term. Give McClure’s Spicy Bloody Mary Mix a try as a good starting point.

Consider:

You're delaying the inevitable, the hair of the dog approach won't eliminate the hangover.

What: GOOD LUCK TRADITION

Science:

None.

Real Life:

Try the Southern staple Hoppin' John, made with black-eyed peas, smoked ham hocks, and onion. It's said to bring a year filled with good luck, if served on New Year's Day.

Consider:

Is it really worth risking a year of bad luck?