Countless studies have shown too much alcohol can have a negative impact on physical and mental health.

But if you occasionally overindulge and have to face the nausea, queasiness and intense cravings for greasy diner food that come with it, you might be happy to know you won't always have to—because in the future, there might be a pill that can prevent it.

A team of UCLA engineers (aka, my new best friends) have figured out how to speed up the body's reaction to alcohol.

"The pill acts in a way extremely similar to the way your liver does," principal investigator Yunfeng Lu said in a press release. Meaning you can have a wild night—and wake up feeling like you went to bed at 10 p.m. after a healthy dinner and a yoga session. "With further research, this discovery could be used as a preventative measure or antidote for alcohol intoxication."

How? A combination of enzymes speed up the elimination of alcohol from the body.

While definitely not an excuse to overindulge, it could be helpful if you do. What's even better though, is enjoying one glass of wine a night. Not only is it delicious, it's also been shown to improve heart function and reduce stress. The best part? You don't need a pill to enjoy one glass!

Would you try this new pill if it was available? Or do you think it’s a bad idea to rely on a pill to prevent a hangover?

-Katharine Watts, Associate Web Editor

Related:
• Hangover cures: What works and what doesn't
• A new way to prevent a hangover
• 4 ways to prevent a hangover