Asian pear juice can cure hangovers, study says
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Asian pear juice may ward off hangovers when consumed before drinking. (iStock)
From the hair of the dog to bingeing on greasy food, everyone seems to have a favorite hangover cure.
But science has found little evidence to support that any of these methods—besides abstaining from alcohol in the first place—will settle your queasy stomach or ease your aching head.
Until now.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A recent study conducted by the Australian scientific research group, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CISRO), found that Asian pear juice significantly reduced hangover symptoms the next day when consumed before the first sip of alcohol.
Participants in the study were given 220 mL (about 1 cup) of Asian-- also known as Korean or nashi-- pear juice before imbibing. In addition to dulling or eradicating next day headaches, the pear juice was also shown to reduce common symptoms like memory loss, nausea and sensitivity to light.
But the biggest improvement was seen in the fruit’s ability to improve subjects’ levels of concentration.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}So what makes this pear so special?
Asian pears have a high water content and a crisp, grainy texture. Scientists believe the pear contains unique enzymes “necessary for speeding up alcohol metabolism and slightly inhibiting alcohol absorption,” reports Delish. The refreshing pears are also known to reduce levels of the toxin blood acetaldehyde, which is known to make hangovers even worse.
Participants didn't get the same benefits when they drank pear juice after a night of drinking, so if you want to test out the supposedly miraculous properties of the Asian pear, better plan ahead.