Study: Pear juice could help prevent hangovers

WASHINGTON — If you typically feel lousy the day after drinking too much, a new study suggests pear juice could help matters.

The research from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization says that pears lower cholesterol, relieve constipation and have anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent hangovers.

Drinking pear juice won’t improve your condition right away: Researchers say the pears work to prevent a hangover, and “there is no evidence that you can consume pears after drinking and avoid a hangover,” the study says.

“So far,” the study continued, “the effect has been seen from consuming 220 milliliters of Korean pear juice, although consumption of whole pears may produce a similar effect.”

Pears — especially Korean pears — have an effect on key enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, which accelerate the metabolism of alcohol.

Blood acetaldehyde levels, which is the toxic metabolic thought to be responsible for hangover symptoms, were reduced after consuming pear juice.

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