There is a better cure for a hangover than the stock standard fry-up and injection of coffee.
Carbs, fat and caffeine might be what we crave after a big night on the cans, but it is scientifically dubious that they "mop up" the booze as the saying goes. Especially given alcohol only stays in the stomach for a short time in the first place.
Instead, something far healthier for us may help.
Prevention and rehydration with water aside, scientists from the CSIRO say that the antidote to overconsumption of alcohol may lie in pears.
"The search for a miracle prevention of hangovers has been fruitless – until now," CSIRO says in a new blog.
While researching the fruit, which of course also goes delightfully on a cheese plate with wine, they found that pears can lower cholesterol, relieve constipation and have anti-inflammatory effects.
They also "stumbled upon" another benefit: "It also appears they can ward off hangovers AND lower blood alcohol levels."
Specifically, the scientists studied Korean pears (or 220 millimetres of Korean pear juice), which is similar to nashi pears. They differ from Western pears so, they say, further research is needed to find out whether the same effect is possible across different varieties.
"There may be several ways by which pears could prevent hangovers," said Professor Manny Noakes, the study's lead researcher.
"Our review has uncovered both animal and human studies trying to answer this question. It appears that the factors in Korean pears act on the key enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), to speed up alcohol metabolism and elimination or inhibition of alcohol absorption.
"In particular, reductions were seen in blood acetaldehyde levels, the toxic metabolic thought to be responsible for the hangover symptoms, with pear juice consumption."
Consuming the pear juice had a "significant" effect on symptoms, compared with a placebo drink, the researchers said, and on concentration levels in particular.
But, there's a catch.
The pears were fruitless if consumed post drinking.
"The effect was only demonstrated if pears were consumed before alcohol consumption," Noakes said of the preliminary study. "There is no evidence that you can consume pears after drinking and avoid a hangover."
Meanwhile, as a responsible scientist, she reminded that abstaining from excess alcohol consumption is the only certain way to avoid a hangover.
