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While working with Horticulture Innovation Australia to reveal some hidden benefits of the fruit, a CSIRO research team led by Professor Manny Noakes found that pears can lower cholesterol, relieve constipation and have anti-inflammatory effects.
But likely the most interesting discovery for those with a tendency to overindulge was the discovery that Korean pear juice can prevent hangovers as well as lower blood alcohol levels. Further research is needed to determine whether the hangover-preventing capabilities extend to other pear varieties as the studies have so far only involved the Korean pear, which is known to have a number of compositional differences to Western pear varieties.
With study subjects measuring hangover severity using a 14-item hangover symptom scale, those given 220 ml (7.4 oz) of Korean pear juice reported reduced overall hangover symptoms compared to those in the placebo group, with the most pronounced improvement reported in the area of "trouble concentrating."
Importantly, the hangover was only avoided if the pear juice was consumed before the alcohol, so downing the juice after a big night out won't help. And although the study involved pear juice, the researchers believe consuming whole pears would produce similar effects.
What's your favorite (scientifically approved) hangover cure?
takyon: The claims are based on preliminary results reported at CSIRO news blog. Here is the abstract of an older study: Effect of Korean pear (Pyruspyrifolia cv. Shingo) juice on hangover severity following alcohol consumption.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Post-Nihilist on Tuesday August 04 2015, @02:56AM
Be like us, be different, be a nihilist!!!
(Score: 3, Informative) by Gravis on Tuesday August 04 2015, @03:17AM
2. euphoria
3. temporary relief of stress
4. temporary relief of pain
if you are drinking for one of those reasons, there is a good chance you are an alcoholic.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 04 2015, @03:38AM
Or you are suffering from some wickedly intense pain that the doctors won't help with, as happened to me. (OOS/RSI/tendinitis)
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday August 04 2015, @03:51AM
If you really think this, chances are you have an acute attack of hypoalcoholemia (aka too high level of blood in alcohol).
The main symptom: you take life too seriously.
Unwind, listen to some jazz for a couple of hours over a shot of 12yo dry rum infused with some coffee beans.
(just teasing, buddy, don't take me seriously... the way you take life... large grin...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 4, Interesting) by hemocyanin on Tuesday August 04 2015, @05:17AM
It's also possible he's been exposed to alcoholics and isn't aware that most people can enjoy the inebriating effects of alcohol on an occasional basis without being alcoholics.
(Score: 2) by MrNemesis on Tuesday August 04 2015, @09:15AM
Is that really an either/or thing though...? Lived with an alcoholic (of the actually-completely-addicted-and-dependany variety, not the seemingly american "drinks too much" variety), had a great deal of fun watching a good friend drink himself to death and I was one of the people that found the body three months after he was released from rehab.
Never put me off booze myself though. Just reminded me how dangerous any psychoactive substance can be when it's used not as a means to an end but as an end itself.
"To paraphrase Nietzsche, I have looked into the abyss and been sick in it."
(Score: 2) by sjames on Tuesday August 04 2015, @04:50AM
That depends on how much and how often.
(Score: 1) by riT-k0MA on Tuesday August 04 2015, @05:36AM
According to my government's Health Department, anyone who has more than two drinks a week is an alcoholic. That pretty much covers 90% of the country.
(Score: 2) by moondrake on Tuesday August 04 2015, @10:06AM
Why would that be?
If one can avoid a burnout by drinking once a month (or even more often), I do not see anything wrong with that.
I am not sure about your definition of an alcoholic, but I would say addiction needs to be part of it (and no, an addiction is not a habit).
(Score: 1) by Post-Nihilist on Tuesday August 04 2015, @09:50PM
Few months ago, I drank when my grandmother past away, alcohol made the pain temporary duller, while time did it's work.
At work we like to have some beer on Friday while we go out for dinner; 2 pints of beers provides us euphoria and enhance the meal. (we drink local brew paired with the food)
I am alcoholic for that? I don't think so....
Be like us, be different, be a nihilist!!!
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 04 2015, @04:05AM
Alcohol is a depressant. Which leads to...
Reduced sensory ability including smell and taste. It is only an illusion that alcohol enhances a meal because of your weakened mental state which explains...
At least until you sober up and realize now the stress and pain is back, only now there is less money and time to deal with both.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by sjames on Tuesday August 04 2015, @05:03AM
Paradoxically, most depressants cause euphoria, at least as the blood level is ramping up.
There is a point where the senses aren't significantly dulled but the concerns of the day are easily dismissed where it will enhance the experiance of food, music, and conversation.
If the stress itself was temporary, for example hard day at work, a drink or two can actually help to put it aside. Since it was temporary in the first place, it's still gone the next morning. Pain has a winding up phenomenon. If you knock it down for a while, the relief can persist long after the alcohol (or whatever) had cleared your system.
Of course, the correct amount for any of the above is generally not enough to cause a hangover.
Some people do find getting drunk occasionally to be cathartic. That's not a problem as long as it really is occasionally.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Joe Desertrat on Tuesday August 04 2015, @04:55PM
If the stress itself was temporary, for example hard day at work, a drink or two can actually help to put it aside. Since it was temporary in the first place, it's still gone the next morning. Pain has a winding up phenomenon. If you knock it down for a while, the relief can persist long after the alcohol (or whatever) had cleared your system.
Hemingway had a great line on this subject: "If things are really all right and you are feeling a bit low a drink will make you feel better. If things are really bad, a drink will just make it worse". If I recall correctly, it was from the short story "Black Ass at the Crossroads", but I may have that wrong.