How Asian Pears Could Magically Prevent Hangovers

Your pre-game should begin at the grocery store.

Whether you enjoy a glass of wine once a week or you're a full-fledged whiskey connoisseur, there's one thing drinkers of all levels can agree on: Hangovers are the worst.

But what if we told you that those throbbing day-afters don't have to exist?

Behold, the Asian pear: they're delicious and, according to science, they can prevent hangovers too.

The solution to your hangover is sweeter than you think.
Dave King via Getty Images
The solution to your hangover is sweeter than you think.

A study conducted last summer by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia's national science agency, found that consuming Asian pears -- whole or in juice form -- before a night of drinking can lower blood alcohol levels and prevent hangovers.

While researchers couldn't pinpoint what, exactly, the pears contain that allows them to ward off hangovers, Manny Noakes, the study's lead researcher, explains on the organization's website that the pears "act on the key enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism and elimination or inhibition of alcohol absorption."

According to the study, you only need one cup of the golden fruit's juice to stave off the hangover. Just remember that the trick only works if you gulp it down before you imbibe.

You can find a can of Asian pear juice at a local Korean market, like the guys at GQ did for their own version of the hangover study. (Spoiler alert: it worked for them, too.)

Or you can fit the pear recipes below into a delicious and nutritious pre-pre-game menu (just substitute Asian pears for traditional pears). You'll discover that Sunday mornings are so much more enjoyable when they're headache-free.

1
Pear And Plum Puff Pastry Tart With Blue Cheese
Foodie Crush
2
Bacon, Pear And Blue Cheese Macaroni With Caramelized Onions
Adventures in Cooking
3
Pear And Ginger Ricotta Cheesecake With Salted Caramel Drizzle
Manifest Vegan
4
Brown Sugar Pear Steel Cut Oats
Minimalist Baker
Get the Brown Sugar Pear Steel Cut Oats recipe from Minimalist Baker
5
Pear Nectar With Reposado Tequila
Cookie + Kate
6
Caramel & Sea Salt Pear Pancakes
Cookin' Canuck
Get the Caramel & Sea Salt Pear Pancakes recipe from Cookin' Canuck
7
Four Seasons Sparkling Punch
A Beautiful Mess
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8
Spiced Pear Bundt Cake With A Brandy Vanilla Glaze
Adventures in Cooking
9
Apple Pear Praline Pie
Completely Delicious
Get the Apple Pear Praline Pie recipe from Completely Delicious
10
Pear Cranberry Crisp
Cookie + Kate
Get the Pear Cranberry Crisp recipe from Cookie + Kate
11
Pear Rosemary Danish
Jennifer Causey/Food52
Get the Pear Rosemary Danish recipe from Food52
12
Caramel Pears
Oh, Bite It!
Get the Caramel Pears recipe from Oh, Bite It!
13
Broiled Feta With Caramelized Cinnamon Pears
How Sweet It Is
14
Braised Chuck With Pear, Chocolate And Ginger
Slim Palate
15
Sweet Potato Pear Soup
Love and Lemons
Get the Sweet Potato Pear Soup recipe from Love and Lemons
16
Pear Frangipane Tart
Beyond the Plate
Get the Pear Frangipane Tart recipe from Beyond the Plate
17
Vanilla Bean Pancakes With Maple Butter Pears
Naturally Ella
18
Herbed Magret De Canard Salad With Pears
Cooking in Sens
19
Sweet Pear And Rosemary Honey With Havarti Grilled Cheese
Foodie Crush
20
Pear And Almond Chocolate Spice Bundt Cake
Pastry Affair
21
Pear And Cardamom Strudel
Fish, Chips and Gelato
Get the Pear and Cardamom Strudel recipe from Fish, Chips and Gelato
22
Pear Vanilla Sorbet
James Ransom/Food52
Get the Pear Vanilla Sorbet recipe from Food52
23
Pear Spice Pecan Loaf
A Splash of Vanilla
Get the Pear Spice Pecan Loaf recipe from A Splash of Vanilla
24
Cocoa Pear Crisps
Sarah Shatz/Food52
Get the Cocoa Pear Crisps recipe from Food52
25
Pear Butter
Vintage Mixer
Get the Pear Butter recipe from Vintage Mixer
26
Pear And Almond Galette
The Faux Martha
Get the Pear And Almond Galette recipe from The Faux Martha
27
Cardamom Pear Compote Over Vanilla Tapioca With Meringue And Pistachio
Cooking Melangery
28
Poached Pear Crumble with Chocolate, Coffee and Nuts
Sips and Spoonfuls
29
Baked French Toast With Caramelized Pears And Hazelnut
Feasting at Home
30
Poached Pears With Pomegranate
Feasting at Home
Get the Poached Pears with Pomegranate recipe from Feasting at Home

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