Fruit & Vegetable Magazine

Features Production Vegetables
Eating asparagus may prevent a hangover

January 2, 2013  By Institute of Food Technologists


Asparagus consumption may help battle hangovers.

January 2, 2013, Chicago, IL – Drinking to ring in the New Year may have left many suffering with the dreaded hangover. According to a study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), the amino acids and minerals found in asparagus extract may alleviate alcohol hangover and protect liver cells against toxins.

Researchers at the Institute of Medical Science and Jeju National University in Korea analyzed the components of young asparagus shoots and leaves to compare their biochemical effects on human and rat liver cells.

“The amino acid and mineral contents were found to be much higher in the leaves than the shoots,” says lead researcher B.Y. Kim.

Advertisement

Chronic alcohol use causes oxidative stress on the liver as well as unpleasant physical effects associated with a hangover.

“Cellular toxicities were significantly alleviated in response to treatment with the extracts of asparagus leaves and shoots,” says Kim. “These results provide evidence of how the biological functions of asparagus can help alleviate alcohol hangover and protect liver cells.”

Click here to view the abstract of the study.


Print this page

Advertisement

Stories continue below