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For those looking to ring in the New Year with champagne and other alcoholic drinks, some asparagus may be good to have on hand.
The Institute of Food Technologists is reminding people of a 2009 study from the Institute of Medical Science and Jeju National University in South Korea, which found that eating asparagus may help cure unwanted hangovers, UPI.com reported.
According to the researchers, consistent alcohol use causes stress to a person’s liver, leading to the symptoms associated with alcohol hangovers, such as headaches, nausea and fatigue. Asparagus contains certain amino acids and minerals, which can guard the liver cells against toxins – ultimately relieving the unpleasant hangover side effects.
"Cellular toxicities were significantly alleviated in response to treatment with the extracts of asparagus leaves and shoots," lead researcher B.Y. Kim said in a statement. "These results provide evidence of how the biological functions of asparagus can help alleviate alcohol hangover and protect liver cells."
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