Nobody wants to feel dehydrated and fatigued after a night of drinking. That’s where folk hangover cures come into play, whether it’s taking pain relievers or drinking water. The latest famous remedy on TikTok wants you to turn to a natural solution: asparagus.
A TikTok video went viral after claiming that eating asparagus before drinking alcohol it can help curb some of those annoying side effects you might experience the next morning. But evidently, research is lacking to support this. Having drinks with a side of asparagus might not actually do much for you the next day. However, there is a tried and true method: drink less.
Whatever possible hangover cures we may read about, what we do know is that the less alcohol we consume, the less alcohol-related hangover symptoms the body will endure.
Asparagus leaves are best.
There is some limited data to suggest that eating asparagus might help combat hangover symptoms and reduce oxidative stress, a negative effect that can occur with alcohol consumption. According to a 2009 study, asparagus contains amino acids and minerals that specifically protect liver cells from toxins and help alleviate hangover symptoms.
But when comparing samples of leaves or shoots of asparagus extracted with boiling water, the leaves, an infrequently eaten part of asparagus, contained levels of beneficial amino acids several times higher than those found in young shoots. The researchers found the same difference when evaluating the levels of various inorganic minerals, proteins, and carbohydrates.
It is also important to note that this was a study conducted over 10 years ago and was not conducted as a clinical trial with human subjects. The researchers did not state how many asparagus stalks or leaves are needed to experience a positive effect. In other words, these results come with several caveats.
proven remedies
Eating asparagus won’t hurt us, especially considering that not many people eat enough fruits and vegetables. But whether they’ll really make us feel refreshed after a night of drinking remains questionable at best. To help avoid a hangover, you can try these proven tips instead:
- Avoid darker alcohols (such as whiskey), which contain congeners, a byproduct of the alcohol fermentation process.
- Drink non-alcoholic fluids before we go to sleep. Alcohol is a diuretic, and dehydration can exacerbate symptoms.
- To eat. Alcohol is absorbed more slowly when you have food in your stomach.
- Take prickly pear extract before you start drinking. The evidence is limited, but it is better than the evidence for asparagus.