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   Aug 27

How pears can beat a hangover: They’re low in fat and calories – and high in health benefits like oestrogen, vitamin K and folate

Studies have shown drinking pear juice before a night out eases hangovers

Alice Smellie investigates how pears can help fight diabetes and allergies

The fruit contains calcium and folic acid, good for bones and pregnancy

Are you planning a big night out? Try making pear juice your first drink and it could spare you a thumping head in the morning.
And that’s not all pears are good for. Low in fat and calories, but packed with essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, as well as being high in fibre, they have been cultivated for more than 4,000 years and they may just be the latest superfood. Alice Smellie looks at the many ways they can help our health…

END THE BOOZE BLUES

A study published this month revealed that people who drank a third of a pint of Asian pear juice before going out had less memory loss and were less sensitive to light and sound the next morning.

Scientists also found a decrease in blood alcohol levels. ‘This work was partly inspired by a long history of Korean pear juice being used in this way in Asia,’ says nutritionist Dr Sam Christie, of health supplements Nature’s Best.
Enzymes in the pears appeared to inhibit the breakdown of alcohol.

FIGHT DIABETES

Dr Christie says polyphenols in pears have protective effects for type 2 diabetes.’
‘Polyphenols are associated with a hypoglycaemic effect, which means they can help lower blood sugar,’ says Dr Christie.
‘Eaten more than five times a week they are also associated with improving insulin sensitivity. They may offer some protection from the degenerative side effects of type two diabetes, such as circulatory, eye, skin and kidney problems [as can polyphenols in apples, black grapes, blueberries, blackcurrants and vegetables] and always eat or juice the washed skin, too.’

BREATH EASY

Pears are used in Chinese medicine for lung ailments.
Pear juice lubricates the throat and helps to reduce phlegm
Practitioners claim that in hot summer months, mucus can build in the lungs, leading to breathlessness. They say pear juice lubricates the throat and helps to reduce phlegm.
This is because pears contain the antioxidant glutathione. ‘Glutathione boosts the immunity of the lungs and helps prevent bacterial or viral infections by regulating build-up of mucus,’ says Chinese medicine practitioner John Tsagaris.
‘If you have any shortness of breath, you must seek medical advice,’ says Shona Wilkinson, of health retailer NutriCentre. ‘Do not try to treat any medical condition with pear juice.’

BOOST PREGNANCY

‘Pears contain several nutrients which support pregnancy, including folic acid,’ says Mr Tsagaris.
‘Each large pear provides approximately 14 micrograms of folate, which contributes towards the total RDA of 200 mcg for adults and children over 11 years old and 700 mcg in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy [according to the British Dietetic Association].’
John says folate is essential to prevent birth defects: ‘Not many foods contain folate, or folic acid, which is particularly important in the first trimester of pregnancy.’

TACKLE ALLERGIES

The first fruit given to babies is often pear, not just because of its delicious juice but because it is extremely unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.
This is because pears contain the natural antihistamine quercitin. Hay fever and allergy sufferers often take quercitin supplements to prevent symptoms.
‘In food intolerance diets, one of the first foods we include is pear because of the quercitin,’ says Shona. ‘It is one of the blandest foods in terms of allergy.’

PROTECT BONES

Pears contain high levels of the mineral boron, which helps the body to retain calcium.
It also supports the production of hormones including oestrogen, which helps to prevent bone loss. A pear contains about a tenth of your daily needs.
‘Whenever we look at bone health we recommend boron,’ says Shona. ‘Pears are also high in vitamin K, which is vital for bone health. Salmon with spinach and pear salad would be an ideal meal.’

Source: Daily Mail

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