Consuming an excessive amount of alcohol or alcoholic beverages can damage important organs in the human body, such as the liver, kidneys, stomach, spleen, and heart. However, eating some fruits while drinking can slightly reduce the harm alcohol causes to the body.
Generally speaking, eating some sour fruits can help sober you up. This is because fruits contain organic acids, such as malic acid in apples, citric acid in citrus fruits, and tartaric acid in grapes. The main component of alcohol is ethanol, and the organic acids can interact with ethanol to form esters, which helps in the process of sobering up.
There are also other fruits that have the effect of sobering you up. Persimmons are rich in fructose and vitamin C and have been used since ancient times as an effective food to prevent drunkenness and alleviate hangovers. The astringent components in sweet persimmons can break down alcohol, and the fructose in them also has a protective effect on the liver.
Watermelon juice can accelerate the excretion of alcohol through urine, preventing it from being absorbed by the body and causing a general fever. It also has a cooling effect, helping to lower the body's temperature.
Bananas are not only a superior fruit but also an excellent remedy for intoxication. Eating 1 to 3 raw bananas before drinking has a sobering effect. The ancient Chinese medical book "Riyong Bencao" records that bananas, when eaten raw, "break blood and resolve alcohol toxicity."
Drinking aloe vera juice can also help alleviate the effects of intoxication. The spiky green part of the aloe plant and its inner gel contain substances like polysaccharides and glycoproteins, which can reduce the concentration of acetaldehyde—a harmful substance produced when alcohol is metabolized—in the blood. Drinking aloe vera juice before drinking is very effective in preventing post-drinking symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and facial flushing.