Your World This Week, Jan. 24 – 30

By All That's Interesting | Edited By Savannah Cox
Published January 25, 2016
Updated January 24, 2016

Can A Chinese Herb Help Curb Your Alcohol Consumption?

Kudzu

Kudzu, the invasive species above, might help reduce your propensity to drink. Image Source: Flickr

Ever wake up on Sunday morning and not know which is worse: the hangover or the self-loathing experienced as a result of your questionable decision-making? Us, too.

There might be an easy way out, though (besides, of course, exercising restraint): kudzu. A recent, randomized placebo-controlled trial of 17 heady-drinking American men found that taking kudzu cut alcohol consumption by between 34 and 57 percent, the BBC said.

So what’s the deal with the plant? According to Harvard Medical School Dr. David Penetar, kudzu contains puerarin, a type of antioxidant. The kudzu extract increases blood flow to the brain, which means that you feel the effects of alcohol sooner if you consume the extract. If you feel the effects sooner, so Penetar’s logic goes, you probably will take time to drink — and ultimately consume less.

Read more at the BBC.

5 Events To Know About This Week

  • January 24, 1639: The first constitution in the New World, called the Fundamental Orders, is written in Connecticut.
    • Winston Churchill Portrait

    Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

  • January 24, 1965: Winston Churchill dies of cerebral thrombosis at age 90.
    • Shirley Chisholm

    Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

  • January 25, 1972: Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman to win a seat in Congress, announces her candidacy for president.
    • Clinton

    Bill Clinton during his impeachment. Image Source: Flickr

  • January 26, 1998: President Bill Clinton denies charges that he had a sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky and had advised her to lie about it. “…I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky…”
    • Challenger

    The flight crew of the Challenger Image Source: NASA

  • January 28, 1986: The U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 74 seconds into its flight
    • author
    All That's Interesting
    author
    All That's Interesting
    Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
    editor
    Savannah Cox
    editor
    Savannah Cox
    Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
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