Whiskey Benefits | Health Benefits of Whiskey
The health benefits of whiskey include its ability to aid in weight loss, slow down the onset of dementia, improve heart health, prevent and manage diabetes, increase good cholesterol, fight against cancer, eliminate blood clots, and strengthen the immune system. Generally, whiskey is one of the healthiest forms of alcohol available.
When people think of whiskey (also known as whisky), there are countless images that come to mind. Hard-drinking cowboys in old movies taking shots before barroom brawls, prohibition-era speakeasies from Chicago to New York or just that overwhelming smell of whiskey as it fills your head and sends chills down your spine. People tend to have a love-hate relationship with this particular form of alcohol, but if everyone knew of the health benefits it contains, many of them would likely change their tune and ask the bartender for one more whiskey, neat.
What Is Whiskey?
By definition, whiskey is a distilled alcoholic beverage that is made of some type of grain mash. The quality, flavor, price, and name of the whiskey in question depend on which type of grain you might be making your whiskey from, including barley, wheat, rye, corn, buckwheat, etc. Different types of whiskeys are produced from different whole grains using pot stills or column stills. The processes are very similar, but the taste is distinctly different and preferred in different parts of the world. Finally, the method of storing and aging, which is usually done in cask barrels, also determines the quality and flavor of whiskey. A rye whiskey aged for 10 years in a charred white oak cask will taste completely different from a barley whiskey aged for 15 years in a wine cask, which some distilleries choose to do. This results in a massive variety of whiskeys throughout the world and being a connoisseur of this particular alcoholic discipline is intoxicatingly enjoyable.
However, alcohol is generally regarded as something bad, which could potentially damage your liver, impact your lifestyle, and result in a number of unsavory outcomes, when consumed in excess, which is completely true. If one drinks responsibly, whiskey, just like beer and wine, can actually confer some health benefits to its drinkers. 2-3 ounces of whiskey every day won’t be enough to get you drunk or negatively impact your health, but it will be enough to give you a healthy boost to a number of essential bodily functions. Before we delve into all of the health benefits of whiskey, let’s first examine the components inside this powerful spirit.
Whiskey Nutrition Facts
First of all, whiskey is extremely low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and it also has a very low level of carbohydrates. There isn’t much to whiskey, frankly, except for a large amount of alcohol, but in terms of its organic compounds, whiskey is rich in ellagic acid, which is a very powerful antioxidant and is responsible for a lot of the benefits.
Whiskey Health Benefits
There are many benefits whiskey like helping in weight loss, curing dementia, maintaining good heart health, and more. Let’s look at the most common health benefits in detail.
Boosts Immune System
There have been certain studies that have argued for the immune system-boosting capacity of whiskey. Alcohol does have a traditional role in preventing illness and improving the function of the immune system, but the firm evidence was never in hand. Now, we see that the antioxidants and trace levels of vitamins in whiskey do in fact stimulate the immune system, thereby helping to fight off normal cold, illnesses, and infections. All of those old movies where they would pour whiskey on a wound to disinfect it is not just fiction. You can pour whiskey on a fresh wound to make sure it does not get infected.
Reduces Internal Blood Clotting
In a related note for heart health, whiskey has been shown to significantly reduce blood clotting. Blood clotting is important when you are wounded so you stop losing blood, but internally, if your blood clots at key junctures in your blood vessels or arteries, it can be disastrous. Atherosclerosis, which usually occurs due to a large build-up of cholesterol, can combine with blood clots to result in thrombosis, heart attacks, strokes, and death. Whiskey is a blood-thinner, so it significantly lowers your chances of excess clotting. It also increases the amount of “good” cholesterol, which counteracts the effects of “bad” cholesterol, further protecting your heart.
Controls Diabetes
Whiskey has been consistently shown to reduce the chances of diabetes, sometimes by as much as 30-40%. A moderate amount of whiskey can significantly improve your body’s ability to regulate insulin and glucose levels, thereby lowering the possibility of developing diabetes.
Prevents Cancer
Cancer is one of the most devastating and globally relevant diseases known to man. Whiskey has an extremely high level of ellagic acid, one of the most powerful antioxidant compounds that we can consume. An antioxidant is a compound that neutralizes free radicals, the harmful byproducts of cellular metabolism that cause a wide range of diseases, including cancer, heart diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and premature aging. This powerful antioxidant makes whiskey a very effective preventative measure against cancer.
Protects Heart Health
A number of studies have shown whiskey to be a major player in protecting heart health. As our body gets older, our systems become frailer, resulting in the less efficient functioning of various organ systems, and weakness of our cardiovascular system. However, a study has recently revealed that those who consume a moderate amount of whiskey on a regular basis have almost a 50% lower chance of experiencing a stroke or heart attack, which is exceptional news for those at risk of cardiovascular issues.
Weight Loss
Many people associate drinking heavily with developing a “beer gut” or losing their muscle tone due to excessive alcohol. However, drinking in moderation doesn’t necessarily have to impact your weight, particularly if you drink whiskey. This delicious liquor has no fat and very little sodium. It does contain calories and carbohydrates, but in the form of alcohol, and the small amount it does contain is simple sugars that are quickly broken down to be used as energy for the body. Therefore, instead of pounding pints of beer at the bar, have a few neat whiskeys instead, to maintain your weight while still having a good time.
