Bottoms Up: What Your Favorite Beverage Can Do for You

“Beer, if drank in moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, and promotes health.” – Thomas Jefferson

Studies show that moderate drinkers are generally healthier than those who do not drink and those who drink excessively. Research indicates that moderate alcohol consumers have fewer heart attacks and strokes and have less incidence of conditions such as high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease, cognitive disorders such Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney stones, digestive ailments, stress and depression, hepatitis A, pancreatic cancer, gallstones, liver disease, etc. The list goes on.

Here’s what your favorite beverage can do for you. Remember, moderation is the key.

Beer:

Heart Disease: In 1999, the University of Texas at Dallas reported that those who drink moderate amounts of alcohol are less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease by 30-40%, compared to those who don’t drink at all.

Vitamin B6: Beer provides a 30% increase in vitamin B6 into the blood plasma — something that neither wine nor any other liquor can do – which prevents the build-up of the amino acid homocysteine. People with high levels of homocysteine are usually more prone to an early onset of heart and vascular disease.

Stroke: In November of 1999, The New England Journal of Medicine stated that those who drank beer moderately were 20 % less likely to suffer a stroke.

Bones: Research at King’s College and St Thomas’s Hospital in London because beer is one of the richest sources of silicon, one pint a day supplies a person with 20% of the average daily intake of silicon, which may be one of the most effective ways for young people to help keep their bones strong

Relaxation: Beer has a relaxing effect on the body, resulting in less stress and better sleep patterns.

Elderly: It has been proven that beer helps promote blood vessel dilation, sleep, and urination, particularly among the elderly.

Vodka

Disinfectant: Doctor Valery Myakin, head doctor in Moscow’s Narkolog rehabilitation center, says vodka can be used as a disinfectant, since it is essentially diluted alcohol. He says that when doctors or medical supplies are not within reach, vodka might be a more readily available alternative to treat a wound.

Fever: Since alcohol evaporates faster than water, a fever could be reduced by rubbing vodka onto one’s body.

Blood Vessels: Doctor Myakin said that up to 50 grams of vodka a day can actually be beneficial: “Small amounts of quality vodka can help prevent atherosclerosis,” he said. Atherosclerosis is a disease that affects our arterial blood vessels.

Stomach Sensitivities: Because vodka is so highly distilled, consuming it in small doses could tackle conditions such as thrush, candida and irritable bowel syndrome.

Hangovers: One scientific analysis found that vodka had only a small fraction of the content of the toxic alcohol methanol. This, combined with the fact that vodka has virtually no colouring or flavouring chemicals, reduces your chances of getting a bad hangover.

Gin

Preventing water retention: The juniper berries, found in gin, have a diuretic action, which results in the likelihood of passing more water. Juniper berries were originally used as a herbal remedy for diseases of kidneys and liver.

Arteries: Researchers discovered that drinking moderate amounts of gin could reduce inflammation in the blood, which has been linked to artery-clogging plaque buildup and heart disease.

Arthritis: The consumption of homemade gin-soaked raisins has become a popular folk remedy for arthritis. It’s not scientifically clear how or why it works, but many people swear it relieves arthritis pain. It involves pouring raisins into a bowl and letting them soak in gin for about two weeks. Roughly nine of these raisins are to be eaten each day to help with arthritis pain.

Whiskey

Cells: Whiskey contains plant compounds which protect the body’s healthy cells. These come from the oak barrels in which whisky is stored during maturation.

Heart Disease: A study in the British Medical Journal found that in small doses , whiskey could help protect against heart disease, strokes and cataracts.

Cancer: In 2005, a scientific conference in Glasgow revealed that the ellagic acid found in whiskey could help fight cancer. This acid, which is also found in soft fruit, supposedly absorbs rogue cells in the body.

Sleep: Whiskey as a hot toddy is often recommended by doctors to help induce sleep.

Sore throat: It is believed that adding a spoon of honey and lemon to whiskey can help soothe a sore throat.

Sherry

Arteries: According to scientists at the University of Seville, sherry contains polyphenols, which is believed to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease.

Cholesterol: Sherry increases the body’s production of “good” cholesterol, which helps the body get rid of potentially harmful cholesterol.

Brandy

Vitamin C: Because of the high level of antioxidants produced during the distilling process, scientists claim that 30ml of good brandy would give the equivalent antioxidant potential as the daily recommended intake of vitamin C.

Heart Attacks: French research has shown that a regular dose of brandy can reduce the potential of heart attacks and clots from occurring.

Guinness:

Heart Disease: Researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that because Guinness contains antioxidants – similar to those found in fruit and vegetables – a daily pint of Guinness with a meal reduces the chances of cardiac attacks, as well as heart clots.

Bailey’s

Intake: Though it has high alcohol content, and saturated fats, its sweetness may restrict alcohol intake. The cream will also slow down the absorption of alcohol compared to non-mixer drinks.

Wine

Heart Disease: Research shows that red wine is beneficial to your heart health. It is believed that the antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of red grapes provide protection to the heart.

Cancer: Research scientists in North Carolina discovered a chemical found in red wine which helps to fight cancer. The chemical, called trans-Resveratrol, is found in grapes, mulberries, raspberries, peanuts, muscadine grapes, including scuppernongs, and many other fruits and nuts.

Joints: According to studies at the University of Milan, white wine contains tyrosol and caffeic acid, which partially suppress the inflammatory reaction that occurs in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Japanese researchers found that while grape juice has antioxidative benefits similar to wine, it does not significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels compared to red wine.

Cider

Iron: Scientists suggest that a pint of cider, sweet or dry, supplies a person with one fifth of the recommended daily allowance of iron. Vintage cider has slightly less.

It is worth emphasizing the importance of moderation when discussing the benefits of alcohol consumption. Most researchers in the field define moderation as one or two servings per day. Over-consumption of alcohol can be detrimental to one’s physical and mental health. If you don’t drink now, don’t’ start.