The Health Benefits of Drinking Whisky
Whisky may be a great aid for creating memories with friends, but there’s more to the golden dram than many think. In fact, a number of scientific studies have focused on researching the effects of enjoying a good dram - many of which, have revealed the surprising health benefits of drinking whisky!
As if we needed an excuse to drink whisky anyway!
It helps you get over a Cold
Blocked nose? Stuffy sinuses? Raspy throat? You’re in need of a Hot Toddy.
A hot toddy is a type of cocktail made from herbal tea, honey and of course, whisky! Nobody is quite sure who invented the hot toddy, however, the recipe is said to have come into circulation between the 18th and 19th century.
The whisky in the hot toddy has multiple functions in relieving your cold symptoms. Whisky, for instance, is a great decongestant thanks to improving your circulation by dilating the body’s blood vessels. Much like how the flu and cold medicines available from your local chemist work, the whisky/herbal tea/honey combo will also act as a sleep aid, helping you to recover quicker.
Plus, when you’re feeling bunged up and miserable in the height of winter, there’s nothing more comforting than a warm drink - make yours a hot toddy and you’ll be well on your way to feeling better in no time.
It could help with Weight Loss
If you’re on a mission to drop a few pounds, the first thing to go will often be alcohol. With terms like “beer belly” synonymous with high-calorie alcoholic drinks, it can be easy to decide to rule out alcohol altogether, but with whisky, it might not be necessary.
That’s not to say that whisky will aid or cause weight loss, but compared to the likes of beer and wine, whisky offers a lower calorie alternative. As far as alcoholic drinks go, it’s actually not too bad at all: whisky contains a relatively low number of carbohydrates and sugars, plus it’s low in sodium and also doesn’t contain any fat. Did we mention it’s gluten-free too?
It may reduce your risk of Cancer and Heart Disease
There has been some debate within the medical industry about exactly how far whisky can go in helping to prevent cancer. However, it is believed that in when drank in moderation, whisky and other alcoholic drinks like red wine could potentially have an impact in helping to reduce your cancer risk due to one ingredient: ellagic acid.
Ellagic acid is an antioxidant that is said to have powerful properties in fighting and reducing a nasty byproduct called free radicals, present in your body.
In addition to the antioxidants within whisky potentially preventing cancer, it has also been proven scientifically across numerous studies that a dram can also lower your risk of developing heart disease and failure. Interestingly, in one of the studies, it was observed that an aged single malt contained the most antioxidants when compared against wine and young or “new” spirit.
Ellagic acid can also be found in other foodstuffs like fruit, but if you’re looking to enjoy a dram or two occasionally, there’s nothing to say that it couldn’t give your system a little boost.
It’s Diabetic friendly!
Finding out you have diabetes can be a life changing diagnosis. Suddenly, sweet treats you used to love are very restricted. But the good news is, if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you don’t need to cut out alcohol - and in fact, provided you follow the appropriate precautions to maintain your blood sugar levels, enjoying a whisky neat can be safe due to the low-calorie intake.
The Health Benefits of Drinking Whisky - Enjoy Responsibly
If you have an existing medical condition, we always recommend consulting your doctor or dietician before drinking.
The health benefits of drinking whisky can be reaped by just about everyone - but only if you drink in moderation. So, the next time you raise your glass and say ‘slàinte mhath,’ you really will be toasting good health!