What You're Really Doing To Your Body If You Drink Whiskey Daily

Whiskey has been seen as a panacea since it was first made in Scotland in the 15th century. While it may not be the panacea touted centuries ago, modern science has discovered that

whiskey

still has some proven health benefits. While you might think that everyone who

drink

s a late-night libation would end up with a beer belly,

whiskey

has some unique properties that make it much friendlier on the waistline. For people who are concerned about maintaining their weight, this will be good news. For starters, whiskey does not contain carbohydrates. And depending on the proof, an ounce and a half of whiskey has between 97 and 116 calories.

By comparison, the average regular beer has 150 calories. Red wine falls in the middle, at 125 calories, and it's worth noting that both wine and beer contain carbs. As such, Amy Gorin, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, told Women's Health that whiskey and water or soda is a great option for a low-calorie alcoholic beverage. However, she should keep in mind that whiskey is not a "diet" food. If you consume too much, you will continue to gain weight. Tomatoes and spinach aren't the only antioxidant-packed superfoods out there. It turns out that whiskey contains its own powerful antioxidant, a substance called ellagic acid.

This phenol is typically found in wine, cherries, berries, and nuts, but it also appears in other places, such as oak trees. Since whiskey is typically stored in oak barrels until ready to

drink

, that ellagic acid can seep into the spirit as it ages. Once in the

body

, that ellagic acid can help reduce the risk of cancer, waging a war against disease-causing free radicals. Jim Swan, a researcher on the subject, told The Guardian: "Ellagic acid is a highly effective free radical scavenger that absorbs or eats up rogue cells that are produced in our bodies." His advice: Drink a small amount of a high-quality aged whiskey.

And don't drink to excess, as heavy drinking has also been shown to promote the growth of cancer cells. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 50 million people worldwide have some form of dementia. While there is no cure for the condition, researchers believe that moderate, not extreme, drinking may help slow its development. According to the UK's National Health Service, drinking a little alcohol on a

daily

basis could help to significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia as you age. When researchers examined the drinking habits of 3,200 Germans over the age of 75, they found that people who drank moderately had a lower risk of contracting the disease than people who didn't drink or who drank more.

Harvard researchers found similar results in their study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In this review, clinicians looked at rates of dementia in almost 6,000 adults aged 65 and older and found that "consumption of 1 to 6 drinks per week is associated with a lower risk of dementia among older adults" compared to those that they did not drink or that they drank more. The exact cause of alcohol's protective effect against dementia is unknown and is still being studied. In June 2019, British Grace Jones, also known as Amazing Grace, passed away at the age of 112. His secret recipe of hers for her longevity? "My drop of whiskey.

I don't drink anything else. I don't drink during the day, and at night, just a drop." While we can't guarantee you'll survive as long as Grace did, a study published in the journal Alcoholism reported that moderate drinkers had nearly a 50% lower risk of death from all causes over a 20-year period than people who drank much or did not drink at all. The researchers made the discovery after tracking 1,800 adults over two decades, monitoring their health and drinking habits. The finding is consistent with additional research conducted by neurologist Claudia Kawas at the University of California, Irvine. According to The Independent, Kawas has long been studying the diets and lifestyle habits of people who live to be 90 years old.

Kawas revealed at the 2018 American Association for the Advancement of Science conference: "I don't have an explanation, but I am a firm believer that moderate drinking improves longevity." The CDC estimates that one person dies every 36 seconds from some type of heart disease. However, drinking whiskey can help reduce the risk of contracting the disease. A study published in the BMJ journal reported that moderate alcohol consumption (one to two drinks per day, maximum) can help men and women reduce their risk of heart disease by up to 25 percent. Additional studies, including a 2015 study published in the European Heart Journal, revealed that moderate alcohol consumption may reduce the risk of heart disease and heart failure.

Whiskey drinkers, in particular, stand to reap the most benefits. The BBC reported on a study that compared wine, aged malt whiskey and freshly distilled whiskey and found that aged malt, which had the highest concentration of antioxidants, provided the greatest overall heart protection benefits. Turns out, there may be some science behind the delicious hot toddy you make whenever you're feeling a little under the weather. By combining hot water, lemon, honey, and whiskey, you are actually creating the perfect combination of ingredients to help alleviate cold symptoms. "We need a cold medicine that works and works fast." Water, of course, is essential for fighting a cold because it helps keep you hydrated.

Fluids also help break down mucus so you can recover from

your

illness faster. Honey can be as powerful as cough syrup or even antibiotics, according to a study cited by CNN. The lemon wedges you add to

your

hot punch are packed with immune-boosting vitamin C. As for that whiskey? Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, explained in an interview with ABC News, saying, "Alcohol dilates the blood vessels a little bit and that makes it easier for the mucous membranes to deal with infection." It won't prevent you from getting sick or help you get better faster, he explained, but it may provide, in quotes, "modest symptom relief." In addition to being healthier overall and having a stronger cardiovascular system, people who drink in moderation may also have a more resilient immune system.

That's also the conclusion of a study on rhesus macaque monkeys conducted by Oregon Health and Science University. Its researchers found: "Drinking in moderation can actually boost our immune system and help it fight infection." For the study, which was published in the journal Vaccine, the researchers taught a lucky group of monkeys to drink alcohol and then allowed them to drink as much as they wanted, whenever they wanted. Like humans, some monkeys drank to excess, others drank moderately, and others disliked alcohol and avoided it altogether. The results of this strange trial? After seven months, the bodies of the monkeys that had been drinking moderately produced the most antibodies, meaning their immune systems were also the strongest overall.

While human studies are still underway, this study may mean that, for the person who doesn't overindulge, a

daily

serving of alcohol (such as whiskey) can improve immune system health. "Okay, let's quit while we go" Whiskey seems to be able to combat painful and annoying gallstones. Quick anatomy lesson: The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that produces bile and sits just below the liver and aids in digestion. Gallstones are hardened lumps of bile that sometimes form in the gallbladder. They are also very common, can cause sudden severe pain, and usually need to be removed surgically. Sounds scary, right?

Well, the good news is that moderate regular alcohol consumption seems to reduce a person's risk of developing gallstones. Here's some good news: The connection is not well understood, but ScienceDaily noted: "Health researchers in the UK have found that drinking two units of alcohol per day reduces the risk of developing gallstones by a third." There's a reason many people have such vivid memories of their first drink, or can so easily recall a favorite night out drinking with friends. It's because whiskey and other alcohols can actually alter the way memories are formed in our brains, Forbes explained. The Brown University researchers made the discovery not by studying humans, but by tracking the memory formations of a group of happily buzzing fruit flies.

We apparently share many traits with little insects, including the way we make memories about things our brains find rewarding and things our brains tell us to avoid. After testing fruit flies exposed to alcohol, which they loved for its natural sugar content, scientists found that alcohol can change the structure of proteins in the brain responsible for forming a memory, making the memory seem stronger. and more positive. This may be why memory is often linked to strong positive memories, but it's important to note that it can also set the stage for alcohol addiction if people start to crave alcohol as a way to reproduce those memories. good memories.

A shot of whiskey might seem like an ideal way to end the day and relax a bit. And for many people, it can be. Whiskey's anti-stress properties come from its role in the

body

as a depressant, meaning it slows down brain function and neural activity, which increase during times of stress. Alcohol also increases circulation, which helps distribute oxygenated blood throughout the body, allowing you to calm down and regain control of your emotions. Finally, whiskey can help you sedate yourself and make you feel ready for bed. It's no wonder it's such a popular nightcap for so many!

Although alcohol can help relieve stress symptoms, remember that it doesn't make them go away. So while you can use your drink as a temporary relief from the stress of the day, be careful not to overdo it. The American Anxiety and Depression Association has warned that about 20 percent of people with social anxiety disorder also suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence. It is very easy to develop a problem if you are not careful. Researchers aren't sure why, but people who drink in moderation tend to be more physically active than people who don't. This finding comes from a survey of more than 230,000 Americans published in the American Journal of Health Promotion.

The study found that moderate to heavy drinkers exercised 10 to 20 minutes more each week than light or seldom drinkers. The study's lead author, Michael French, told ScienceDaily: "Alcohol drinkers not only exercised more than teetotalers, but the difference actually increased with more consumption." A similar review of rates of alcohol and exercise among men and women published in Frontiers in Psychiatry confirmed the finding, reporting that a link between alcohol consumption and increased sports activity in college students has been documented for decades. In these studies, researchers link celebrating wins and commiserating over losses in sports with an increase in active people who drink.

For people who don't play sports, the researchers speculate that drinkers may exercise more to offset the effects of alcohol or out of vanity: They want to look good when they drink. It's no surprise that drinking too much whiskey can drastically change your mood, making you cry, angry, or even turn into a dancing demon. The effect is due to alcohol's ability to alter our brain chemistry, according to DrinkAware. As these changes occur, our emotions can also change. Sometimes that effect is negative, but according to a study in the British Medical Journal, there may be positive changes to our mental state that also come from drinking.

To complete the study, the UK researchers surveyed 200 regular drinkers and asked them how their moods changed when they drank. They found that while about 30 percent of those surveyed reported feeling aggressive, more people had positive reactions to their favorite spirit. 59 percent of people said that drinking regularly made them feel more confident, and 42 percent reported that drinking regularly made them feel sexier. Time revealed in its review of the findings: "Whether they realize it or not, people may choose their drinks based on their emotional state or how they expect a certaindrink makes them feel." Check out one of our latest videos right here!

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