The following article was originally posted by Bourbon Classic, a week long celebration of the Bourbon, Culinary, and co*cktail Arts in Louisville, Kentucky. There are limited tickets remaining for the Classic’s 2023 main event on Friday, Feb 24th, “The Chef & Mixologist Pairing Competition“, so grab them while you can!
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Bourbon lovers everywhere rejoice! Here are 10 (alleged) benefits of how bourbon can actually be good for your health. Please remember, the best results are for those that drink in moderation. Be sure to always drink responsibly, and never when behind the wheel.
1. Reduces Stress Levels
Stress has become such a big part of everyday life, especially over the last 3 years. In fact, it is theleading cause of premature death. The good news is that a drink of bourbon has been shown to calm nerves and reduce stress.
2. Improves Your Immune System
Bourbon is full of antioxidants, which eliminate free radicals and keep your immune system healthy. These antioxidants come from the ellagic acid in bourbon, which helps protect you from contracting illnesses from viruses or bacteria.
3. Prevents Blood Clots
Blood clots can be very dangerous, leading to heart attacks, strokes, or other serious health conditions. However, bourbon is good for your heart and helps you maintain a healthy circulatory system.
4. Reduces Your Risk of Cancer
Besides the antioxidants from the ellagic acid in bourbon, another benefit is that it helps prevent your DNA from connecting with cancer-causing agents, therefore reducing your risk of developing cancer.
5. Helps Control Type 2 Diabetes
Another win for the ellagic acid in bourbon. Astudy done by the Harvard School of Public Healthfound that moderate amounts of bourbon can help protect the body against Type 2 Diabetes. Participants of the study that drank between half a drink and up to four drinks per day had a 30% reduction in their risk for developing diabetes.
6. Improves Cognitive Function
TheNational Institute of Healthfound that bourbon actually reduced the risk of developing dementia in adults that consumed one to six drinks per week as opposed to non-drinkers and heavy drinkers. This was attributed once again to the antioxidants found in bourbon.
7. Increases the Amount of Good Cholesterol
Cholesterol is an important component of health that needs to be monitored closely. Consuming bourbon was shown to not only increase the amount of good cholesterol in your bloodstream but it was found to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol as well.
8. Relieves Cold Symptoms
Drinking bourbon can widen your blood vessels and help you clear mucus out of your nose and chest. This is one of the reasons why a Hot Toddy is such a popular drink during winter when people typically suffer from the worst of cold symptoms.
9. Reduces the Risk of Obesity
Bourbon is a lower calorie drink when compared to other alcohol. It also has been shown to curb appetite and aid in digestion after meals, lowering the risk of obesity. These benefits are once again attributed to the ellagic acid found in bourbon.
10. Prolongs Your Life
TheResearch Society on Alcoholismreleased a study that found those who drank a moderate amount of bourbon had a lower mortality rate than those who abstained from alcohol and those that were considered heavy drinkers.
Research has shown the suggestive health benefits related to Bourbon. Obviously, please don’t overdo it;) Drink moderately and responsibly when the time is right for a pour. Cheers to your health!
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FAQs
Evidence suggests that the ellagic acid in bourbon can help inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Plaque buildup in the arteries, caused by oxidized LDL cholesterol, is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The bourbon's polyphenols may help reduce inflammation.
Are there any health benefits to drinking bourbon? ›
Evidence suggests that the ellagic acid in bourbon can help inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Plaque buildup in the arteries, caused by oxidized LDL cholesterol, is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The bourbon's polyphenols may help reduce inflammation.
What happens when you drink bourbon every day? ›
Whiskey's potential health benefits are associated with low to moderate amounts. Over time, high alcohol consumption can increase your risk of chronic disease and other health issues. Whiskey's heart benefits come with small doses. Heavy alcohol use can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
What does bourbon do to the brain? ›
Alcohol makes it harder for the brain areas controlling balance, memory, speech, and judgment to do their jobs, resulting in a higher likelihood of injuries and other negative outcomes. Long-term heavy drinking causes alterations in the neurons, such as reductions in their size.
Does bourbon prevent illness? ›
Improves Your Immune System
Bourbon is full of antioxidants, which eliminate free radicals and keep your immune system healthy. These antioxidants come from the ellagic acid in bourbon, which helps protect you from contracting illnesses from viruses or bacteria.
Is bourbon harder on your liver than beer? ›
Myth 3: Drinking hard liquor is worse than drinking beer or wine. Contrary to popular belief, the type of alcohol you drink doesn't make a difference – what matters is how much you drink. "The safe limit is fixed at 14 units a week," explains Dr Lui. "Below this limit, alcoholic fatty liver is less likely to occur.
Is it OK to have a shot of bourbon every night? ›
As with all the health benefits of whiskey, the key is to consume in moderation. Because of its blood-thinning properties, a daily shot of whiskey can lower a person's risk of ischemic (clot-caused) stroke. You probably grew up hearing that drinking a Hot Toddy is a great palliative for a cold.
What are the disadvantages of bourbon? ›
Here are some of the negative effects of drinking too much alcohol:
- Weight gain. A standard 1.5-ounce (43-ml) shot of whiskey packs 97 calories, so regularly drinking multiple shots could lead to weight gain ( 3 , 4 ).
- Liver disease. ...
- Alcohol dependence. ...
- Increased risk of depression. ...
- Increased risk of death.
Alcohol is one of several substances that can damage your liver. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause fat to build up in your liver. This can lead to inflammation and an increase in scar tissue, which can seriously impact your liver's ability to function as it should.
How many ounces of bourbon a day is safe? ›
More recent evidence suggests that the safest amount of whiskey is none at all. Moderate consumption of whiskey is defined as: Up to one whiskey per day for women. Up to two whiskeys per day for men.
Alcohol can cause changes in the function of the kidneys and make them less able to filter your blood. In addition to filtering blood, your kidneys do many other important jobs. One of these jobs is keeping the right amount of water in your body. Alcohol affects the ability of your kidneys to do this.
Is bourbon good for your kidneys? ›
When functioning properly, alcohol is one of the toxins that your kidneys filter from your body. However, alcohol can dehydrate your system, impairing your kidneys' ability to function and maintain the right balance of fluids in your blood.
Is bourbon good for your heart? ›
Prevents Heart Disease
Drinking a moderate amount of bourbon per week lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease in men and women. It applies to those who do not have heart disease as well as those who are currently at risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Does bourbon damage teeth? ›
Hard liquor such as whiskey and vodka can contain acids that can lead to dental erosion. Beer and wine contain tannins, which can cause surface stains on the teeth. co*cktails and drinks made with mixers are high in sugar content and can cause tooth decay if not enjoyed in moderation.
Is bourbon anti inflammatory? ›
What makes whiskey a go-to for those who are health conscious is the antioxidant properties of the drink (which prevent cellular damage), the presence of anti-inflammatory chemicals (which can reduce pain and swelling), and the concentrations of chemical compounds (which can help reduce cholesterol levels).
Is bourbon bad for inflammation? ›
Alcohol contributes to inflammation in several ways, including: Gut microbiome disruption: Alcohol disrupts the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut microbiome. Known as dysbiosis , alcohol consumption allows harmful bacteria to proliferate.
What is the healthiest alcohol? ›
5 healthier drink options
- Dry red wine. Lower in sugars and higher in antioxidants. ...
- Dry white wine or champagne. Pretty much the same reasoning as above, just without the extra antioxidants.
- No-fuss co*cktails. ...
- Light beer. ...
- Hard kombucha.
Now, onto the nutritional facts: A 1.5-ounce shot of bourbon contains about 97 calories and 0g of carbs. Unless, of course, you start mixing it with sodas and sugary mixers. A 12-ounce pint of light beer contains about 103 calories and 6 grams of carbs, which isn't bad if you're refueling after a hard ride.
Does bourbon have any nutritional value? ›
Nutrition, served neat
Straight bourbon derives ALL its calories from alcohol (which provides 7 cals per gram (g), BTW), so it doesn't contain any calories from carbs, fat, or protein. Here's the breakdown for a standard 1.5-ounce shot of 80 proof bourbon: Calories: 97. Protein: 0 g.
