5 BENEFITS OF ALCOHOL 🍸

When you think of healthy living, what comes to mind? Exercise, vegetables, rest and alcohol. Say what?! Yes you read that correctly, alcohol consumption has been linked to a healthier and longer life! But hold up party animals, the research was referring to moderate consumption of alcohol (1 standard drink per day for women & 2 standard drinks per day for men). So just what benefits does a glass of red wine with dinner or a nip of scotch after a long day hold for your health?

Reduces your risk of heart disease

Moderate consumption of boozy beverages can reduce your risk of developing heart disease by 40% according to a review of more than 100 prospective studies from the Harvard School of Public Health. Your heart health benefits from alcohol’s ability to raise good cholesterol, lower bad cholesterol, and reduce blood problems that can lead to clogged arteries and heart attacks.

Boosts brain power

We are no doubt all familiar with the bad decisions made while under the influence of a few too many Friday night mojitos! But moderate consumption of alcohol has been shown to help prevent cognitive decline. Researchers from Loyola University found that moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia compared to non-drinkers by improving blood flow to the brain and slightly stressing your brain cells to better prepare them to cope against later stresses that could lead to dementia.

Prevents against the common cold

The Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University found that while susceptibility to the common cold was increased by smoking, moderate alcohol consumption led to a decrease in common cold cases for nonsmokers. Researchers found that by consuming moderate amounts of alcohol, particularly red wine, one could see a 60-percent reduction in the risk of developing a cold. The scientists suspected that this had something to do with the antioxidant properties of wine.

Lowers your chance of developing diabetes

Results of a Dutch study showed that healthy adults who drink one to two glasses of alcohol per day have a decreased chance of developing type 2 diabetes, in comparison to those who don't drink at all. Alcohol increases levels of a hormone that improves insulin sensitivity. In other words, it makes it easier for your body to process glucose and use it as energy. This helps reduce the amount of sugar in the bloodstream and ultimately reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

Improves your moves on the dance floor!

It has been irrefutably proven that alcohol improves your dance moves thus increasing overall physical activity! Win-win!

So if you are looking to improve your overall health try adding the odd glass of alcohol to your routine… Remember the key to good health is ‘moderation’ and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol is very detrimental to your health! And we don't need to remind you of the negative effects of sugar so stick to beer, wine and spirits with sugar-free mixers.

Did someone say wine o’clock?!