5 Surprising Healthy Benefits of Drinking Whiskey

Humans have been drinking alcohol to feel better since the late Stone Age. It’s widely believed that having a drink on the daily—as long as it is done in moderation—can be good for the health. And if you want to make drinking after meals a habit, make whiskey neat your choice of tipple.

Compared with other wines, spirits, and alcoholic drinks, the humble whiskey is least likely to give you hangover (if you don’t overdo your drinking). Be it a Bulleit whiskey or any of your favorite label, whiskey is one of the best after meal drinks to have because of its many health benefits. A few sips on a regular basis can help you keep your weight in check, reduce the risk of certain diseases, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve digestion, among many other health benefits. Here are six more surprising health benefits of making whiskey part of your meal plan:

1. Whiskey can help you stay slim.

Perhaps one of the biggest health benefits of whiskey is its virtually sugar-free composition and low-calorie count. Compared to beers, wines, and other spirits, whiskey is on the low end when it comes to calorie count as well as sugar content—just watch what you mix your drink with because adding coke, sour mix, or any other add on gets your calorie counter running and defeats whisky’s low-cal nature. Keep your drink neat if you want to avoid putting on unwanted or unnecessary weight. Not only that, whiskey likewise reduces your appetite, which is why it is a recommended after-meal drink. Sipping whisky toward the end of your meal will help make sure that you will not overeat. Whiskey even promotes healthier digestion, helping the food pass calmly through the digestive system.

2. Whiskey helps fight cancerous cells.

Whiskey contains ellagic acid, an antioxidant that inhibits the DNA from getting into contact with cancer-causing compounds. This means reduced chances of carcinogens inside the body. In addition to helping prevent cancer cells from forming, whiskey has also been found to aid in protecting the body as it undergoes chemotherapy, since the drink helps reduce oxidation within the body!

3. Whiskey can boost your heart’s health.

Another significant health benefit of drinking whiskey is its ability to improve the health of the heart. Many wines and spirits contain elements that help with heart health, but whiskey in particular can hen help reduce your risk of clots in the blood, reducing chances of developing heart conditions as well as sudden stroke or heart attack. The antioxidants found in Whiskey likewise help prevent the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries while promoting good cholesterol, which the heart needs to stay healthy. Reducing cholesterol buildup in the arteries also help prevent strokes while allowing the arterial walls to relax, enabling the blood to flow more freely throughout the body.

4. Whiskey helps reduce anxiety and stress.

Many people turn to whisky after a long and hard day as it helps calm the nerves and relax the body. Anxiety and stress are very common afflictions of the modern age, increasing the incidence of many other health problems. An occasional shot of whisky not only calms the nerves down—it also helps increase the circulation of oxygenated blood to the organs.

5. Whisky increases short term memory retention.

A few sips of whiskey each week also helps keep the mind active. The antioxidants in whisky help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia and aid in memory retention. As long as you keep your drinking in moderation, whiskey is a great drink to have on a regular basis because it keeps the brain active and working as it should. Just the same, anything in excess can be hazardous to your health and wellbeing. This is why it is important to remember that in order to get the real health benefits of whisky, you also need to keep a healthy drinking habit.

365 Drinks is your one-stop online whisky shop, offering the best selection of whisky variants and brands, from Chivas Regal to Jack Daniels, Royal Challenge, Famous Grouse, and Johnnie Walker, among many others. Options include single malt and rare whiskies as well as Scotch and Japanese brews along with an extensive range of whiskey gift sets and packages that make for a perfect present for your whiskey-loving friends.