5 healthier alcoholic drinks to have instead of beer and sugary cocktails


Every year, nearly 70% of American adults drink. While alcohol has some negative health effects, there may be benefits to moderate consumption.


"We must state unequivocally that alcohol is a poison. So we're not claiming that alcohol is inherently healthy "Megan Kober, a registered dietitian at Metabolism Makeovers, agrees. "However, research has shown that having a drink or two a day can actually have some protective heart health benefits, which I believe is due to the fact that it helps us relax."


If you do drink, there are healthy alcohol options available to you. Here's what you need to know about the healthiest and least healthy alcohols.

Red wine 

When it comes to a healthier alcoholic beverage, red wine is at the top of the list.


Red wine contains antioxidants, which can protect your cells from damage, as well as polyphenols, which can help your heart. These are also present in white wine and rose, albeit in smaller amounts.

According to studies, red wine is associated with the following benefits:


  • Cardiovascular fitness

  • Bone mineral density

  • The condition of the brain

Kober recommends looking for natural wines regardless of the type of wine you're looking for. "These wines have far fewer additives, and your liver will not have to work as hard, adding to the health benefits that you may get from your wine," she explains.


General advice: Inquire at your local wine shop about the healthiest natural wines to buy.

Champagne

Champagne grapes are high in phenolic compounds, a type of antioxidant that can improve brain health and may help reduce the risk of dementia.


In fact, a 2013 animal study discovered that drinking champagne improved memory in elderly rodents. While the findings have not yet been confirmed in human brains, researchers thought they were promising and matched similar findings in other antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries.

Tequila

Consuming the agave tequila plant has been shown in animal studies to increase calcium absorption and improve bone health. However, it's doubtful that drinking tequila can help treat calcium deficiency or bone conditions like osteoporosis in humans.


Nonetheless, clear liquors such as tequila are generally low-calorie drink options, according to Kober, and you could do a lot worse if you're drinking.


"Clear liquors like vodka, tequila, and gin have the lowest sugar and calorie content and are the easiest for our bodies to metabolize," says Kober.

Whiskey

We've all heard about the antioxidant benefits of red wine, and new research suggests that whiskey can have the same effect.


In fact, that study concluded that moderate alcohol consumption combined with increased antioxidant intake may help reduce the risk of heart disease.


However, whether alcohol is truly heart-healthy is still debatable, and it's probably better to indulge in other antioxidant-rich treats, such as dark chocolate.

Kombucha 

Kombucha is a tea-based beverage that has been fermented. Normally, it has such a low alcohol content that it is not classified as an alcoholic beverage.

Some kombucha producers, however, are now producing hard kombucha, which has an alcohol content comparable to beer or hard seltzer. Regular consumption of kombucha has some health benefits, including lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as aiding digestion.


It's unclear whether these will translate into hard kombucha. However, some hard kombucha brands contain no sugar, which is beneficial to one's health, according to Kober. "No matter what alcohol you're drinking, you want to avoid sugar," she says, because sugar is linked to a slew of negative health effects ranging from weight gain to heart disease.

Drinks to advoid 

It's important to understand the health benefits of some alcoholics, but it's even more important to understand which drinks to avoid. Take these drinks out of your rotation if you're trying to stay healthy, says Kober.

  • Beer contains a lot of empty calories and congeners, which are chemical components that contribute to hangovers. "Beer is probably at the bottom of my list of alcohols that could potentially have health benefits," says Kober.

  • Sweet drinks: Juice-based drinks are high in sugar, which means more calories and a worse hangover, according to Kober. "To flavor, stick with sparkling water, lemon, lime, cucumber slices, or orange slices," she suggests.


Are you a fan of achoholic drinks? If yes, consider I Don’t Need A Man I Need A Tequila And A Tan Shirt. 


Related:  10 Essential Facts About Alcohol Abuse

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