Raise Your Glass to Wellness
It’s hard to imagine that any alcoholic drink can be described as healthy - given how often we’re told to limit our intake. While that’s true - moderate consumption is advised. Did you know there are alcoholic beverages that are healthier than others? If you’re one of the majority of people in the US who drinks alcohol, you’ll find this handy guide useful. We’ll discuss the healthiest alcohol to drink on the market and discover what properties make them good for our physical and mental health.
Enjoy These Guilt-Free Alcoholic Beverages
Gin
What is it about gin that makes it such a healthy drink option? As a clear liquor, gin has the fewest calories of any alcoholic drink; this means that you’ll avoid putting on weight when drinking it. It also has a lower sugar content than wine or beer and reduces the chance of a hangover the next day.
Drinking alcohol safely is always important, especially in the example of gin given its high alcohol content. Sticking to one drink at a time is best practice.
Low-Calorie Beer
Low-alcohol beers tend to have low calories when compared to their regular larger counterparts, which is beneficial for our health.
Estrogen in light beer can benefit menopausal women if enjoyed in moderate quantities, limiting both physical and mental health symptoms.
Red Wine
In studies of blue zone countries - places where people live longer, it’s been discovered that many of the inhabitants drink red wine. But can red wine help you to live longer?
Yes - it’s been proven that this alcoholic beverage improves the health of your heart and brain. Much of the goodness in the wine comes from the grapes used in the production process.
White wine also contains antioxidants - making it a healthy option, though it contains substantially fewer than red.
Champagne
Picture the scene. You’re celebrating a huge moment in your life and you know that nothing fits the moment quite like a glass of champagne. But did you know that this popular celebration drink is one of the healthiest you can buy?
Champagne is made with grapes that contain polyphenols, which manage blood pressure and reduce inflammation. These qualities make you less likely to develop skin diseases.
Next time you pop the cork and take a sip, take a minute to reflect on the health benefits of champagne.
Kombucha
You may be surprised to see kombucha on this list of alcoholic drinks, but did you know that all kombucha (especially hard kombucha) has at least a little alcohol inside?
Resulting of how its produced, kombucha is perfect for strengthening your immune system and supporting digestion.
Bloody Mary
Combining tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire Sauce, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper and garnishes make a delicious cocktail known as Bloody Mary.
What makes this drink so healthy? For a start, tomato juice adds vitamin C to the mixture which is beneficial for your bones, skin and connective tissue. Secondly, vodka is a clear liquor meaning it is low in calories and sugar content.
Tequila
Much like gin and vodka, tequila is a clear liquor that has a low-calorie content. This alcoholic beverage is made from agave juice, which contains naturally-occurring sugars that support weight loss, reduce pain and improve your body’s iron levels.
Stout
Darker beers such as stout are healthier drink options because of their unique properties. They contain silicon, encouraging our bodies to keep our hair and nails healthy. Stouts are also perfect for our guts because they contain good bacteria.
Despite their higher ABV, stouts have around 40-60 fewer calories than other beers making them a great choice for keeping weight off - which in turn reduces other health risks.
Mulled Wine
Mulled wine provides the health benefits associated with red wine, while also adding healthy spices into the mix such as cinnamon and ginger. The spices present in mulled wine provide the body with antioxidants which have lots of major health benefits including lowering the risk of eye disease and reducing the risk of diabetes.
Buck’s Fizz
The simple cocktail Buck’s Fizz contains orange juice - a great source of vitamin C and champagne - perfect for managing blood pressure. However, the orange juice in this cocktail contains lots of calories and sugar, which can cause an alcohol flush reaction.
Craft Beers
Craft beers are healthier than mass-produced ones because they contain more vitamins. More intricate work goes into making each craft beer, ensuring healthy minerals can be packed.
Craft beers are just generally higher quality than regular lagers, which tends to mean that they’re healthier.