We have good news for tequila lovers because as it turns out, tequila loves you, too. Or rather, your health that is. We have all been warned about the side effects induced by drinking too much tequila - insert your crazy tequila story here - but in moderation, the health benefits of tequila are pretty great. That's good news because a warm summer day with a prickly pear margarita or a citrusy Paloma wouldn't be the same without imbibing in a little tequila.
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If you love tequila as much as the next guy or gal, grab your cocktail glass, mix up your favorite tequila cocktail, and leisurely sip to your health with these seven benefits.
1. Diabetics can drink it.
Researchers have discovered that tequila can help those with type 2 diabetes. The agavins, natural sugars in agave, are non-digestible so blood sugar levels won't spike. In fact, it can lower glucose levels and increase insulin production.
2. It cleanses the colon.
Tequila is made from the blue agave plant. This plant contains fructans which aren't digestible. This is good news for fighting colon disease. Researchers have used fructans to help deliver drugs to the colon to fight diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
3. It can aid in weight loss.
Paleo, Whole 30, Mediterranean diet, you got nothing on tequila. Okay, that may be a bit of a stretch, but drinking tequila has been proven to shrink the waistline. A report, which was part of the 247th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, found that the same agavins that help diabetes are also good for obesity. The reason is those agavins act like dietary fiber, which if you have ever tried to slim down your waistline know that fiber promotes weight loss. Get your metabolism right!
4. It helps fight dementia.
Having flashbacks from last night and suddenly realizing that you did insist on doing karaoke to an Alanis Morissette song? Maybe you should have stuck to tequila - and by tequila I mean just one drink. Studies have shown that drinking alcohol like tequila in moderation may aid in the fight against dementia. Too much though, and you'll be back on stage next Friday night singing who knows what.
5. It aids digestion.
Like a good aperitif, tequila can help with digestion. A drink before a meal has been known to stimulate the appetite. And a drink after can help digest said meal. Now that explains the insatiable hunger I get for chips and salsa when sipping on a happy hour margarita.
6. It's probiotic.
Probiotics found in foods like yogurt and kimchi are praised for restoring good bacteria in the digestive system. And like yogurt and kimchi, tequila contains probiotics thanks to its fructans. But remember, in order to benefit from these probiotics, you will have to drink in moderation. Too much and you'll be downing kefir or kombucha the next day to get your gut back on track.
7. It's a cold-buster.
Next time you reach for an Emergen-C packet when you feel a cold coming on, pour it into a shot of tequila. No, this isn't some new fad cocktail. Tequila was prescribed by doctors in Mexico as a cure for the common cold during the 30s. While their version didn't include Emergen-C, it did include tequila blanco, agave nectar, and lime. Voila, a great immune system.
The idea here is that the agave would soothe a sore throat, the lime would add vitamin C, and the tequila, well, alcohol kills bacteria right? You may be hard pressed to find a doctor prescribing it today in the states, but we do drink a Hot Toddy for a cold so why not tequila?
Want more surprising health benefits? Check out why you should be drinking alcoholic beverages such as rum and gin.
