11 Benefits to Alcohol

Alcohol is not the picture of health but does have it's own benefits.

ALCOHOL'S HEALTH BENEFITS

1. Get a healthy heart.

Crazy, right? Beer and wine have natural antioxidants called phenols, which help protect against heart disease and lower the risk of hypertension. Just stick to moderate consumption — keg stands will not translate into even healthier hearts.

2. Freshen breath before (or during) a date.

Any case of bad breath can be helped by a shot of vodka. The high alcohol content in vodka (and other alcohols) helps kill bad odor bacterias. Two pro tips: make sure to spit it out after use, and don't use any liquors with high sugar content, as they can eat away at all that healthy enamel.

3. Become a genius.

Alright, you got us. Drinking is definitely not going to turn us into lil' Einsteins, but alcohol does help keep our brains sharp. Ethanol helps the neurons in the brain resist wear and tear that can lead to Alzheimer's and dementia later in life [2].

4. Finally finish that novel/album/painting with a creative flourish.

Alcohol actually (really and truly) helps us be more creative. One study found that people who drank and ate during a problem solving test performed better than their sober counterparts. The study was necessarily limited, and alcohol can certainly have detrimental effects on brain functions when confused in excess. A little inebriation could get the juices flowing, but don't chug an entire handle of vodka in hopes of painting the next Mona Lisa.

5. Look younger, longer.

Drinking is not known for helping people look their best, but the special antioxidants in wine (such as phytochemicals and resveratol) can increase energy levels and combat signs of aging.

6. We're going to live forever!

Well, no. But one study found that drinking a moderate amount of red wine helped increase life span by inducing longevity genes. [Note: This study was conducted on mice with highly concentrated values of resveratol, the supercharged antioxidant naturally found in red wine.]

7. Get good cholesterol (for a change).

Red wine is the superhero here. Alcoholic beverages, and wine especially, are credited with increasing "good," HDL cholesterol levels. HDL helps clean the body by removing LDL, or "bad," cholesterol.

8. Soothe a sore throat.

Not much of a voice to shout over that thumping bar music? Order another whiskey. Gargling some whiskey, combined with a spoonful of warm water, can help ease pain by numbing the throat. As with the mouthwash, make sure you don't swallow the dose. We want to feel better, not get smashed by accident.

9. Get over a malaria infection!

Granted, malaria is not a going concern for the Western world, but the tonic (in gin and tonics) has historically been used to treat malarial infections. Tonic contains quinine, an alkaloid that also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Much more effective solutions have been developed, but quinine (and tonic water) can still help in a pinch before proper medication can be administered [3].

10. Fight off the stomach butterflies.

Alcohol is the great uninhibitor, lubricating social interactions and making awkward situations a little less anxiety-inducing. Consuming alcohol can help us feel like we fit in at parties and temporarily boost confidence (see also: "liquid courage") [4]. The flip side, however, is that using alcohol as a social crutch can lead to long term physical and mental health concerns. Much like with opening our creativity, it's important to limit alcohol consumption to recommended averages with the goal being to squelch those stomach butterflies without glass in hand.

11. Outrun the common cold in style.

Cold season is fast approaching, so start drinking (in moderation). Two studies found that drinking alcohol was able to mediate the risk of getting a common cold. (Sorry, no studies suggest that drinking while sick will actually help.) One study found that moderate drinkers had a higher resistance to colds, while another out of Spain found that people who drank eight to 14 glasses wine — particularly red — was linked to as much as a 60 percent risk of developing a cold.

 

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