Who doesn’t love a tasty adult beverage from time to time? While too much alcohol is definitely not good for you, some drinks actually provide a few unexpected health benefits. That’s right, certain cocktails, wines, and beers can give you a gentle buzz along with a nice little nutritional boost!
From antioxidant-packed wines to probiotic-rich brews, this fun list reveals 10 alcoholic sips that just might do you some good when taken in moderation.
1. Red Wine
Red wine is packed with antioxidants like resveratrol from the grapes’ skins. These antioxidants may help protect against heart disease and certain cancers. In moderation, red wine can also raise “good” HDL cholesterol levels.
2. Hard Cider
Unlike sweet sodas, hard ciders can provide some nutritional value from the apples they’re made from. Apples are high in fiber and vitamin C. Many hard ciders also skip artificial flavors or colors.
3. Dry Vermouth
This fortified wine is a good source of beneficial plant compounds like flavonoids. Dry vermouth also contains some iron, manganese, and magnesium. It makes a classy, relatively low-calorie cocktail mixer.
4. Tequila
High-quality 100% agave tequilas have no added sugars and get a boost of nutrients like agave’s fructans, which feed the healthy probiotics in your gut. Choose blanco or silver tequilas over mixtos.
5. Guinness Stout
This famous Irish dry stout is a surprisingly decent source of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber that you wouldn’t get from other beers. The roasted malts and barley used give Guinness a good dose of B vitamins like folate, riboflavin, and niacin.
6. Bloody Marys
We all know tomatoes are packed with the antioxidant vitamin C, but did you know they’re also one of the best sources of anti-aging lycopene? Thanks to all that nutrient-dense tomato juice, a Bloody Mary cocktail supplies a decent nutritional boost along with your vodka kick.
7. Light Lager Beers
No, light beers aren’t some magical healthy food that will help you lose weight. But they do offer some redeeming qualities over their full-calorie counterparts. Light lagers like Bud Light generally have minimal calories (around 100 per bottle) and very low carbs, which makes them easier to work into a balanced diet.
8. Green Beers
No, not those neon-colored novelties for St. Patrick’s Day. Craft brewers are starting to experiment with adding nutrient-packed ingredients like matcha green tea powder, spirulina algae, and other green superfood extracts to their beer recipes.
9. Scotch Whisky
While heavy alcohol consumption is never advisable, high-quality Scotch whiskies do contain more antioxidants than even red wine in moderate portions. The malting process used to make Scotch actually increases the antioxidant content compared to other liquors.
10. Dry Martinis
The classic dry gin or vodka martini is one of the healthier cocktail options when consumed with restraint. These spirits themselves contain minimal calories, carbs, and sugars compared to some syrupy-sweet mixed drinks and fruity concoctions.
The botanical ingredients in unflavored, quality gins like juniper also provide antioxidants
Conclusion
While no alcoholic drink should be considered a health food, certain beverages can provide some unexpected nutritional benefits when enjoyed in moderation.
11 Nutritious Foods People Find Gross That Offer Surprising Health Benefits
11 Nutritious Foods People Find Gross That Offer Surprising Health Benefits
