With regards to alcohol, everybody has their desire. For my part, I am an Aperol spritz stan and the mere considered vodka makes me nauseous. However within the identify of well being, some booze is arguably higher for you than others, and tequila generally ranks top at the checklist — that may be a wonder to any person who is woken up with a gnarly hangover after one too many Tequila Sunrises. So we requested RDNs to inform it to us directly: is tequila excellent for you, in fact?
At first, when used on this context “excellent” is a unfastened time period. Tequila isn’t “excellent” for you favor water is “excellent” for you. That stated, tequila generally is a fitter choice than different alcoholic beverages, says Gowri Reddy Rocco, MD, a double-board qualified circle of relatives drugs and regenerative, anti-aging, and practical drugs doctor.
However are there any well being advantages to tequila? And what are the hazards of the birthday party favourite spirit? Stay studying for the whole thing you wish to have to find out about tequila, consistent with professionals.
Mavens Featured in This Article
Gowri Reddy Rocco, MD, a double-board qualified circle of relatives drugs and regenerative, anti-aging, and practical drugs doctor.
Kimberly Gomer, RDN, a Miami-based registered dietitian.
What Is Tequila?
Tequila is a distilled beverage constructed from the blue agave plant, says Kimberly Gomer, RDN, a Miami-based registered dietitian. The drink is maximum frequently made in Mexico and is usually composed of 40 to 60 p.c alcohol by way of quantity (ABV), or 80 to 120 evidence, she says.
The booze is constructed from the guts of the agave plant (sometimes called the piña), and relying at the bottle, you’ll be able to to find 100 p.c agave, 100 p.c blue agave, or 100 p.c agave azul tequila, despite the fact that some manufacturers comprise added cane sugar, Gomer says. Simply be aware that tequila is made with agavins, a herbal, much less subtle type of the sugar fructose, to not be at a loss for words with agave nectar, Dr. Rocco provides.
Is Tequila Fitter Than Different Alcohols?
It relies. As a result of tequila is made from agavins, it has a decrease glycemic index of sugar than different alcohols like wine, beer, or combined cocktails, Dr. Rocco says. In consequence, it can be a more secure choice for diabetics or the ones seeking to prohibit their sugar consumption, she says. Simply understand that combining tequila with sugary mixes negates any doable low-carb or low-sugar professionals, Gomer says. (Therefore the Tequila Break of day hangovers.)
Tequila may be distilled and gluten-free, so it can be a more sensible choice in comparison to beer for other people who want to keep away from gluten, Gomer notes.
However should you’ve ever heard the rumor that anyone with celiac or a gluten intolerance who is unintentionally ingested gluten can take a shot of tequila to lend a hand reduce the after-effects, forget about it. Each Dr. Rocco and Gomer agree that there is *no* medical proof to again the declare.
Well being Advantages of Tequila
Whilst tequila has much less subtle sugars than different alcohols, there are not any well being advantages of the drink itself, according to se.
Agavin might beef up calcium absorption, which will lend a hand save you bone loss or osteoporosis, Dr. Rocco says. She says that agavin fructans are even be thought to be a prebiotic and probiotic, so a unmarried shot sooner than or after a meal might lend a hand with digestion — however since tequila is fermented, it is not likely the ones well being advantages make it to the shot glass.
In the long run, any doable upsides are not so vital that anybody will have to upload tequila to their vitamin within the hopes of tapping into them. There are alternative ways to spice up bone and intestine well being that do not include the downsides of normal alcohol ingestion (see extra on the ones, beneath).
You additionally want to bear in mind of the kind of tequila you are purchasing as a result of no longer all tequilas are created equivalent, Dr. Rocco says. “To get the most efficient advantages of tequila, you wish to have to get the ‘most sensible shelf’ stuff constructed from 100 p.c agave.” Many tequilas have further sugar, components, and coloring, which will cancel out any well being benefits, so you must see what you are in fact purchasing, Gomer provides.
Are There Any Downsides or Dangers to Tequila?
In actual fact, tequila (and any alcohol for that subject) is poisonous to the frame, Gomer says. Common consuming can build up your odds of dependency and addictions, deficient sleep, a weakened immune gadget, hypertension, dementia, weight problems, despair, and nervousness, Dr. Rocco says. Common alcohol intake may be related to most cancers, liver injury, and increased triglycerides, Gomer provides.
On most sensible of that, tequila no longer solely constructed from the blue agave plant (usually referred to as “mixtro”), generally accommodates fructose, glucose sugars, and added gluten which will spike your blood sugar, Dr. Rocco says. “Getting the normal 100 p.c blue agave tequila, even supposing it is dearer, is easiest if you are consuming to keep away from top sugars and any gluten publicity.”
The Backside Line
Tequila is made from much less subtle sugars than different alcohols, Dr. Rocco says. So if you’ll drink anyway, opting for a 100% blue agave tequila, and consuming it with none sugary mixers, might come up with a slight well being get advantages over opting for a special type of alcohol.
Even so, alcohol is addictive and may have adverse penalties, so moderation – in quantity and frequency – is the identify of the tequila sport.
Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based freelance author and graduate from Emory College and Northwestern College’s Medill College of Journalism. Her paintings has seemed in PS, Girls’s Well being, Cosmopolitan, and in other places.