Life
It's known for making your clothes fall off, but it turns out there are some real benefits of tequila. Whether you prefer to sip it from a glass, shoot it back with a wedge of lime and salt, or have it blended into a margarita, drinking tequila is more than just tasty — it's good for you.
When most people mention tequila, their first instinct is to hold their head and moan a little bit. But in order to reap the benefits of tequila, you need to make sure you're drinking a pure 100 percent agave tequila. According to Forbes, the U.S. and Mexican laws differ on the production of tequila. In America, the liquor can contain as much as 49 percent of other liquids and still be considered tequila. But under Mexican law, tequila must be made from only the blue Weber agave plant from the Tequila region. All those other additives, chemicals, and sugars are what gives most people a bad feeling about tequila. You trust Mexico with your tacos, right? So trust the country with your tequila.
Regardless of the negative connotations of tequila, it's still a liquor to be celebrated. Not only has it been around for centuries, but Feb. 22 is also National Margarita Day, which gives you the perfect excuse to pick up your favorite (100 percent agave) tequila and reap all 11 of these benefits. Remember to drink in moderation!
1
It Can Help You Lose Weight
If you try to save your calories for drinking, you're doing yourself an even bigger favor by choosing tequila. According to the American Chemical Society, the agave plant used to make tequila contains agavins, a natural form of sugar. This sweetener is non-digestible and acts as fiber, so it doesn't raise your blood glucose levels. Apparently those agavins can also leave you feeling fuller longer, so there's less of a chance that you'll overeat.
2
It Helps Lower Cholesterol
Those same natural sweeteners, agavins, can also help lower your cholesterol. A study conducted by Plant Foods for Human Research found that the agavins decreased blood cholesterol and LDL, the bad cholesterol.
3
It Doesn't Give You A Hangover
If you're drinking 100 percent pure agave tequila, that is. When it comes to making tequila, the law is that it can be called tequila as long as it has at least 51 percent of alcohol distilled from agave, which means the rest of the drink is filled with other sugars and can cause hangovers according to NBC. So pick a pure, 100 percent agave tequila to indulge on and save yourself from feeling terrible in the morning.
4
It Fights Osteoporosis
Skip the milk and sip on some tequila for bone health. The agave plant that tequila is made from contains fructans that can protect your body from osteoporosis by boosting the body's absorption of calcium, notes the American Chemical Society.
5
It Can Help Treat Colon Diseases
Those suffering from colon diseases like irritable bowel syndrome, cancer, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis might find tequila their new drink of choice. The raw ingredient in tequila, blue agave, contains compounds that are naturally effective at delivering drugs used to treat colon diseases directly to the colon. Apparently many colon medications are destroyed by stomach acids, and scientists are looking at using the compounds from blue agave as drug carriers.
6
It Benefits Your Intestines
Those fancy fructans in the agave plant have another great benefit — prebiotic qualities. A study found that the fructans made intestines a better environment for thriving healthy bacteria.
7
It Can Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Not only do the agavins in the tequila plant lower your blood glucose levels, but they can also increase the amount of insulin in your body according to the American Chemical Society.
8
It Prevents Heart Disease
Sure, this is a benefit of any type of moderate alcohol drinking, but it's still worth mentioning because hello, tequila. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, moderate drinking can reduce the build-up of fat in your arteries and prevent them from clogging.
9
It Lowers Your Risk Of Dementia
A study conducted by Wake Forest University found that moderate drinking can reduce your risk of dementia. According to BBC News, those who had between eight to 14 drinks per week lowered their risk by 37 percent.
10
It Can Make You Happy
Unlike other alcohols, tequila actually elevates your mood, according to Esquire. Which explains all of the woo-ing we all seem to do when we've had a bit of it.
11
It Turns You Into The Best Dancer That Ever Lived
I mean, obviously, right? I don't need any sources to back this one up.Ewe all have our own personal dance moves courtesy of tequila.
