Does Alcohol Provide *any* Health Benefits
Eh, maybe.
Some research has linked moderate alcohol consumption to a lower risk of stroke and other cardiovascular problems. One study also claimed that moderate wine drinking could reduce your odds of developing clinical depression.
Combined with a healthy diet, test-tube studies have also found that the resveratrol in red wine may reduce the growth of cancer cells although theres little evidence it has the same effect in the human body.
But a large global study published in 2018 found that mortality in general, and death from cancer in particular, rises alongside increasing levels of alcohol consumption. They concluded that the level of consumption that minimizes health loss is zero. Ouch.
In other words, your best bet for good health is to not drink alcohol at all.
An occasional snifter of brandy probably isnt going to kill you. That said, all alcohol consumption carries risks, especially when that one brandy becomes two, three, or more per day.
Among the many risks associated with excessive alcohol use are:
Choose Drinks That Are Generally Lower In Carbohydrates
Ordering a sugar-laden cocktail is sort of asking for trouble because youre combining a lot of fast-acting carbohydrates with liquor thats going to potentially cause a sharp drop in your blood sugar hours after drinking.
Instead, choose dry wines , cocktails with sugar-free mixers , lighter beers.
And avoid choices like dessert wines , alcoholic ciders, and cocktails mixed with tonic, sour mix, juice, and soda.
Things To Remember About Alcohol & Diabetes
Alcohol and diabetes can be a tricky combination, but its absolutely possible to enjoy drinking responsibly if you remember these guidelines:
If you found this guide to diabetes and alcohol useful, please sign up for our newsletter in the form below. We send out a weekly newsletter with the latest posts and recipes from Diabetes Strong.
You May Like: Walmart 70 30 Insulin Pen
Which Alcohol Is Good For Gas
4.3/5gasgood
In this regard, which alcohol is good for gastric problem?
Alcoholic beverages with low ethanol content are strong stimulants of gastric acid secretion and gastrin release, the effect of beer being equal to the maximal acid output. Beverages with a higher ethanol content do not stimulate gastric acid secretion or release of gastrin.
Additionally, does wine cause gas and bloating? For some people, drinking even just a glass or two of winecan lead to major bloating. Too, the fact that wine contains so much sugar means that it feeds the yeast in your stomach, making the feelings of bloat even worse, according to Livestrong.
Then, does Whiskey help with gas?
A glass of whiskey after a meal can help to reduce stomach pains or indigestion better than beer or wine. The higher content of alcohol stimulates pepsin, an enzyme in the stomach that breaks down proteins that you’ve eaten, and helps them continue through the digestive system.
Can drinking alcohol give you gas?
Besides weight gain, alcohol can also lead to irritation of your gastrointestinal tract, which can cause bloating. This inflammation may be made much worse by the things often mixed with alcohol, such as sugary and carbonated liquids, which can result in gas, discomfort, and more bloating.
Brandy Benefits For Health Uses & And Its Side Effects
Brandy, if consumed daily in moderation, has a variety of health benefits. Brandy contains antioxidants which have the ability to lower bad cholesterol levels in the blood, thus keeping the heart healthy. The polyphenol compounds in brandy also reduce inflammation in the cardiovascular system, resulting in lower blood pressure.
Unlike other alcoholic drinks, brandy does not contain any carbohydrates, so it doesnt cause any bloating. It can be safely enjoyed without worrying about it being converted to fat. Brandy has also often been used to relieve respiratory issues such as coughs, colds and sore throats, due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
You May Like: Normal Glucose Range For Diabetics
So If I Have Diabetes I Can Drink As Usual
Not quite. People with diabetes need to be extra careful with alcohol.
Alcohol intake significantly increases the risk of hypoglycemia . If your diabetes is already well under control, a moderate amount of alcohol may be fine either before, during or soon after a meal.
Even if you have a drink, this may not influence short-term blood glucose levels. However, there are some precautions to be taken care of.
Nutritional Value Of Brandy
Alcohol-containing beverages such are brandy have a particularly high calorie content. One single shot of brandy contains 100 calories. Drinks that mix brandy with other beverages contain an even greater number of calories, because of the added sugar. Similarly, fruit flavored brandy also has an additional calorie count because of the addition of sugar.
Don’t Miss: Where Is The Best Place To Inject Insulin
How To Drink Alcohol With Diabetes Safely
At the end of the day, no one expects you to abstain from alcohol for the rest of your life just because youve been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. And unless you have other health conditions that call for avoiding alcohol, theres no reason why you cant enjoy a refreshing glass of wine or unique microbrew now and then.
Here are a few guidelines to follow when drinking alcohol with diabetes:
When You Drink So Much That You Become Unconscious Or Blackout Drunk
While youre unconscious, your blood sugar could begin to plummet as a result of the alcohol, having not eaten enough, and all of the other everyday causes of low blood sugar . At this point, youre not going to wake-up to the symptoms of a low blood sugar or be able to consume carbohydrates.
This puts you at severe risk for seizures or death because your friends think youre just sleeping when youre actually blackout drunk and suffering from severe hypoglycemia at the same time.
On the flip-side, you may become so drunk that you forget to take your evening long-acting insulin dose or you forget to dose insulin for the pizza and cake you ate a party. Then, while still unconscious, your blood sugar is rising to dangerously high levels, putting you at risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, coma, or death.
Don’t Miss: Insulin Pump That Checks Blood Sugar
Vodka Gin Whiskey Etc
When it comes to spirits such as gins, whiskey, and Vodka, they are usually very concentrated in alcohol content and hardly have sugars. They are clearer and very low and almost absent on carbs.
Adding other flavors like orange juices increases the number of carbs in these low-carb, distilled alcoholic drinks.
Vodka is generally very pure alcohol and almost very low in carbs content. We will discuss Vodka in further detail.
The best option to avoid any extra carbs or sugar overload is to ask the bartender for dietary drinks. They usually carry fewer calories and are a safer option for people with diabetes. It is best not to consume full sugar versions of alcoholic drinks as it can mess up your blood sugar level.
Keep a regular count and record of your blood sugar, and observe any decrease or increase in its level due to alcohol.
Vodka and its effects on Diabetes: is it a good drink for people with Diabetes?
Vodka is among the most concentrated alcoholic drinks available. The amount of alcohol in Vodka is around 40 percent. The alcohol in Vodka is responsible for causing a reduction in blood sugar levels overnight.
Any added flavor, taste, etc. containing artificial sugars and sweeteners can have a rising effect on peoples blood sugar levels with diabetes. The alcohols hypoglycemic effect then follows the rise in blood sugar in the drink.
Extreme low levels of sugar in the body can have various harmful and severe symptoms like diabetic seizures.
Drink it slow.
Alcohol Consumption Guidelines For Diabetes :
- Alcohol should only be used if your diabetes is under good control and with your doctor’s prescription.
- Avoid mixing alcohol with any kind of medication – alcohol can interfere the effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin.
- Drink not more than 2 drinks per day.
- Do not drink when your stomach is empty in order to prevent very low blood sugar level.
- Drink slowly to make sure that you liver have enough time to break down the alcohol.
- Choose your drinks, select drinks that are lower in alcohol and sugar – dry wine, light beer, or unsweetened liquor mixed with plenty of low calorie mixer, club soda or water are better than other alcoholics drinks.
- Stick with sugar-free mixers such as diet soda, diet tonic, club soda or seltzer for mixed drinks.
- Always check your blood glucose after you drink to see how alcohol affects you
- Include alcohol’s calories into your daily calorie count.
Drinking Alcohol Effect Diabetes and Raising Blood Sugars?Drinking Brandy Is Good For Health
You May Like: What Is Diabetic Retinopathy With Macular Edema
Health Benefits Of Brandy
Mentioned below are the best health benefits of drinking brandy. This alcoholic drink helps in fighting against cough and cold, you can mix brandy with honey which keeps your chest warm. Not only if offers benefits to your helath but too much consumption to brandy can lead to adverse effects of health. Even you can use this alcoholic drink to care for your hair. You can do massage of brandy to the scalp which improves blood circulation and prevent hair loss.
Even brandy may offer adverse effects on health if consumption is too high but it is used in the right way then even used to treat the sleeping problem, respiratory issues in children.Its throat warming nature and antibacterial properties help in treating sore throat and child obesity.
If You Are Vomiting From Alcohol
If you begin to vomit because of excessive alcohol consumption, its critical to first test your blood sugar and test your ketone level. Whether you have ketones or not, next its important to try drinking water to replenish the fluids you lost and prevent dehydration.
If you did have large ketones, and youre unable to keep fluids down, you should call 911 or ask a friend to drive you to the emergency room. The only way to safely rebalance your hydration, blood sugar, and ketone levels is an intravenous bag of saline, electrolytes and possibly glucose and insulin.
Even if you dont have ketones, repeated puking and the inability to keep water down means you need to get to the emergency room quickly. Dont be embarrassed, dont hesitate. Just get the help you need. Its not a fun part of life with diabetes, but itll keep you alive.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Type 2 Diabetes Naturally
Reasons Drinking Whisky Is Healthy For You
The historian Raphael Hollinshed wrote about the healthy properties of whisky in his 1577 book Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland.
“Being moderately taken, it slows the age, cuts phlegm, helps digestion, cures the dropsy, it heals the strangulation, keeps and preserves the head from whirling, the tongue from lisping, the stomach from womblying, the guts from rumbling, the hands from shivering, the bones from achingand truly it is a sovereign liquor if it be orderly taken.”
And who am I to argue, especially when it comes to womblying ?
It should also be added that during Hollinshed’s time, whisky was also used as an antiseptic on battlefields, especially because effective medicine was hard to come by in those days.
During America’s Prohibition in the 1920s, whisky could be legally imported into the United States because it was considered as a medicine, not a liquor. Back then, it was sold in pharmacies for use as a tonic.
A warehouse full of medicine which makes you healthy Photo: Toukou Sonsul/Flickr Creative Commons
Toukou Sonsul on Flickr Creative Commons
It can even lead to a long life. Grace Jones, one of Britain’s oldest women, attributes her ripe age of 110 to drinking whisky every night for the last 60 years. Her whisky of choice, by the way, is the Famous Grouse blend.
Obviously, if you drink too much whisky every night you probably will suffer more than benefit. But at lower, more moderate quantities, science says that it might be good for you.
Can Diabetics Drink Whiskey Ideal Ways Of Drinking
Ideally, diabetics should check their blood sugar levels before they proceed with consuming alcohol or whiskey. If these blood sugar levels are low or moderate, then drinking whiskey will not have an Ill effect.
In comparison, if you have a high blood sugar level, consuming whiskey or alcohol increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is the physical condition in which the blood sugar levels inside our body get very low.
Different people have different behavior towards alcohol. Diabetics that take insulin need to be cautious of hypoglycemia. It is better to conduct blood tests before you start taking whiskey or other alcoholic beverages. People who are obese or overweight should also refrain from drinking alcohol as it may increase their body weight.
Recommended Reading: Why Are Insulin Prices So High
Alcohol And Type 2 Diabetes: What You Need To Know
Drinking isn’t off limits when you have type 2 diabetes. Still, it’s important to understand how alcohol can affect your blood sugar, diet, weight, and more.
Thinkstock
Many people with type 2 diabetes think they need to eliminate alcohol completely from their diet. But, in moderation, alcohol may actually have some health benefits.
For instance, moderate alcohol consumption may reduce the risk of developing diabetes in people who dont have the condition, particularly women, according to a data analysis published in the September 2015 issue of Diabetes Care. And in people who have type 2 diabetes that is well-controlled, a glass of red wine a day as part of a healthy diet may help improve heart disease risk factors, according to results of a two-year study published in Annals of Internal Medicine in October 2015.
However, you need to be thoughtful about including any type of alcohol, even red wine, in your type 2 diabetes management plan.
The most important thing is to make sure you arent drinking alcohol on an empty stomach, says Liz Brouillard, RD, LDN, CDE, nutrition manager at the Boston Medical Centers Center for Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Weight Management in Massachusetts. She recommends only drinking alcohol with a meal or snack that contains both carbohydrates and protein. That’s because alcohol can lower your blood sugar, creating a risky situation for people with type 2 diabetes.
Is Cognac Bad For Your Health
According to an article in Livestrong, there is scientific evidence that Cognac may be good for you in moderation. These benefits include: -increase antioxidant levels that can prevent risk of clogged arteries, heart disease, cancer and vision loss and may even help the body absorb other antioxidants.
Also Check: Diabetic Supply Companies That Accept Medicaid
List Of Alcoholic Drinks For People With Diabetes
Moderation is key in drinking alcohol whether you have diabetes or not. In general, diabetes does bring with it additional challenges, and the American Diabetes Association recommends women should have no more than one alcoholic beverage per day, and men should consume no more than two. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 1/2 ounces spirits. The following cocktails limit carbohydrates naturally, so they can be part of a diabetic diet.
Health Benefits Of Whisky
Joel Hauer, Founder & whisky sommelier
03 Dec 2020
Like anything great in life, whisky should be enjoyed in moderation. However, you might be surprised to know that whisky is more than an enjoyable drink you share with your friends after work or at a special event. It actually carries some meaningful health benefits. When you do have that sweet, savoury glass, you dont have to feel bad about your decision. Thats right: Not only does whisky taste good, but it is good for you. Here are 10 surprising health benefits of whisky.
Read Also: Why Are Diabetic Supplies So Expensive
Brandy Vs Whisky: Which Is Better For Health
Probably neither. Brandy and whisky have about the same alcohol content depending on the type and product.
Brandy distilled from red wine may provide more healthy antioxidants than whisky. But again, not enough to offset the health problems associated with drinking too much alcohol and the distillation process might kill off some or all of its nutritional benefit.
How Much Alcohol Do Drinks Usually Contain
If you have diabetes and are wondering how much alcohol you should drink, it is worth reading the following list to see how much alcohol is contained in each type of drink.
One unit :
- 1/2 pint of standard strength beer, lager or cider
- 1 pub shot/optic/measure of sherry or vermouth
- 1 pub shot/optic/measure of spirit , eg gin, vodka or whisky.
Don’t Miss: How Long Do Insulin Pens Last