Everyone has heard a lengthy story about how alcohol is bad for your health. Alarming stories float around on the internet and in commercial advertisements of ruined families or tragic accidents. That may be true when alcohol is consumed irresponsibly or in too high of a quantity. However, what if it’s consumed in moderation and in a responsible way? No one should drink and drive or drink absurdly large amounts of alcohol, but when your consumption is kept to a moderate amount and done in a way that is safe, alcohol can be helpful.
Alcohol is a stress reliever and is most often used for such. When we think of alcohol, we think of an individual coming home from a hard day’s work and making themselves a glass of whiskey or a vodka cocktail to relax his or her sore muscles and mind. We think of after work get-togethers on a Friday night where coworkers can relax and have a couple of drinks after a long work week. Better yet, in recent times we’ve connected red wine to positive heart health.
Alcohol is often portrayed in a purely negative light. That’s not always the case, though. It can be a helpful substance that can increase one’s quality of life, or even help benefit their heart when the right type is consumed in the proper amounts. Whether or not alcoholic beverages are a powerful boon to someone’s happiness, or a toxic road towards a downhill spiral, is completely up to the consumer. It’s all about how the consumer chooses to use it.
Benefits of alcohol
As stated above, alcohol is a stress reliever when used responsibly. As a depressant, alcohol will very quickly begin to soothe the nerves and numb the senses of the individual taking it. The stronger the alcohol, the less alcohol and time that it takes to do so. That being said, alcohol is considered an addictive substance.
If you find yourself struggling with addiction, here is an article that can help you break the habit.
With all that being said, try not to overconsume alcohol or drink it too regularly.
Another benefit of alcohol is found in red wine. According to recent studies, drinking one glass of red wine a few times a week can promote good heart health. This means that it might help prevent heart attacks, deterioration of the heart over time, and high blood pressure. With that in mind, drinking a couple glasses of red wine a week is actually healthy.
Cocktails for those who can’t stand the taste
Alcohol usually has a rather bitter taste, even with the sweeter varieties. For some, that makes consuming even the lightest of alcohols a task that they’d rather not do. So, here is a valuable list of cocktail recipes to help you get started in trying alcohol in moderation.
Whiskey Sour
The Whiskey Sour is a simple cocktail that uses whiskey as the name suggests. However, when mixed with a couple choice ingredients, the once bitter and hard to drink alcohol becomes a flavorful drink with sour flavors and sweetness. For the Whiskey Sour, you’ll need:
- Ice
- 1 oz Monon Pure Cane Syrup
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 and a half ounce of your favorite whiskey
As with most cocktails, you’ll need a mixing tin. Pour the ingredients into the mixing tin and shake vigorously. Then, pour into a glass and enjoy by itself or through a straw with some garnish.
Wildberry Cosmo
If vodka is more your drink, this is a flavorful cocktail. You’ll need:
- Ice
- 1 and a half ounces of vodka
- Half ounce lime juice
- Half ounce orange liqueur
- Three-quarters of an ounce of Monin Wildberry Fruit Puree
Again, just shake the ingredients in a mixer and pour it into a glass to enjoy.
For the purpose of this article, only two recipes are included here. However, to find a much larger list, click cocktail recipes.
Fermented drinks such as alcoholic beverages often get a bad reputation. When consumed irresponsibly or too high of an amount, alcohol is unhealthy. However, by limiting your consumption and drinking responsibly, you can enjoy alcohol and also a few health benefits.