Wellness in a Glass – Unveiling the Health Benefits of Non-Alcoholic Spirits

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A burgeoning market for functional beverages is taking the spotlight. These drinks boast ingredients like CBD, adaptogens, and nootropics that claim to enhance mood or boost brain power. These non-alcoholic spirits are also calorie-free, which is excellent for people watching their weight. In comparison, a single gram of alcohol contains seven calories.

Improved Immune System

As the global alcohol industry faces declining sales, many consumers opt for an alcohol-free alternative. Whether you want to reduce your alcohol consumption for health reasons or add more variety to your drink selection, it’s worth exploring the range of tasty non alcoholic spirits available. And, what’s more, many of the drinks in this category are packed with impressive health benefits that will help boost your wellness and well-being.

One of the most enormous health benefits of switching to alcohol-free drinks is improved immune function. Frequent and heavy drinking can suppress the body’s immune system, leaving it vulnerable to diseases like the common cold. It is because ethanol interferes with how your immune system deals with viruses and infections.

In contrast, studies have shown that non-alcoholic drinks can boost immune response, thanks to their antioxidants and other health-boosting ingredients. In particular, berry and spice botanicals are high in antioxidants, helping protect the body against free radical damage, and contain vitamins and minerals that support wellness.

For example, gin made with beetroot juice is naturally sweet and contains vitamin C to maintain healthy blood pressure. Meanwhile, a glass of kombucha is loaded with probiotics that can help to boost the immune system and improve digestive health.

Reduced Risk of Cancer

Enjoying a healthy lifestyle is essential for reducing the risk of cancer. Limiting alcohol consumption can effectively lower the risk of several types of cancer, such as breast and colorectal cancer. As per the latest estimates, around 23,000 new cancer cases in Europe in 2017 were associated with light to moderate alcohol intake. By adopting healthy habits like reducing alcohol intake, we can take a proactive step towards a healthier future. It accounts for 13.3% of all cancers associated with drinking.

However, there is good news! It is possible to decrease your risk of cancer by reducing your consumption of alcohol. A large study found that people who reduced their alcohol intake had a lower incidence of all cancers and cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract compared to those who maintained their level of drinking.

Alcohol-free drinks contain vitamins and other health-boosting ingredients like amino acids and botanicals. For instance, drinks such as Feragaia (a mix of non-alcoholic whisky and kombucha) contain vitamins B and C and help balance the gut biome. Other wellness drinks that are great for your immune system include apple cider vinegar, which is rich in prebiotics, beneficial bacteria, and antibacterial properties.

Finally, these alcohol-free beverages tend to be lower in sugar and calories than their alcoholic counterparts, which could significantly reduce your risk of diabetes and obesity – both of which can increase your likelihood of getting certain types of cancer. In addition, most of these drinks are packaged in glass – an environmentally friendly and sustainable choice that consumers have been shown to favor. Six of 10 European consumers preferred glass bottles for beverages such as juices, smoothies, and water kefir due to their health benefits and natural flavors. 

Reduced Risk of Heart Disease

Suppose you’re looking for a healthier alternative to your standard alcoholic drinks. In that case, many low-alcohol or no-alcohol wines, beers, and spirits are on the market. But just because they are ‘low-alcohol’ or ‘no-alcohol’ doesn’t necessarily mean they suit you. Some of them may have high levels of sugar or calories. So, choosing the lowest-calorie options for one of these drinks is best.

In a recent study widely reported in the media (including a study published in the British Medical Journal), researchers found that moderate drinkers were less likely to experience heart-related problems and visit their doctor than non-drinkers. The study was conducted on a large cohort of over 50,000 people. The study found that light to moderate alcohol consumption is linked to a lower risk of 12 heart and circulatory conditions.

However, it’s important to remember that the study found a link between alcohol consumption and heart disease but not necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship. It was found that the lower risk of heart disease accompanied by light drinking was due to healthy lifestyle factors rather than alcohol. The study also found that higher drinking levels were linked with a greater risk of heart disease, even when the alcohol intake was within current guideline-recommended limits.

As such, it’s still vital to reduce the amount of alcohol you consume, especially if you have a history of heart-related issues. In addition, it’s also a great idea to try to increase your water intake if you plan on drinking any alcoholic beverages.

Reduced Risk of Dementia

Regular alcohol consumption is associated with several health issues, including cancer, heart disease, brain fog, and reduced productivity. But did you know that it could also increase your risk of dementia? Research has shown that people who drink heavily are more likely to suffer from this condition, mainly if they carry the APOE-e4 gene. Light to moderate drinkers, on the other hand, are at significantly lower risk than abstainers. Both men and women consistently showed this finding, even after accounting for age, smoking status, and physical activity.

However, it’s important to note that the evidence is limited, and more research would be needed to confirm this link. In particular, only two studies were analyzed, and the results do not consider differences between genders or different types of drinks.

Interestingly, both these studies found that people who drink alcohol in moderation have a lower chance of developing dementia than abstainers. These results align with other studies that have found that teetotal drinking in middle age is associated with reduced risk of dementia later on, but only when considering other lifestyle habits such as not smoking, getting enough exercise, and eating a healthy diet.

If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to alcohol, plenty of options are on the market. From distilled non-alcoholic spirits to brewed non-alcoholic beer and bubbly non-alcoholic wine, you can find many alcohol alternatives that are tasty, flavourful, and completely free of calories. 

Reduced Risk of Hangover

A lingering hangover can spoil your whole day and make it hard to get back into the swing of things. That is because the alcohol disrupts your sleep cycle and leaves you feeling dizzy, nauseous, and unproductive – not to mention groggy, which can significantly impact how you feel throughout the day. But for those who do drink spirits, most hangover remedies consist of water and taking paracetamol. However, if you do some research into Mobile IV Pros, you will find they are an efficient way to get that hangover relief. This means you don’t necessarily have to worry about how much you are consuming, as they are transportable, which is convenient as you can do it from the comfort of your own home or when travelling.

Aside from the hangover, drinking too much alcohol can cause digestive problems. That is because alcoholic drinks tend to stimulate the production of stomach acid and slow down gastric motility, leading to nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, and heartburn. If you don’t want to suffer from these bloating, swollen, and painful symptoms, opt for a glass of wine without the alcohol or a non-alcoholic spirit.

With so many alcoholic drink alternatives on the market, sticking to your healthy goals is easier than ever. Whether you’re looking for a low-calorie beer or a cocktail with no added sugar, there are plenty of options. Aside from alcohol-free spirits, there is now a wide range of functional beverages that claim to support gut health, immune system function, stress management, boosting energy levels, and more.

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