You may have heard that whisky can cure colds, and you might have even tried it, feeling some relief after a soothing sip. However, did it actually cure your cold? The answer is no; that was just a temporary effect, not a genuine cure. Likewise, whisky is often praised for various health benefits, such as boosting immunity and aiding digestion. But are these claims true? At Unsobered, we’re dedicated to debunking such myths so you can be well-informed and enjoy your drinks responsibly without falling for misleading health claims.
Fact: Regular and heavy consumption of any alcohol, including whisky, only suppresses the immune system and increases its sensitivity to various infections like pneumonia. There might be some health benefits from moderate drinking, like an improvement in the immune responses or a reduction in inflammation. But all these get easily outweighed by long-term risks that heavy and regular consumption of whisky brings. Hence, no healthy authority at all supports this claim. The only right way to improve your immune system is through exercise and healthy eating habits.
Fact: Whisky can actually work as a vasodilator, which helps in opening up the blood vessels and clears the chest or nasal congestion, but it does not cure the core infection that has caused the cold. The warmth of a hot toddy made with whisky can offer temporary comfort through its steam and numbing effect. However, it’s important to note that excessive consumption of whisky can lead to dehydration, which may actually prolong cold symptoms. A cold typically improves with proper hydration, rest, care, and sometimes medication, and does not require alcohol-based treatments.
Fact: This myth is too wrong to even exist. There are multiple health organisations, and studies (International Agency for Research on Cancer) have confirmed that alcohol consumption, including whisky, increases the risk of several types of cancer, like liver, rectum, mouth, throat, and breast. Even moderate drinking has higher odds of developing certain cancers, and there is no safe level of whisky consumption yet established that can prevent the risk of cancer. Hence, not only regular and excessive whisky drinking, but even moderate drinking might lead to cancer.
Fact: Whisky contains almost no essential nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, fats, or vitamins, which makes this spirit empty in terms of nutritional value. It does have calories in it with zero significant amount of sugars, fibre, or any beneficial nutrients in it. The spirit does have an almost undetectable amount of zinc, iron, and potassium, but they are insufficient to contribute to the daily nutritional needs of the body. The process of distillation actually removes all the nutrients that come from the raw materials, and hence it should not be considered a source of nutrition.
Fact: According to recent genetic studies, higher consumption of whisky actually increases the risk of dementia. It also indicates that even moderate drinking might harm the functioning of the brain over time. This is because alcohol actually causes brain inflammation and reduces the ability of the brain to repair itself, which accelerates cognitive decline. Public health experts now advise people to cut down on alcohol intake to prevent dementia, as no whisky has yet proven to prevent it.
Fact: While this myth says that whisky helps in weight loss, the truth is that it actually might hinder your weight management efforts. One standard shot of whisky contains approximately 100 empty calories with zero essential nutrients. So if you drink whisky in large pours, you can only increase the calorie intake of your body. Additionally, it actually pauses your fat burning to prioritize metabolizing ethanol, which leads to fat accumulation. It impairs the metabolism, lowers inhibitions, and increases appetite, which leads one to overeating. Hence, instead of helping in weight loss, it actually leads to unhealthy weight gain.
Fact: Moderate consumption of whisky might bring in temporary relaxation, but it is also capable of leading to impaired memory and judgment. Drinking excessive amounts or chronic drinking might lead to disruption of brain chemistry, which increases the risk of mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, and others. The depressant effects of whisky or any alcohol actually slow down brain function and interfere with the neurotransmitters, which can increase the risk of dependence and mental health conditions. The only way to improve your mental health is by changing your lifestyle and getting professional care.
Fact: Excessive whisky intake might pose serious health risks which include liver damage, which also affects the gallstones. Additionally, alcohol might slow down the emptying of the gallbladder, which again can affect the health of the gallbladder. No study tends to guarantee whisky as a safe measure to prevent or cure gallstones. The only way to prevent it is through a healthy weight, a balanced diet, and an active lifestyle.
Fact: The myth that whisky helps in digestion is simply misleading. According to some studies, whisky might actually delay the emptying of gas, which later slows down the process of digestion instead of improving it. It interferes with the secretion of various gastric acids that are important for digestion and disrupts the muscular movements of the intestines and stomach. Moreover, excessive consumption of whisky can cause various digestive issues like malabsorption and diarrhea. Proper digestion can be achieved only by eating a balanced diet and taking care of oneself.
Fact: Whisky does make one fall asleep faster because of its effects on the central nervous system. But it ultimately disrupts the quality of your sleep. It reduces your rapid eye movement (REM), which is very important for emotional processing, memory, and complete restfulness. The body ends up metabolizing whisky during the night, which leads to lighter sleep with frequent awakenings. It also relaxes your throat muscles, which eventually leads to snoring. Relying on whisky for sleep might lead to insomnia by impacting your mental and physical health.
Fact: Scientific studies show that whisky, or in fact any other alcohol, tends to increase blood pressure. Even moderate drinking leads to an increase in blood pressure, though to a small level. The higher the intake, the higher the elevation. This effect is seen in both men and women and tends to be more common in people with pre-existing high blood pressure issues. While alcohol may cause a temporary drop in blood pressure within a few hours of consumption, this is followed by a rebound increase that can elevate blood pressure long-term. Chronic alcohol use is linked to sustained hypertension, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Fact: Regular or heavy whisky consumption is not safe and can lead to a host of serious health problems. While moderate intake may offer some benefits, chronic or excessive drinking increases the risk of liver diseases such as fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis, which can be life-threatening. Moreover, persistent alcohol use weakens the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infections and chronic illnesses. Therefore, no level of regular whisky drinking can be considered entirely safe and responsible.
Fact: Whisky can slightly raise your good cholesterol (HDL- high-density lipoprotein), which helps clear harmful fats from your blood. However, this benefit is temporary. Drinking too much whisky often increases bad fats (LDL- low-density lipoprotein), which can clog arteries and harm your heart. Also, alcohol can raise blood pressure and cause other heart problems, despite any small increase in good cholesterol. So, whisky is not a magic, and relying on it to improve cholesterol can be risky.
No health authority actually recommends starting whisky consumption for disease prevention or curing it, and it will not because even though moderate consumption in some cases might help temporarily, in the long run, whisky only has negative effects on an individual’s health.
Read Also: Health Benefits of Drinking Wine: Myths vs. Facts
