If you have the symptoms of a common cold, your path to relief could lead straight to your liquor cabinet. Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has revealed that “cold cocktails” really do the trick. Specifically a Hot Toddy, which combines the usual formula for feel-good medicine (lemons and honey) with whiskey to create a magical elixir of health and happiness.
“It would not have an effect on the virus itself, but its effect on the body can possibly give you some modest symptom relief. The alcohol dilates blood vessels a little bit, and that makes it easier for your mucus membranes to deal with the infection.”
The benefits of sipping on whiskey in moderation have been known for a good while; you can reduce the risk of stroke, the risk of cancer and prevent Alzheimer’s thanks to the antioxidant qualities of the ellagic acids in our favorite, delicious booze. You can even fight free radicals which will slow down your body’s aging process with whiskey.
Oh yeah, and drinking whiskey helps you prevent blood clots, like red wine. It’s perfect, this whiskey. So delicious, so wonderful, so life-giving. Thanks, whiskey. Thanks, science.
Now, just don’t go drinking yourself under the table. Everything in moderation.
(Via ABC News)
