Can alcohol be healthy?

After a stressful day we all want a release. To a certain extent, in moderation, alcohol can help take the edge off a difficult day.

But wine, beer, brandy and whiskey can be useful beyond just a bottoms up. The following text may inspire you to hit the club, hence proceed with caution; this article is not about the virtues of unbridled liquor consumption, rather it is about the virtues of how liquor can promote health, especially as an ingredient for home remedies. We begin with Brandy.

Brandy: Made from grapes, brandy is a spirit that has more than one healing power. It can warm you up in cold weather, and be your favourite antioxidant and friend when you're down with the flu. Science proves that 30 ml of brandy per day brings a similar benefit as your daily dose of vitamin C. But hold on, before you start sipping brandy, you should know that you must continue moderate Brandy consumption along with your daily intake of vitamin C.

Psst: Copper is an important mineral for distilling brandy, hence pumps up the antioxidant in brandy. Brandy is good for preventing stroke and certain kinds of dementia.

How to consume: You can make a hot toddy or simply add honey to 30ml brandy for a soothing drink.

Whiskey: Distilled from grain and matured in wooden barrels, whiskey is a hard drink and has a huge fan following across the globe. There are different kinds of whiskeys from different grains and from different countries. One pub measure, once a week will protect you from diseases, just like wine protects you from cardiac diseases as it raises the amount of antioxidants in your blood. Plus, phenol in whiskey brings a lot of health benefits with it.

Psst: Did you know that the word Whisky is derived from Gaelic for 'Water of Life?'

How to consume: A small dose of neat, matured whiskey is enough to derive health benefits.

Beer: One of the oldest fermented alcoholic beverages, beer has fans like Homer Simpson. We know that beer gives your hair an additional glow, but beer is rich in fiber, also magnesium, potassium, folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. Long blamed for the beer belly, it has since been proved that it is not the beer that causes abdominal obesity, but the food you tend to consume with it.

Psst: In a research study on Italian men and women it was found that beer keeps your mind young.

How to consume: One glass of beer a day is good for you, but more than that has the opposite effect.

Wine: Indians have opened up to drinking wine; it is no longer associated with just the Italians and the French. From rosy cheeks to a happy heart, wine was and is a popular beverage. Red wine is considered the fountain of youth by many thanks to the high level of antioxidants. A great accompaniment for romantic dinners, wine will boost your body's defenses, build bones and balance blood sugar levels.

Psst: Studies have linked moderate wine consumption to increased libido in women.

How to consume: One glass a day of this fountain of life will keep you going for years.

Vodka: Hip hop artists endorse it as the 'cool quotient drink', but the Russians believe it is a cure to all their problems and they might just be on to some thing. In several cultures, Vodka is used as an alternative medicine.

Psst: Some say that Vodka does not give you hangovers. We suggest you try this out for yourself.

How to consume: Consume no more than 1-2 units (30ml each) of Vodka at one go.

Rum: Produced from sugarcance - when had in moderate quantities - rum can help prolong life, and even reduce risk of dementia, cancer and stoke.

Psst: Did you know rum is also called Barbados water, Kill-devil, gorg, Nelson's blood, Navy Neaters and Demon water?

How to consume: 42.5gms of Rum will do the trick. Any more and you'd better hold on to that flight pillow for work the next morning.

Tequila: Who would have thought tequila has the healing power to improve the digestive process, sinus difficulties, increase endorphins in your brain and make you happy. Plus, it even helps your body detoxify impurities. Some studies even suggest that Tequila may benefit weight loss - in moderation of course.

Psst: Club life has given Tequila a bad reputation. In cultures where it is routinely consumed, the units are measured and certainly not mixed with sugar-heavy ingredients that make it high on calories and hangover-inducing properties.

How to consume: Tequila should be poured in hot beverages to sweat out the colds.