The Whiskey of Life [by Kelechi Deca]

In all things, moderation is key…

About 500 years ago, Raphael Holinshed, an English chronicler, who was most famous for his work on The Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande, commonly known as Holinshed’s Chronicles wrote this about consuming whiskey.

“Being moderately taken, it slows the age, cuts phlegm, helps digestion, cures the dropsy, it heals the strangulation, keeps and preserves the head form whirling, the tongue from lisping, the stomach from womblying, the guts from rumbling, the hands from shivering, the bones from aching… and it truly is a sovereign liquor if it be orderly taken.”

The key phrase is “if it can be orderly taken”…

Sometime in 2008, I visited a distillery in New York, and the guide took us around the process. What caught my attention was the choice of oak trees used for the barrels and its overall effects on the final product, especially the health benefits. Maybe that was why Apostle Paul admonished Timothy that a little wine would help in talking about his ulcer.

There has been so much hermeneutics on whether Paul meant unfermented or fermented grapes. That is a subject for another day.

However, in the olden days’ Whiskey was used as an antiseptic because it kills bacteria. I read the findings of one experiment on how bacteria were tested against some alcoholic drinks to find which one is most potent in kpaing the damn thing, and it was only in Whiskey that they gave up the ghost.

Aside fighting off bacteria and infection, whiskey is loaded with antioxidants, this is because it has a high concentration of ellagic acid, which helps our body destroy rogue cells and fight off different diseases. Single malt whiskey has been found to have the highest amount of antioxidants.

According to Dr. William Shaffner of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, whiskey affects immunity by expanding blood vessels, which is helpful for increased motion within mucous membranes.

he expansion and motion can serve to reduce congestion and rid the body of infection, as well as support the healing process with antioxidants. He said “the alcohol dilates blood vessels a little bit, and that makes it harder for your mucous membranes to deal with the infection.”

I remember before Grace Jones, Great Britain’s oldest living person died in 2019 at 112 she attributed her long life to a whiskey ritual she practiced every night for over 60 years.

In her words, “I started having a nightly tot of it when I turned 50 so I’ve been having it every night for the last 60 years, and I certainly have no intention of stopping now,” she said.

Compared to other alcoholic drinks , whiskey has a much lower calorie count, almost zero sugar, no carbs and only 100 calories.

It is no surprise then that drinking a swig calms the nerves and reduce stress by slowing activity.

Moreso, as because of the ellagic acid produced due to the ageing process in wooden barrels helps regulates insulin levels and the levels of glucose liver releases – helping to keep your blood sugar in check.

Studies also show that moderate consumption of whiskey helps prevent the build-up of bad cholesterol which, if left unchecked, can develop into atherosclerosis.

The antioxidants present in whiskey supply a needed boost while also absorbing damaging phenolic compounds present in the body.

A 2003 study published by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) shows that the antioxidants in whiskey increases cognitive performance while simultaneously lowering the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or Dementia. The study further showed that non-drinkers and heavy drinkers are more likely to develop dementia than adults who drink between 1-6 portions per week.

Moreso, it takes care of cold.

That’s why it is known as “Uisce beatha” in Gaelic.

But in all these, drinking responsibly is key. And buying from the right place cuts out fakes.

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