Why Cocktails are Health Food

WHY COCKTAILS ARE HEALTH FOOD

Fruity cocktails may not only be bliss to drink but they may actually count as ‘health food’.

According to a report in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, adding ethanol - the alcohol found in rum, vodka, tequila and other spirits - boosted the antioxidant nutrients in fruit.  Although mainly noticeable with strawberries and blackberries, the researchers suggested any coloured fruit might be made even more healthful with the addition of a splash of alcohol.




So How Does it Work?


Dr. Korakot Chanjirakul and colleagues at Kasetsart University in Thailand and scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture were examining ways to help keep strawberries fresh during storage and accidentally discovered that treating the berries with alcohol increased their antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity.  Highly exciting news, since antioxidants can cancel out the cell-damaging effects of compounds called free radicals. This can result in a lower risk of cancer, heart disease and some neurological diseases.

What the study didn’t address was whether adding a little cocktail umbrella enhanced the health-giving effects.  Bound to though, don’t you think?

Source:  Reuters