Does tequila bring health benefits? Science clarifies

Research presented at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society, showed that a natural sweetener obtained from the same plant used to make tequila can lower glucose levels in type 2 diabetics and help the obese to lose weight.

The main reason for this is that agavins, named for this natural form of sugar found in the agave plant, are not digestible and can act as a dietary fiber in the body so that blood glucose does not increase.

Thousands of scientists attended the meeting, held in Dallas, United States, to address new advances in science. One explained that in addition to lowering glucose levels, agavins also help increase the amount of insulin.

It is also among the best sugars to help the growth of healthy microbes in the mouth and intestines. And it can feel satiated, making people feel satisfied and eat less.

Another plus point is that agavins are not expensive and have no known side effects. The disadvantage is that it is not as sweet as artificial sweeteners.

Read also: See how natural sweeteners can replace sugar

And attention! Agavins are sometimes mistaken for agave nectar or agave syrup, which are very common in health food stores. But these products contain substances that have been broken down into individual fructose, so they are much more similar to high fructose corn syrup.

So, is tequila good for your health?

If consumed in moderation, tequila can be a great substitute for other beverages such as beer, for example. Tequila has very low sugar levels and has no carbohydrates in its composition, which makes it great especially for those on a diet. But remember: any alcoholic drink, when taken often and in high doses, can do harm to your body, especially the liver.

A curiosity about tequila is that agavins are the only carbohydrates used to make the drink. But as they are converted to ethanol, they are not found in the final product. So no drinking tequila believing it will have the benefits cited!

10-sec MedSchool: Drops and Tequila (April 2024)