How Much Whiskey Is Good For Your Health?

This depends on your age and personal biology.  Some studies suggest that moderate drinking has some health benefits. Other evidence suggests that the safest amount of whiskey is none at all. Moderate consumption4 of whiskey is defined as:

• Up to one whiskey per day for women
• Up to two whiskeys per day for men

This refers to a standard drink of 1.5 ounces, or about one regular shot.

Is One Whisky a Day Good For You?

Some evidence suggests that moderate drinking has health benefits5, including:

• Improved heart health
• Improved mood and reduced stress
• Reduced risk of diabetes
• Reduced risk of obesity

By this logic, if you drink one shot of whiskey every day, it might be somewhat beneficial for you.

However, there is still some debate about this. Some scientists argue that these benefits are a coincidence—that moderate drinkers also tend to have other healthy habits6, which are the real cause.

And overall, each of the above benefits can also be gained from eating a good diet and getting enough exercise.

Is Drinking Whiskey Once A Week Good For You?

Drinking once a week is probably better than drinking whiskey every day. However, this doesn’t mean you should pack all the drinks you would’ve had in one week into a single day! Moderation—one to two servings—is still key.

That said, if you stick with this quantity, it’s likely to do you little harm.

What Makes Whiskey Different From Other Drinks?

Whisky is one of the lowest calorie alcoholic beverages out there—so long as it’s consumed straight and not combined with sugary mixers. If you’re counting calories or trying to lose weight, choosing whiskey over a higher-calorie beverage can help you stay within your daily goals.

Worse Hangovers

On the other hand, whiskey drinkers tend to report worse hangovers. A key reason is that whiskey has higher concentrations of congeners, a byproduct of fermentation that contributes to whiskey’s smell and taste.

Congeners may prolong the effects of intoxication and intensify hangover symptoms – including headaches, bad breath, and an upset stomach.

People who are allergic or sensitive to rye, wheat, corn, or barley (the grains typically used to make whiskey) may experience an allergic reaction to this beverage.

Depending on the person, these reactions may be severe—and the alcohol in whiskey may make them even worse.

What Can You Do If You Are Drinking Too Much Whiskey?

If you think you might be drinking more whiskey than is healthy, there are several things you can do to cut back.

Choose specific times when you are allowed to drink, and set a specific drink maximum

Pay attention to what times of day, and what situations you often drink in. Make a list of alternative things to do at those times, to replace drinking whiskey.

Avoid drinking alcohol at home, or keeping whiskey in the house

Of course, for many people this is easier said than done. If you feel you could use some extra support in quitting or cutting back on whiskey, there’s no shame in looking for help.

Ria Health offers flexible, online support from wherever you are. Choose moderation or abstinence, set your own goals, and get a plan customized to your unique needs.

Best of all, you can access the whole thing right from your smartphone.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that “moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. This definition is referring to the amount consumed on any single day and is not intended as an average over several days.”

In other words, one or two fingers of whiskey a day may improve your health, but anything more than that and the risks begin to outweigh the benefits.

Also take into consideration what you are mixing with your whiskey. A splash of water will not have any affect, but adding half a glass of diet coke will.

In order to justify a daily glass of whiskey by its health benefits, you need to make sure that you are not inadvertently taking away from them by the way you take your cocktail.

Drinking whiskey responsibly, and with moderation, can help you to live a longer and healthier life.

Grow a taste for the spirit without any squirts or splashes, and you will get the full health benefits that whiskey has to offer.

Drinking whiskey responsibly, and with moderation, can help you to live a longer and healthier life.

Grow a taste for the spirit without any squirts or splashes, and you will get the full health benefits that whiskey has to offer.