Whether people indulge once in a blue moon or are serious connoisseurs, drinking whisky has been touted as a cancer preventative. That's because, according to some researchers, single malt whisky contains ellagic acid, which is:
A naturally occurring plant phenolic known as an anti-carcinogenic/anti-mutagenic compound (believed to be the most effective way to ward off cancer).
An effective free radical hunter that absorbs troublesome cells that occur in the body during eating.
Free radicals cause harm to your body because they can break down the DNA structure of existing cells, which leads to the risk of the body making replacement troublesome cancer cells.
Moreover, some studies have shown single malt whisky contains more ellagic acid than red wine.
A Skeptic's Advice
However, a member of Cancer Research UK warns: While ellagic acid is a powerful antioxidant, that does not mean it is crucial to hit the whisky bottle, for ellagic acid can also be found in soft fruits.
Daily News Central May 9, 2005
Many previous studies on alcohol and its effects on health have also shown beneficial results.
However, while there are some beneficial components of alcoholic beverages because they are distilled from natural substances, the alcohol remains a potent neurotoxin.
It is not the alcohol in the above study that is providing the benefits, as in the case with resveratrol in red wine, it is a component of the whisky that does the trick. Its alcohol content, in terms of promoting health, is likely irrelevant.
In fact, because of alcohol's well-known toxic effects on the liver and potential to disrupt the delicate function of your hormone system, whose to say the benefits from ellagic acid in whisky would not be even greater if you consumed a healthy food source of it instead?
Some of the best whole food sources of ellagic acid include:
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