Can booze ever be good for us?
FROM gin that fights wrinkles to beer that boosts muscles, some new boozy drinks have bizarre health claims.
But should we take them like tequila – with a pinch of salt?
We spoke to GP Alexa Evans for an expert assessment on whether booze can give you more than a buzz and a bad head. BOOZE BUSTER 1
Collagin – collagen-infused gin Claim: An anti-ageing skin booster to enjoy with a tonic.
Expert view:“This seems like a long shot,” said Dr Evans. “Although I’m sure it’s delicious.”
The grapefruit-flavour booze, created by two “gintrepeneurs” claims to include 100mg of bovine collagen within every 500ml bottle. Dr Evans explained:
““Collagen is a type of pro protein which, when bro broken down in our skin, takes some fixing.
“It isn’t an easy fix but it seems it’s what everyone is looking for. I think to get a large enough amount of collagen to make a difference you would need more than 100mg.
“That means you would have to consume quite a few bottles, which would be a lot worse for you health-wise.” BOOZE BUSTER 2 FKT pale ale – workout recovery beer Claim: Beer that aids muscle recovery post-exercise.
Expert view: “This sounds like the most dangerous to me,” Dr Evans said. “When we exercise, what the body needs to do is rehydrate, and alcohol is dehydrating typically.
“Protein is what builds and repairs muscles for athletes after a heavy session. You would not be seeing GB athletes enjoying a pint after the race.”
The alcohol is blackcurrant in flavour and claims to have added sodium to replace salts lost in sweat.
“Personally, I can’t see this one working well,” Dr Evans said. “It’s unnecessary to replace sweat lost in exercise. We just need to rehydrate and eat a healthy amount of the right food.” BOOZE BUSTER 3
El Rayo – anti-hangover tequila
Claim: A boozy drink for a fun night that does not make you reevaluate your life choices the next morning.
Expert view: “This is a science one,” Dr Evans said.
“From what I can see, the makers claim that this helps aid a hangover because it does not contain added sugars as it comes from a plant that contain naturally occurring sugars. Although this does allegedly help lessen the fermentation process, therefore the chemical reactions, I’m not sure it would lessen the hangover.
“How people deal with hangovers is often genetic and c comes down to how your liver deals with eradicating the toxins from your body.”
BOOZE BUSTER 4
Floreat – therapeutic wine Claim: A sparkling wine that improves your hair, skin and nails with a range of infused herbs that also lower stress levels.
Expert view: “This one is the most likely to work in my opinion,” Dr Evans said.
“But that is because drinking wine itself is a stress ress reliever for some so may well be a placebo.
“This wine claims to contain vitamins B, C and E, additional zinc plus natural herbs of rose petals, which are said to allay anxiety and help with depression symptoms.
“Despite that, alcohol can make depression worse.
“If you want to enjoy a tipple responsibly that is fine. However there are lots of better ways to get these additional vitamins and herbs other than wine.”
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