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| Katie O'Mara says this is health food. It's not tofu. |
Katie's idea, honestly. :-) This is from the
Telegraph, but I'll quote here:
Drinking malt whisky may help prevent cancer, a scientific conference has been told.
The medicinal properties of antioxidants in red wine are
well known, but delegates at a biochemistry conference were told that
whisky offered "even greater health benefits".
Dr Jim Swan, a consultant to the drinks industry, said:
"There has been much in the news about the health benefits of
antioxidants in red wine. By contrast, very little has been said about
malt whisky distillery science.
"However, research has shown that there are even greater
health benefits to people who drink single malt whiskies. Why? Single
malt whiskies have more ellagic acid than red wine."
Speaking at the EuroMedLab conference in Glasgow, he said
ellagic acid absorbed rogue cells in the body. "So, whether you indulge
in the odd tipple, or you are a serious connoisseur, whisky can protect
you from cancer and science proves it," he said.
However, Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK, pointed out
that the same acid was found in fruit, and said she was "very
concerned" that whisky was being promoted as a cancer prevention agent
without data to support the claim.
"On the contrary, there is considerable data documenting the
link between drinking excess alcohol and the increased risk of a number
of cancers, particularly in smokers," she said.
"Ellagic acid is a powerful antioxidant but that does not mean it is necessary to hit the bottle.
"There is an abundance of this acid in soft fruits and the
charity suggests this as a much healthier way of increasing antioxidant
intake."
So, it's from 2005, but still a good reason for a single malt, eh? Now if only Tim's had that as part of a special double double.
Not convinced?
Try whisky to
lose weight, boost brain power. You can call us Drs. Karlson and O'Mara!
