Brandy - Health Benefits it offers

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Mostly in the Indian society, there is a stigmata that drink is injuries to health , now a days in all cinemas and TV channels they started giving caution notes whenever hero or villain hold a glass of whiskey, wine or other alcoholic drinks.

 Any how it is true, excessive intake of alcohol is injuries to health and person may suffer from various liver diseases and damages to other organs.

 Buddha has told that any thing in excess is a poison. But someone might be surprised to see the benefits it offers when Brandy was taken in limited dosages.

Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. It is mostly aged in oak barrels. It generally contains 35-60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after dinner drink. Varieties of wine brandy can be found across the wine making world. The most esteemed brandy is “Cognac”, known for its smoothness and heady scent. Armagnac is much like cognac but has a richer taste, both are from Southwestern France. Armagnac is used for its therapeutic properties.

 Benefits
Some of the most interesting and unusual health benefits of brandy include its ability to slow the signs of aging, treat certain types of cancer, boost heart health, improve your sleep patterns, control weight issues, reduces respiratory issues, and increases the strength of the immune system. It is around 200 cal for 100 gms of its consumption.It is rich in antioxidants and contains no carbohydrate or fat.

Grading the Brandy
Brandy has a traditional age grading system, although its use is unregulated outside of Cognac and Armagnac. These indicators can usually be found on the label near the brand name: 

  • V.S. ("very special") or ✯✯✯ (three stars) designates a blend in which the youngest brandy has been stored for at least two years in a cask.
  • V.S.O.P. ("very superior old pale"), Reserve or ✯✯✯✯✯ (five stars) designates a blend in which the youngest brandy is stored for at least four years in a cask.
  •  XO ("extra old") or Napoléon designates a blend in which the youngest brandy is stored for at least six years.
  • Hors d'âge ("beyond age") is a designation which is formally equal to XO for Cognac, but for Armagnac designated brandy that is at least ten years old. In practice the term is used by producers to market a high-quality product beyond the official age scale.


Health benefits

According to Dr. Gordon Troup, researcher from the School of Physics, Monash University, Australia, brandy has been shown to have supplementary medicinal health benefits. Better the quality of the brandy the better are the benefits.
  • Brandy contains high concentration of phenolics or antioxidants, which mop up free radicals that damage organs and tissues. One shot (30ml) of brandy would give equivalent antioxidant benefit as the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C. The antioxidant property in brandy comes from the copper used during its distillation process. These antioxidants fight free radicals and keep mild infections at bay. But one must remember that it has to be taken in moderation.
  • Brandy can be used for the treatment of flatulence. Each night before going to bed, drink two tablespoons of brandy in a glass of warm water. This should be a daily routine in the treatment of flatulence.
  • Taking brandy after dinner or before going to bed also helps relax the stomach.
Armagnac is also known as the “poor cousin” of Cognac and is found to possess health enhancing qualities.
  • Research at Bordeaux University showed that a moderate daily dose of Armagnac prevents heart disease and fights obesity.
  • Professor Nicholas Moor from the same University found that Armagnac has an anti-platelet effect, that is, it prevents blood from clotting protecting us from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Warning: Consult your physician or doctor before taking any alcoholic drinks.