15 benefits of vodka

Discover the 15 benefits of vodka.

Vodka is an alcoholic beverage that is distilled and is made from rye, wheat, or potatoes. Vodkas are originally made for medication while nowadays vodkas are made into cocktails.

They are known to be neutral, either by appearance, aroma, or color, since they smell like nothing and look exactly like water.

They are also distilled using 95% alcohol, however, when bottled they only contain 40% alcohol. In this article, we are going to learn more about vodka, including its health benefits of vodka.

Types of vodka

All vodkas belong to the “neutral spirits or alcohol” category. Meanwhile, there are two types of vodka, which are “vodka” and “flavored vodka”.

Vodka in this context means any spirit treated after distillation using charcoal or any other material in which the result has no particular characteristics, aroma, flavor, or color.

Meanwhile, flavored vodka is vodka with natural flavoring substances. Mayor may not be added with sugar and must be bottled at 30% ABV or higher.

The predominant flavor that appears in the vodka is the flavor that should appear on the packaging, such as “orange-flavored vodka”.

A brief history of Vodka

Vodkas have their roots in 9th century Russia and 8th century Poland. During the Napoleonic wars, vodka was the favorite drink of Russian soldiers.

The globalization of vodka began when a Russian peasant, Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov, escaped from Russia to Paris, France, during the Russian Revolution of 1917.

In his new home, he started a vodka distillery called “Smirnoff,” which is based on his last name. Smirnoff is now the largest and most global vodka brand.

How are they made?

Vodkas are made using these 6 steps;

Grains and vegetables are loaded into the mash tub, which rotates to break down their contents.

Meanwhile, grain or vegetable starches are converted to sugar. A meal of ground malt is added to support that conversion.

The mixture is then heated to the boiling point to sterilize it and prevent bacterial infection. Lactic acid bacteria are then injected to increase the acidity for fermentation to take place. The puree is infused once more if the desired level of acidity is reached.

The puree is then transferred to large steel containers. Before they are hermetically sealed, the yeasts are added. The fermentation process takes two to four days, in which enzymes within the yeast convert the sugar into alcohol.

The liquid ethyl alcohol from the previous step is now distilled in pot stills made of stainless steel that is placed in vertical stacks. Still, chambers also have steam chambers to remove impurities from whatever is being processed inside.

The alcohol is raised and lowered several times and heated with steam to the point where the vapors condense and are released. Most of the vapors are in the upper part of the chamber, while the processed ones end up in the lower chamber before being removed.

The product now contains 95% to 100% alcohol, making it impossible for human consumption. To make alcohol drinkable, a substantial amount of water is added to the liquid, significantly reducing the alcohol concentration to just 40%.

Alcoholic beverage is stored in glass bottles because glass is considered non-reactive and safe; otherwise, if the drink was stored in containers made of other materials, such as plastic, there would have been another natural alteration of the vodka inside.

Health benefits of vodka

1.- It is an anti-inflammatory

Vodkas are anti-inflammatory, which is very important for the body because one of the first stages of any disease is inflammation. If the inflammation is not managed in time, it will eventually progress to the disease itself.

2.- It can also be used as a topical disinfectant

Vodka is known to be used as a topical disinfectant. A sample of the applicable uses of vodka is mixing it with castile soap. A solution of the two is a powerful, non-toxic, multi-purpose cleaner for the whole house.

3.- Helps reduce stress

Similar to most if not all alcohols, vodka can of course also reduce stress. Alcohol is a sedative and an antidepressant that directly touches the central nervous system. Vodka benefits also induce sleep, calm the body and relax the mind.

4.- Improves both skin and hair

Benefits vodka can also be used for skin care and hair care. In terms of skincare, it removes dirt and impurities from the skin and tightens the pores. Whereas, through hair care, vodka is effective in removing dandruff and achieving stable yet healthy hair growth.

5.- Treat arthritis

A 2010 study claims that vodka helps relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, due to its anti-inflammatory purpose. Arthritis is joint inflammation characterized by pain and stiffness.

It is also more associated with elderly people, and treatment may only calm arthritis temporarily, as they are more likely to bring it with them during their remaining lives.

6.- Improves blood flow

Vodka improves blood flow by helping the development of collateral vessels. Successful development of collateral vessels means that blood can be distributed efficiently throughout the body, minimizing the risks of related diseases such as stroke, heart attack, or blood clotting.

7.- Decreases hypertension

The benefits of vodka reduce hypertension because it favors the creation of HDL or high-density lipoprotein. HDL is also known as good cholesterol and reduces the risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.

8.- Reduce fever

Fever is essentially the rise in body temperature, and it is one of the simplest illnesses out there because it only requires adequate rest to cure.

A person is considered to have a fever if their body temperature reaches 37 degrees Celsius or higher. In the Russian folk remedy, vodka can be used as a topical ointment for fever by rubbing a few drops of it on the temple.

9.- Prevents irritable bowel syndrome

Moderate consumption of vodka is reported to reduce irritable cup syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the large intestine, characterized by spasms in the colon, cramps, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. This condition can be chronic and requires intensive diagnostics.

10.- Can be used as an aftershave lotion

An aftershave lotion is a liquid product that is applied to the skin after each shaving session, which is intended to reduce irritation. Vodkas, due to their antiseptic nature, can be used as an aftershave by adding some fragrant herbs.

11.- It has low calories

Vodka is considered a safe option for those who want to lose weight or cut carbs, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), vodka only has 64 ounces of calories with virtually zero carbs. Meanwhile, beer is the opposite of vodka with nearly 100% carbs and 100 calories.

12.- It can be safely altered

Although vodka must be properly stored in a specific type of container, it can also be altered by inserting additives and flavors to soften the harshness of its original flavor and minimize the side effects of alcohol.

13.- Protects the body from cold weather

Like most alcoholic beverages, alcohol keeps the body warm against freezing weather.

Interestingly, alcohol only provides a warm sensation due to the redistribution of heat within the body rather than increasing body temperature.

14.- Once used as an all-in-one medicinal solution

This is one of the first renowned functions of vodka. Back then, before the globalization of vodka, vodka was designated as a traditional all-in-one cure for serious illnesses like plague and infertility.

15.- Maintains oral health

And finally, due to the antiseptic properties of vodka, many have been using it for oral applications, ranging from eliminating bad breath, cleaning teeth and gums, to relieving toothaches.