There are plenty of old-school remedies and health tonics out there that work wonders, but no one seems to talk about them anymore.
We’ve been brainwashed to believe that all alcohol is bad and that we need to take pills made in a factory to stay healthy, pills which cause over 100,000 deaths per year.
One 105-year-old even says Whiskey is the secret to his longevity. An even more beneficial spirit is Cognac.
Dating back to the third century, Cognac is a type of brandy named after the town of Cognac, France. It is produced in the surrounding wine-growing region of Charente and Charente-Maritime.
In order to be considered “Cognac,” it needs to meet specific legal requirements:
- It must be twice distilled in copper pot stills.
- It must be aged at least two years in French oak barrels from Limousin or Tronçais.
- It must be made with a blend of specific grapes, most notably Saint-Emilion (Ugni Blanc).
Despite alcohol’s generally bad reputation, research shows that Cognac’s method of production and composition makes it a healthy beverage to consume in moderation. (no more than a 1.5-2 ounce serving per day).
The middle path is the way to wisdom.
-Rumi
Cognac Health Benefits:
1. Better Immune Health
Cognac’s antibacterial properties can kill pathogens within your system.
A medical center in Taiwan demonstrated that ellagic acid (present in Cognac), was able to able to elicit dose-dependent bacteriostatic activity and inhibit N-acetylation of 2-aminofluorene, meaning it is anti-microbial.
In Russia and Ukraine, Cognac is used in their “Gogol Mogol,” a cold remedy consisting of Cognac, warm milk, raw egg yolk and honey.
During WW1, Cognac was successfully used to prevent and treat the pandemic of Spanish Influenza, and helped reduce the death toll by 27%.
2. Good For Heart Health
Moderate alcohol consumption is related to lower risk of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) through changes in lipid profiles and inflammation.
3. Source of Antioxidants
In one study, the antioxidant status of 23 healthy young men was tested before and after a dose of Cognac. Absorption from the digestive tract was verified by plasma antioxidant capacity determination. Compared to the control, Cognac significantly increased plasma antioxidant levels.
4. Improves Glucose Tolerance
Spirits have been recommended in the treatment of diabetes.
Moderate alcohol consumption improves glucose tolerance and blood glucose response to ingested carbohydrates.
Cognac is also a low-carb and low-sugar beverage.
5. Source of Copper
Due to its distillation in Copper pot stills, Cognac contains the mineral copper, important for preventing arthritis, regulating melanin production, regulating thyroid function, helping with the absorption of iron, and red blood cell formation.
6. Prevents Cancer
Thanks to Cognac’s long aging process in oak barrels, it absorbs some of the oak’s constituents, most notably ellagic acid.
Ellagic acid is able to cause apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells. Some studies also claim it can prevent the binding of carcinogens to DNA, and strengthens connective tissue, which may keep cancer cells from spreading.
7. Improves Psychological Health and Well-Being
In one study, low and moderate doses of alcohol were reported to increase overall affective expression, happiness, euphoria, conviviality and pleasant and carefree feelings.
Moderate alcohol consumption is also consistent with enhanced aspects of cognitive performance (specifically problem-solving and short-term memory).
Restricting any and all forms of conventional ‘unhealthy vices’ is a great way to be miserable. We’re all on our way out and no one here gets out alive. Balance is key.
Being able to enjoy and appreciate all the work and time that goes into Cognac is also just apart of being a well-rounded human being.
“Fromage and Coffee and Cognac and No Gods.”
-Wallace Stevens
8. Cognac Is All Natural
One of the benefits of Cognac is that it comes from a country that prizes quality over profits. The French are a lot of things, but they’re not sell-outs.
Cognac’s ingredient list forever and always: grapes and time.
Sulphates and added sugars in Cognac are banned by French law.
To Wrap Up
In the words of Busta Rhymes, Pass the Courvoisier!
