August 16th is National Rum Day, and to mark the occasion we’re celebrating with a round of health benefits of rum – Mojito in hand. It turns out there’s some truth to the whole “Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum” after all. Hundreds of years ago, when the sugar trade industry was a big thing in Europe, colonies were established around the Caribbean for growing sugar cane. The production of sugar created a ton of byproduct, namely thick molasses. There didn’t seem to be much use for the sticky, sweet substance until some smart person figured out that molasses could be fermented and then distilled. The alcohol quickly caught on with pirates, sailors and a ton of Latino uncle…the rest is as they say, history.
For Nutrition
If you’re watching your waistline, a Caipirinah or Cojito (Mojito with coconut rum) is a good bet at happy hour. A 1.5-ounce shot of rum contains about 100 calories and zero carbs, fat and sugar.
For Longevity
Studies have linked moderate consumption (defined as one to three drinks per day) of the spirit to longevity. Generally, 1.5-ounces of rum would count as one drink. While the reasons aren’t clear, imbibing in moderation is associated with the lowest mortality rates in alcohol studies.
For Pain Relief
Research has connected moderate drinking of spirits like rum with improved bone density, which helps ward off osteoporosis. Rum can also help prevent intermittent claudification, a fancy way of saying crampy leg pain that occurs during exercise, caused by blocked arteries. Not that we advise finishing a run with a Dark and Stormy, but …
For Heart Health
The libation is known to act as a blood thinner and can help in restricting artery blockages. It also increases HDL (good) cholesterol, which protects against heart disease (for HDL, the higher the number the better). We’ll raise our Cuba Libre to that.
For De-stressing
Knocking back a cocktail is one of the most time-honored ways to chill after a stressful day of work. The reason? Alcohol, including rum, acts as a depressant that dampens the central nervous system. In other words, it’s a sedative.
For Immunity
In addition to its warming, calming qualities, rum is rich in antimicrobial properties that can help knock out the common cold. The British Army was actually known to give its sailors the drink for preventing scurvy (a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency); it was the lime in the rum that did the trick, but we still say bottoms up to a rum toddy for a nightcap.
