New research has shown that tequila is good for your bones.
As reported by Science Daily, a researcher from Mexico found that the plant used to make tequila contains substances capable of improving the absorption of calcium and magnesium.
Both minerals are essential for maintaining bone health.
In the study, conducted by the Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Mexico, mice that consumed blue agave sugar produced almost 50 percent more osteocalcin, a protein that indicates the production of new bone that the mice did not have until now.
What's more, the diameter of their bones increased after eight weeks of taking it.
Project leader Dr. Mercedes Lopez says the effects are due to an interaction between sugar and bacteria in the tubes, which allows sugar molecules to capture nutrients and help transport them to bone cells.
"The consumption of sugar contained in agave, in cooperation with the bacteria in the intestines, helps to create new bone, even in the presence of osteoporosis," explains Lopez.
As such, the results offer the possibility of developing alternative treatments for osteoporosis, a disease that affects 200 million people worldwide.
This is not the first time that tequila has been praised for its health benefits.
In addition to its potential for treating osteoporosis, it can also help lower blood sugar levels, help with weight loss, and fight cholesterol.
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