Irish Coffee Perk

National Irish Coffee Day January 25

Tasty it is – but healthful?Most wouldn’t think so with its inclusion of cream and sugar added to some potent whiskey…but we’re going to step out of the norm and mention some benefits to an occasional glass of this tasty libation.

Firstly, delegates at the EuroMedLab 2005 conference in Glasgow said that whiskey contains significantly higher levels of a powerful antioxidant that kills cancer cells due to something called ellagic acid. One researcher, Dr. Swan, said that ellagic acid is a highly effective ‘free radical scavenger’ that actually ‘absorbs’ or ‘eats up’ rogue cells that occur in the body during eating.

So it seems a little whiskey here and there can do you some good – as most of us know, simply don’t go over-board and you’ll be fine.

As for the sugar and cream in Irish Whiskey…well, the amounts truly are minimal (if you stick to just one), all things considered.

Irish Coffee originated in the era around World War II during the dawn of transatlantic plane travel, from 1939 to 1945, when air travelers from America took an 18-hour seaplane (known as a “flying boat”) to Port of Foynes in County Limerick, Ireland. In 1952, the owner of the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco began serving the first Irish Coffees in the U.S.

Tip: For the best results possible, if you can obtain untreated cream from a farmer you will produce a better Irish Coffee.

If you want to enjoy this beverage in a lower-calorie version, consider this non-alcoholic Low Calorie Irish Coffee Recipe that uses orange and lemon juice in place of the whiskey.

Category: Food Fitness