Health Benefits of Rum: Is Rum Good for You?

Whether you enjoy a mixed drink made with rum, such as piña coladas, mojitos, or daiquiris, or prefer to sip your rum straight or over ice, you know how tasty this alcohol can be.  But, did you also know that rum offers some health benefits when taken in moderation?  Keep reading to explore some of the health benefits of rum to help you feel better about ordering that next mixed drink or shot of rum.

Health Benefits of Rum

Below you’ll find more information about the health benefits of rum and whether drinking rum is good for you.

10 Health Benefits of Rum

Here are 10 rum health benefits:

• Decreases cholesterol and improves heart health
• Decreases muscle pain
• Treats the common cold
• Reduces the chance of Alzheimer’s and dementia
• May decrease the level of sugar in the body to benefit diabetics
• May help prevent cancer
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Lowers the risk of gallstones
• Can increase lifespan by up to five years
• May improve libido

Is rum good for you?

Many people ask, “is rum healthy?”

When consumed in moderation, rum can be healthy for you.

As shared above, rum can deliver a variety of health benefits including reducing anxiety, reducing muscle pain, and decreasing the risk of heart disease, dementia, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Rum Side Effects

So, now that you know some of the benefits of drinking rum, you may be wondering, “what are the side effects of rum?”

The answer to this question depends on how heavily and frequently you drink rum.  Rum does have a higher alcohol concentration than other beverages, which may not be good for your tissues or cells if you consume it too often.  In some cases, drinking rum could cause vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, or heartburn.

Like other alcoholic beverages, if you drink too much rum at any given time, you could become drunk.  This makes your brain cells communicate more slowly and could lead to a loss of coordination, decreased inhibitions, slurred speech, or even passing out.

Is rum bad for you?

If you drink too much rum, it can be bad for you.

Rum has a higher alcoholic content than some other drinks, which can be tougher on the cells and tissues in the body.

Too much rum could also be detrimental to your liver or may lead to heartburn or indigestion.  Drinking in excess and becoming intoxicated is not good with rum or any other alcoholic beverages as it can lower your inhibitions and cause you to make poor choices or get injured.

According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, men should consume no more than 12 alcoholic drinks each week, and women should consume no more than six alcoholic drinks each week.

Is a shot of rum a day good for you?

Yes, studies have shown a connection between drinking a shot of alcohol, such as rum, each day.

Since alcohol helps increase good cholesterol and keeps blood platelets from getting clumped together, it is suggested that having one drink each day may reduce an individual’s chances of having a heart attack or stroke.  However, always exercise caution and common sense when drinking, since alcohol consumption is still the third leading cause of preventable death.

How much rum is safe?

The safe amount of rum for you can vary based on your gender and your drinking habits.  Men should aim for a maximum of 12 drinks each week, while women should aim for just six drinks per week.  The reasons these numbers are different is that a woman’s body has less water than a man’s body.  Women also have fewer tissues than men and less alcohol dehydrogenase in their liver to break down alcohol.

Is rum healthier than vodka?

Rum and vodka both have about the same number of calories in one shot (about 97 calories per shot).  Vodka shares some of the same health benefits as rum including reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease, alleviating stress, and reducing some of the risks associated with diabetes.

Rum for Health

There are a number of ways drinking rum can contribute to your health.  Rum with hot water benefits, for example, include curing the common cold.  Similarly, rum for sore throat is another remedy that can help you feel better.

Many people wonder, “can diabetics drink rum?”  Rum and diabetes do have a connection.  Drinking rum can help lower an individual’s cholesterol levels to keep diabetes from becoming a huge health concern.  Drinking rum may also decrease sugar levels in the body for diabetics.

When considering the health benefits of rum, also consider bay rum for pain.  This aromatherapy essential oil can help provide relief to muscles aches.  It is also sometimes blended with massage oil to relieve rheumatic pain.  Finally, rum benefits for skin also exist.  It can help calm acne and remove bacteria.

What is Rum?

Rum is a type of liquor that is distilled from sugar.

While it originated in the Caribbean, now different countries around the world manufacture their own versions of rum ranging from light rums to dark or spiced rums.

What’s in Rum

What is rum made of?  Rum contents include sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice.  This gives it a sweeter taste than some other alcoholic beverages.

How much alcohol is in rum?

The alcohol content in most rums is generally above 40% ABV (alcohol by volume).  Some rums may have an alcohol content as high as 75.5%.  These rums would be considered “overproof.”

How to drink rum

Rum is a popular drink and offers a variety of uses and ways to drink.  If you’ve been wondering, “can you drink rum straight,” or “can you drink rum on the rocks,” the answer to both of these questions is yes.  The best way for how to drink rum straight is to choose a dark, high quality rum and sip it slowly.

In addition to drinking rum straight or on the rocks, it can also be used to make a variety of mixed drinks including daiquiris, mojitos, piña coladas, planter’s punch, or rum and coke.

Where’s the Rum gone?

When consumed in moderation, rum can deliver a wide range of health benefits.

If you were surprised by some of the health benefits of rum we shared above, you may also be surprised to learn about the nutritional benefits of star fruit or how strawberries can benefit your skin.