Vodka has come a long way over the years. Known since the 17th century and perhaps Russia's most famous export, vodka is made from distilled rye, wheat or potatoes. Loosely rooted in the phrase "fire water," raising a shot of vodka may lead to dancing on table tops, but it will not lead to higher cholesterol. Bad cholesterol, that is. A moderate amount of the aqua vita has been shown to raise good cholesterol, or HDL, which helps lower bad cholesterol, or LDL. Vodka does not contain any dietary cholesterol.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy substance which travels through your blood on the back of proteins. When cholesterol and protein join together, they form what is called a lipoprotein. Cholesterol is naturally produced by the body in the liver, and is used to make cells, produce hormones, bile and vitamin D. It is also available in animal products like meat, egg yolks and dairy. Cholesterol is not found in plant products like fruits, vegetables and grains. Depending on what type of cholesterol joins with protein, three types of lipoproteins can form: LDL, VLDL or HDL.
Bad Cholesterol
LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, moves cholesterol through your arteries, slowly building up along your artery walls. Over time, LDL prevents blood from moving through your arteries, as your artery walls become hard and narrow. VLDL, or very low-density lipoprotein, is made up of a type of fat and actually combines with LDL to make it bigger. This makes your blood vessels narrow even more quickly.
Good Cholesterol
HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is often referred to as good cholesterol. HDL actually travels in the blood stream picking up extra cholesterol as it goes, taking them back to the liver where they are processed. So the more HDL you have the less bad cholesterol you have.
Vodka and "Good" Cholesterol
A study published in November 2000 in "Circulation" reported that drinking the equivalent of a shot of vodka a day raised levels of HDL. Though the metabolic mechanism behind this increase wasn't fully understood, HDL concentration increased by 18 percent compared with the control group, who did not drink any alcohol. The finding helped researchers better understand why some cultures that drink every day have lower risk for atherosclerosis, or blocked arteries.
Considerations
A sedentary lifestyle, being overweight or obese, an unhealthy diet, and a family history of high LDL/VLDL cholesterol all lead to high bad cholesterol and low good cholesterol. Taking a shot of vodka every day won't counteract these factors alone, nor will drinking excess amounts of vodka. Two drinks a day is the recommended limit for men, and one for women. The best way to keep bad cholesterol at bay is what you already know: eat healthy, exercise and don't smoke. Smoking raises your blood pressure and increases your risk for heart disease significantly.
References
- The Vodka Museum: History of Vodka
- "Circulation"; Alcohol consumption raises HDL cholesterol levels by increasing the transport rate of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II; De Oliveira et al; Nov. 2000
- MayoClinic.com; High Cholesterol: June 1, 2011
- Glycemic-index.org: Vodka Nutrition Facts
- MyFitnessPal.com: Calories in Absolut Vodka 1 oz. Shot
