Tequila could help you lose weight, study says

Tequila’s been known to help you lose a few things - your keys, your dignity, your memory….But now, scientists have added one more thing to the list that might actually be good. Turn out tequila can also help you lose weight.

A study by the American Chemical Society found that the agave plant (the plant that makes tequila) contains sugars that could lower blood glucose levels. This may help the thousands of Canadians who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (over 60,000 are diagnosed each year). as well as help people who are dealing with obesity shed some excess weight.

According to the study, “Agavins, a natural sugar in the agave plant, are non-digestible and can act as a dietary fibre, so they would not raise blood glucose.” (Note: Agavins are not to be confused with agave syrup, which is actually pretty similar to unhealthy high-fructose corn syrup.)

The study fed a group of mice a standard diet, but added agavins to their daily water. After weighing the mice daily and checking their glucose blood levels weekly, researchers found that most mice that drank agavins ate less, lost weight and had a drop in blood glucose levels unlike mice that were given other sweeteners.

But that’s not all.

“We have found that since agavins reduce glucose levels and increase GLP-1 (a hormone that slows the stomach from emptying), they also increase the amount of insulin,“ said researcher Mercedes G. López, Ph.D. A finding that “puts agavins in a tremendous position for their consumption by obese and diabetic people,” noted the study.

While pounding back tequila shots is still probably not the best idea, at least you won’t have to feel as guilty if you took an extra shot.

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