Beer, Whiskey and Pork Fat: New Health Foods?

Beer lovers, rejoice. Whiskey drinkers, celebrate. Pork fat fans,
this is your moment. All the things you thought were unhealthy can
actually help you lose a ton of weight.

Well, not exactly. This isn’t an ad in the back pages of a sketchy
magazine. All these things are still not good for you when you eat and
drink them in large quantities. And don’t stop eating your blueberries and strawberries if you want to boost your brainpower.

Still, there’s some surprising good health news for anyone who wants
to wash down their lard-topped popcorn with a beer and a shot of
whiskey.

Beer: The Problem-Solver

Question: Who’s better at solving brainteasers, men who are sober or men
who have drunk two pints of beer? According to research from the
University of Illinois, the drinkers are the winners. (That sound you
hear is every guy I know cracking open a beer right now in
self-righteous satisfaction.) Not only did the drinkers solve 40 percent
more problems than the nondrinkers, they solved their problems faster:
12 seconds compared to the nondrinking 15.5 seconds.

Pork Fat: The Bad Cholesterol Fighter

“Pork fat is not only useful, but it is also good for us,” says my new
hero, Jennifer McLagan. She’s the author of the James Beard
Award–winning “Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient”. To
back up her claim, McLagan’s book includes a chart showing that 45
percent of pork fat is monounsaturated, which can help raise your HDL,
or good cholesterol, and also can help lower your LDL, or bad
cholesterol.

She also extols the benefits of frying in lard, because food absorbs
less fat than if you fry it in oil. Lagan piles on the good news,
arguing that “Diets low in fat, it turns out, leave people hungry,
depressed and prone to weight gain and illness.” To ensure readers’
happiness, she includes recipes in “Fat”, including one for
euphoria-inducing bacon fat mayonnaise.

Whiskey: The Good Cholesterol Booster

If you’re looking for other celebratory ways to increase your good
cholesterol levels and potentially decrease your risk of a stroke, grab a
bottle of your favorite booze. And then drink in moderation. According
to the Mayo Clinic, studies suggest that if you consume one alcoholic
drink per day if you’re a woman, or two drinks a day if you’re a guy,
you can increase your HDL cholesterol levels and also potentially
decrease your risk of a stroke. But, cautions the Mayo Clinic, “If you
don’t drink alcohol, don’t start just to try raising your HDL levels.”

Popcorn: The Antioxidant Hero

You don’t need me to tell you that popcorn is popular with the high
fiber crowd. Here’s more good news for anyone who’s trying to justify
their next big bucket of (nonbuttered, non-oversalted) popcorn: New
research from the University of Scranton suggests that a serving of
popcorn is higher in antioxidants than some fruits and vegetables. Those
antioxidants, known as polyphenols, are associated with helping to
prevent cancer. They’re concentrated in popcorn’s husk, which is
something to consider the next time it gets stuck in your teeth and you
consider spitting it out.