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Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/kittykaht/6183214000.
National Tequila Day is tomorrow, July 24. Technically, the holiday is unofficial and its origin and creator are unknown—but this does not stop connoisseurs and even loathers of the liquor from reveling with the date’s purpose in mind (i.e., drinking tequila).
In some crowds, tequila has an infamous repute. More often than not, it is linked with broad-brimmed sombreros, Cinco de Mayo, and that forgettable spring break trip in college. However—it is also connected to Mexican fare, marinating flank steak and unbeknownst to most—health benefits.
Here are five facts you did not know about tequila, and five reasons to commemorate National Tequila Day in New York tomorrow.
- Tequila originated in a small city in Mexico named Tequila (i.e., not a joke). Today, the majority of the liquor is still made nearby the city, which is only 40 miles northwest of Guadalajara in Los Altos.
- Tequila is made from the blue agave plant.
- Tequila can benefit diabetics. A study conducted that was reported on at the 247th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) found that agavins (i.e., natural sugar in the agave plant) reduce glucose levels, which is directly linked to increasing insulin levels that can benefit people with type 2 diabtes.
- Tequila can promote weight loss. According to research presented at the same ACS meeting, mice that consumed agavins ate less and produced a hormone that keeps the stomach full.
- Tequila lowers cholesterol. In a third study presented at the ACS meeting in 2012, agavins were proven to lower triglycerides (i.e., an ester formed from three fatty acid groups and glycerol) in blood, consequently lowering cholesterol.
-by Katie Garry