Scientists from Mexico’s tequila producing region say juice extracted from the blue agave plant, best known when distilled into the fiery spirit, may help dieters shed pounds and cut cholesterol.
Sadly for the world’s growing band of tequila lovers, agave’s possible health benefits are lost when the plant is distilled into alcohol.
Spiky agave plants has been cultivated on Mexico’s arid central highlands for thousands of years and are woven into the country’s history and mythology. But more than anything the plant is known for what Spanish invaders called “tequila wine.”
Now however, researchers from the University of Guadalajara, close to the town of Tequila, the cradle of Mexico’s famous alcoholic export, say the plant’s powers go beyond inducing euphoric highs followed by crushing hangovers.
“The structure of agave contains, among other things, substances known as fructans,” Dr Jorge Segura, who is leading the investigation, told Reuters. “Fructans reduce cholesterol (and) alter the absorption of fat in the intestine, at least in animals.”
Segura said he was confident his team of 20 researchers would have similar results during their 18-month study on humans, launched this week.
Segura hopes that his research will open new markets for Mexico’s thousands of agave farmers who have watched prices plummet as supply outstrips demand.
“This will benefit the agave farmers more than anyone,” he said. “Prices have collapsed in recent years.”
If they take out the alcohol, will they at least keep the worm?
“This will benefit the agave farmers more than anyone,” he said. “Prices have collapsed in recent years.”
Say wot?
I sure don’t see any cheap tequila, unless it’s cheep tequila.
I’m buying the stuff with 4-5 worms in it, just to pump my high.
My El Camino hogs so much $3.25 gas (yes! I use premium! it’s an el camino!), I had to switch from Franziskaner Weiss to that Widemer shit, too.
I’m slowly going broke on gas but pinnin’ my hopes on that cheap Bordeaux, just around the corner.
Yeah, then life will be good again.
Just to point out, true Tequilas (those that Mexicans drink themselves, not the stuff they give to tourists) do not have worms in them. It is a tradition to add worms to Mezcal, however, which is an alcohol that is made from a similar plant.
“Fructans reduce cholesterol (and) alter the absorption of fat in the intestine, at least in animals.”
Did I miss a memo, or have plants started growing intestines?
(Agave sp.)-sometimes called a century plant. Several species of the plant were used by Indians in the Southwest and Mexico. The plants vary greatly in size, but are characterized by a cluster of leaves spreading out at ground level from a short central stem. The narrow leaves are long and thick and terminate in a spine. At maturity, each plant sends up one long flowering stalk and then dies. Agaves grow at elevations of 3000 to 8000 feet.