I’m a doctor – if you’re going to drink alcohol, it’s a surprisingly healthy choice

When it comes to overall health, it’s well established that alcohol is bad news, but is all alcohol equally hated?

Gastroenterologist from California Dr. Saurabh Sethi has taken to TikTok to share his surprising pick for the “healthiest choice” for drinkers.

Seth’s preference? Tequila.

While he explains that no amount of alcohol is “good” for your health, tequila has an edge, or an edge of salt, over the competition.

He explains, “Tequila is made from the agave plant, which is low in sugar and carbohydrates.” Unlike spirits distilled from grains, tequila is naturally gluten-free.

According to The Post, Mexican researchers from Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados Biotechnologia y Biokimia Irapuato have found that the agave in tequila is not digestible and will not raise blood sugar levels as much as other alcoholic beverages.

Tequila can also make the medicine wear off.

Researchers at the University of Guadalajara have discovered that the blue agave used to make tequila can create a protective barrier around drugs used to treat intestinal diseases and prevent drugs from being diluted in the stomach.

As Medical News Today reports, agave contains compounds such as fructans and fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which can function as prebiotics and promote healthy gut microbiota, improve digestion and potentially alleviate GI issues.

Part of the reason alcohol is bad for the body is that when we drink alcohol, it breaks down into acetaldehyde, a known toxin and carcinogen that damages the body’s DNA and prevents it from repairing the damage.

While tequila also causes the production of acetaldehyde, the process is slower, which can benefit people the morning after and in the long run.

Sethi says, “Tequila is metabolized to acetaldehyde at a slower rate than other alcoholic beverages. This slow metabolism may explain why some people report fewer hangovers with tequila.

According to a study by the Behavioral and Social Sciences Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University School of Public Health, a major culprit for hangovers is the presence of fermentation products known as congeners..

Pure tequila made from 100 percent blue agave has fewer congeners than the brown liquors that share its top shelf position.

Sethis notes, “These benefits only apply to 100 percent agave tequila. Mixing tequila with sugary drinks negates the potential advantages.”

Tanya Zuckerbrot, a certified dietitian with F-Factor Nutrition in Midtown, recommends tequila to her clients who want to eat.

Compared to a 1-ounce shot of vodka, which has 96 calories, she tells The Post, “A shot of tequila is only 64 calories. Plus, it’s made with agave and has a naturally sweet flavor. This eliminates the need for sugary mixers, which is where calories and carbs really compare.”

While tequila may have a leg up or a lime on other bottled spirits, Sethis says, “The healthiest option is to avoid alcohol as much as possible.”