Whisky isn't inherently "bad" for cholesterol in tiny amounts, with some polyphenols potentially boosting good HDL, but it's not a health drink; excessive drinking raises bad LDL, triglycerides, and blood pressure, harming heart health, so moderation (1 drink/day women, 2/day men) is key, and health organizations emphasize that if you don't drink, don't start for health benefits.
Whiskey has high levels of polyphenols, plant-based antioxidants linked with lowering your risk of heart disease. The polyphenols in whiskey have been shown to decrease “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and increase “good” cholesterol (HDL) levels, and reduce triglycerides, or fat in your blood.
In moderate amounts, red wine is commonly linked to healthy cholesterol levels. But drinking more hard liquor, beer, mixed drinks, and excess red wine has a negative impact on your cholesterol levels. When it comes to a healthier alcohol, red wine is top of the list.
Cutting down on alcohol will help your liver to work better at removing bad cholesterol. It may also improve your heart health in other ways by helping you lose weight and lower your blood pressure.
To remove cholesterol from your body, adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle by eating more soluble fiber (oats, beans, fruits) and healthy fats (olive oil, fish), exercising regularly (30 mins most days), losing excess weight, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol, as these changes lower bad LDL cholesterol and raise good HDL cholesterol, with some people needing medication for more severe cases.
Within three weeks of being alcohol free, your blood pressure will likely lower, and your general cardiovascular health will improve.
In addition to contributing to higher levels of bad LDL cholesterol in the blood, excessive consumption of alcohol, whether regular or occasional, has many negative effects on health. If you have high levels of bad LDL cholesterol, you may be at risk of heart disease and regular excessive drinking is not advisable.
Beer and whiskey are compared in terms of calories, alcohol content, and health impacts. Whiskey is lower in calories and carbs, and its antioxidants may benefit the heart. Beer supports gut health but can cause bloating. Moderation is key for both to minimize health risks.
Lack of physical activity is linked to a higher risk of having unhealthy blood cholesterol levels. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol, particularly in women, and raises LDL cholesterol. Stress may raise levels of certain hormones, such as corticosteroids. These can cause your body to make more cholesterol.
In short, the answer from current research is, the less alcohol, the better. A note on drinking level terms used in this Core article: The 2020-2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines states that for adults who choose to drink alcohol, women should have 1 drink or less in a day and men should have 2 drinks or less in a day.
While beer largely falls into the same category as spirits, there is evidence that beer may increase levels of "good" cholesterol in your blood, known as high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
Instead of saturated fats, switch to foods with healthier fats, such as lean meat, nuts, and unsaturated oils like canola, olive, and safflower oils. Limit foods with cholesterol. If you are trying to lower your cholesterol, you should have less than 200 mg a day of cholesterol.
The worst foods for high cholesterol, given their high saturated fat content, include: Red meat, like beef, pork, and lamb, as well as processed meats like sausage. Full-fat dairy, like cream, whole milk, and butter. Baked goods and sweets.
Lifestyle changes can help improve your cholesterol — and boost the cholesterol-lowering power of medications. High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Medications can help improve your cholesterol.
More recent evidence suggests that the safest amount of whiskey is none at all. Moderate consumption of whiskey is defined as: Up to one whiskey per day for women. Up to two whiskeys per day for men.
How many beers are there in a shot of whiskey? A 12 oz beer contains as much alcohol as a 1.5 oz shot of whiskey or a five oz glass of red or white wine.
Considered one of the most dangerous – and unhealthy – drinks, a Long Island iced tea doesn't actually contain any iced tea. Instead, it's a combination of vodka, gin, rum, tequila and triple sec, topped with sour mix and soda. All together, that means one Long Island contains as many as 780 calories.
Eat less fatty food
To reduce your cholesterol, try to cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat. You can still have foods that contain a healthier type of fat called unsaturated fat. Check labels on food to see what type of fat it has in it.
High cholesterol is often silent, but warning signs appear as plaque builds up, including chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, fatigue, numbness/coldness in limbs, dizziness, yellow fatty deposits (xanthomas), difficulty breathing, slurred speech, swelling in legs, or jaw/back pain (especially in women), often indicating a serious complication like a heart attack or stroke. A blood test (lipid profile) is the only way to know your levels.
Common mistakes before cholesterol testing include consuming high-fat or sugary foods, neglecting to fast as instructed, and failing to stay hydrated. These factors can lead to inaccurate test results, impacting heart health management.
What To Drink Instead of Alcohol
Healing can begin as early as a few days to weeks after you stop drinking, but if the damage is severe, healing can take several months. In some cases, “if the damage to the liver has been long-term, it may not be reversible,” Dr. Stein warns.
The 1-2-3 drinking rule is a guideline for moderation: 1 drink per hour, no more than 2 drinks per occasion, and at least 3 alcohol-free days each week, helping to pace consumption and stay within safer limits. It emphasizes pacing alcohol intake with water and food, knowing standard drink sizes (12oz beer, 5oz wine, 1.5oz spirits), and avoiding daily drinking to reduce health risks, though some health guidance suggests even lower limits.
Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods
Oatmeal has soluble fiber, which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol. Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears.
While there's no one-size-fits-all definition of dangerously high cholesterol, doctors use general guidelines to assess risk. LDL cholesterol levels above 190 mg/dL are considered very high for most adults. If your number is in this range, it can cause problems in your arteries.