Those looking to lose those extra few kilos piled on during the festive season are in luck; while drinking is generally frowned upon when on a diet, tequila has recently been named an ally in the fight against fat.

The Mexican spirit is now not only the hero ingredient to beloved cocktail the margarita, but the liquor has been praised for its potential to lower blood sugar levels in a new study.

The research, undertaken by the American Chemical Society, sought to establish the effects tequila had on blood glucose. The study determined that unlike many spirits, tequila has the ability to reduce blood sugar levels. This is thanks to the presence of agavins, the non-digestible sugars that naturally occur in the agave plant.

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The study saw researchers compare mice on varying diets of agavins. Those who had been given a standard diet and water with agavins added were the group which ate less overall and recorded lower blood sugar levels than the mice who hadn’t consumed agavins. It was also discovered that the mice consuming agavins produced a hormone called GLP-1, a hormone which keeps the stomach fuller for longer and encourages the production of insulin. It’s this second finding that led the study team to believe that agavins could be beneficial for those suffering from type 2 diabetes or ongoing weight-loss issues.

“We have found that since agavins reduce glucose levels and increase GLP-1, they also increase the amount of insulin,” the study reported. “Agavins are not expensive and they have no known side effects, except for those few people who cannot tolerate them. In addition, agavins, like other fructans, which are made of the sugar fructose, are the best sugars to help support the growth of healthful microbes in the mouth and intestines.”

The full report can be viewed online.

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