Alcohol isn't exactly considered a healthy lifestyle choice; more often than not, it's associated with empty calories and bad decisions. But that doesn't mean there aren't a few benefits to drinking in moderation. In fact, gin is a liquor with a wealth of potential benefits to offer. So read on, and discover ten ways in which gin might actually be a good drink for you.
1. Fight Off Illness
Juniper berries are an incredibly healthy fruit that carry a multitude of medicinal benefits. These super berries are also—you guessed it—the main ingredient in gin. Used for centuries as an topical antiseptic, juniper berries can also help fight off coughs and lung congestion. The oils contained in juniper berries agitate bronchial passages and expel mucus.
2. Calm Your Joint Woes
Try a bit of gin if your joints are aching or if you suffer from arthritis. According to BIDMC, gin's makeup helps to relieve the pain caused by achy joints, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, some arthritis sufferers even use gin-soaked raisins to reduce joint inflammation.
3. Improve Your Digestion
Many people avoid gin due to its slightly bitter taste, but that lip-puckering flavor is an aid to the digestive system. The herbs used to create gin can increase both stomach acid secretions and digestive enzymes; this increase in fluids necessary for breaking down ingested food allows for better digestion.
4. Keep Malaria at Bay
If you happen to be traveling to a country where malaria occurs, you may want to order a gin and tonic when you get there. According to Slate, the gin and tonic was developed in the 1800s to make quinine more palatable. And quinine, derived from cinchona bark, was an essential medicine that worked to both cure and prevent malaria. Although we would never encourage you to substitute antimalarial drugs with drinking a gin and tonic, at least you know of a way to make those quinine tonics more tasty... and more fun.
5. Flush Out Your System
If you're having issues with bloating, or urinary tract infections, gin may be able to help. Since juniper is a diuretic, it increases urine output and therefore stops water retention. In the case of UTIs, increased urine output often flushes out toxins and bacteria associated with the infection.
6. Get Your Liver in Shape
It sounds counterintuitive, but since the juniper berries in gin are diuretic, they can theoretically be helpful with liver disease (which usually sees issues with abdominal bloating and water retention). Then again, if drinking alcohol is what caused your liver disease in the first place, you might want to put the bottle down.
7. Increase Your Herbal Intake
Herbal remedies and teas can work wonders, and the composition of gin makes it an excellent choice for those who seek a more "natural" alcohol. Made of juniper berries, coriander, cassia, nutmeg, sage, angelica root, and rosemary (among others), it's a smorgasbord of natural and nutritious herbs. In short, gin is probably the healthiest liquor on the market today.
8. Keep Your Skin Young
You've heard of red wine's anti-aging benefits, but did you know that gin offers a comparable effect? This drink, once again thanks to its natural ingredients, is packed with antioxidants that work to keep your skin fresh, dewy, and youthful. Have a gin martini, and you may be aiding in encouraging cellular restoration and overall skin restoration.
Note: While juniper berries do have a lot of antioxidant properties, regular gin is relatively devoid of antioxidants, so you need barrel-aged gin to get any antioxidants (the lengthy aging process in wooden barrels produces polyphenols and furans that are leeched out from the casks).
9. Extend Your Life Span
Okay, so heavy drinking won't exactly lead you to more birthdays—but, in moderation, gin may help your blood circulation as you get older, which can prolong life. Juniper berries also contain flavonoids, which have a whole slew of benefits for cardiovascular health: prevention of atherosclerosis and clogged arteries are just some of the amazing things they can aid in preventing.
10. Manage Your Weight
In addition to potentially warding off obesity and weight gain, gin is a relatively low calorie alcoholic drink. A shot of gin weighs in at 97 calories... I'll drink to that!
Keep Calm & Drink Gin
Again, we're not endorsing the self-administration of gin instead of the usual medications prescribed for these issues, but it's nice to know that drinking alcohol doesn't have to be 100% vice. So queue up those gin and tonics or gin martinis, and tell anyone at the bar who will listen that you're drinking to good health... and for your health, as well.
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17 Comments
#4 There is no vaccine for malaria.
i liked your article, interesting read. However, those in the know know that when ordering a martini you just say 'martini'. Old school.
It's only when you wish to order a vodka martini do you ask for one made with vodka.
thanks!
It is Gin you need to drink , not vodka
I never read so much nonsense in my whole life! Gin is good for the liver??? What about the scar tissue that is laid down every time your liver has to process alcohol?? All of the benefits in this relate to the other things in the gin and not the gin itself! Why not eat some juniper berries??
I've never had malaria, feel far less joint pain after a G&T and enjoy my Tangueray so why eat juniper berries?
The key word is... with limit! They don't mean you going to be drunk every day drinking gin. The "good" alcohol in a small amount can help keep your body in balance.
It's about when you drink in right amount not as a regular drinker, I'd say ??
Would u just get some Gin and take a shot man. Enjoy the juniper laden taste. Kick off your shoes and enjoy a good eastern breeze on the beach.... If the beach patrol bugs ya for drinking in public. Simply sit him down and with a smile offer him a drink and say "Good Lad Theres More Than Enough for th Both Of Us...cheers
Your attempt to relate the ingredients used to make gin with actually drinking gin is dubious.
The claims of weight loss and protection against obesity, cardiovascular protection, curing UTIs and benefits for arthritis and digestive activity of gin are controversial at best.
Gin does NOT have any special properties due to trace elements of the herbs used in its production (except for taste and smell).
If you believe these ridiculous claims even just a little, you are a fool.
most of the gin nowadays has artificial flavor, not the real juniper berries. I am a regular gin drinker. let me know if there are some brands with REAL juniper berries.
Bombay Sapphire has according to their website.
(https://www.bombaysapphire.com/en-GB/ourgin.aspx?aspxautodetectcookiesupport=1)
While, ultimately I think this article should be taken with a pinch of salt (and a slice of lime, oh wait that's tequila), most gin sold in Europe has real botanicals in. Anything called London gin, including the world's biggest gin brand, Gordon's (not that I'd recommend Gordon's), has to be distilled with botanicals especially juniper. I believe in the USA anything called distilled gin has to have real botanicals in it also
I think you need Tanqueray gin
My goodness, lighten up, folks. Maybe put your feet up, take a relaxing deep breath and have a drink. This article is obviously tongue-in-cheek, with some almost-true points about gin.
Of course these conclusions that the drink will somehow aide your health is pure nonsense. Humorous read. The extra ingredients are only enough for flavor. Is there even quinine in average tonic? No. Alcohol itself is a diuretic so anything will do. But i love my gin.
There is always benefit of gin as long as it was taken small and slowly,
you forgot it reduce pain, i mean is a pain re-leaver and it help to sleep for those that has problem of that. take small dont get dizzy i think it will help you get a full 8 or 9 hours of your normal sleep
Nice and interesting Article ??
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