What are the health benefits of drinking gin?
Proven Health Benefits of Gin
- Apt Antioxidant. Juniper berries are known to be loaded with antioxidant properties that can work wonders for your skin.
- Good for Digestion. Gin is widely considered a smooth drink (though cocktail combinations even matter) that causes no harm to your tummy, unlike most other alcoholic spirits.
- Limited Calorie Count. ...
- Cures Cough. ...
Is Gin the worst alcohol for You?
Gin has less sugar and fewer calories than some other liquors. If you already consume alcohol, gin may be a slightly healthier option. Be careful with mixers, however. They can make the sugar content of your drink skyrocket.
How to make gin at home in 7 Easy Steps?
Step by Step – How to make Gin – DIY Instructions
- Choosing Your Ingredients. There are different types of mash to choose from. ...
- Gin Mash Process. Transfer 5 gallons of water into the mash pot, and put it on heat. ...
- Fermentation Process for Gin. ...
- Straining Process for Gin. ...
- First Gin Distillation. ...
- Adding Gin Botanicals. ...
- Second Gin Distillation. ...
- Diluting Your Gin. ...
- Bottling Your Gin. ...
Does gin have health benefits?
Gin could help fight bloating and urinary tract infections. This is because juniper berries are a diuretic, and it increases your trips to the bathroom and, in effect, prevent water retention. When you urinate more often, toxins and bacteria that are linked to infections are flushed out and that keeps you healthy. It Can Make You Immortal
Is gin the healthiest alcohol?
Made from juniper berries, a type of “super fruit,” gin serves as one of the healthiest spirits ever created. It's low in calories, and the botanical properties that survive the distillation process present plenty of health-boosting reasons gin is healthy.
What are the health benefits of gin?
In fact, as early as the Middle Ages, gin was used as a form of herbal medicine. Gin is made from juniper berries, little dark purple nuggets with superfood powers. These berries can help fight infection and prevent heart disease, improve blood circulation and even help fight kidney and liver disease.
Is it OK to drink gin everyday?
There is a simple answer to the question - is it OK to drink gin every day? No, it's not recommended to drink alcohol every day! The World Health Organisation (WHO) and NHS recommend that all drinkers have at least one day 'dry' day each week.
Is gin a superfood?
The juniper berries in gin contain elements which can help to fight infection and prevent heart disease, as well as improve the blood's circulation around the body; these powerful little seeds are a superfood, and also help to fight liver and kidney disease.
What's the healthiest alcohol?
Red wineRed wine. When it comes to a healthier alcohol, red wine is top of the list. Red wine contains antioxidants, which can protect your cells from damage, and polyphenols, which can promote heart health. White wine and rose contain those too, just in smaller quantities.
Which is healthier vodka or gin?
It's the clearer types of alcohol, however, that go easier on the body. They also go easier on calories. One serving of vodka contains only 97 calories and zero carbs, while a serving of gin has about 110 calories and zero carbs.
Why do alcoholics drink gin?
“As blood alcohol levels rise, this can lead to a faster stimulating effect.” He went on to say that spirits can be consumed at a variety of social gatherings. “People may be intentionally drinking them to feel the drunken effect quickly,” Bellis explained.
Is gin an anti inflammatory?
Conclusions: Both wine and gin showed anti-inflammatory effects by reducing plasma fibrinogen and IL-1alpha levels. However, wine had the additional effect of decreasing hs-CRP, as well as monocyte and endothelial adhesion molecules.
Is gin good for my liver?
There is a short answer to the question: 'Is gin bad for your liver?' 'Yes it can be. ' As with any alcohol, you should drink gin in moderation.
Is gin healthier than wine?
Researchers say the antioxidant effects of the polyphenols found in red wine, but not in gin, are likely responsible for the additional heart-healthy effects. Beer and whisky also have high levels of polyphenols.
Does gin help you sleep?
A new review of 27 studies shows that alcohol does not improve sleep quality. According to the findings, alcohol does allow healthy people to fall asleep quicker and sleep more deeply for a while, but it reduces rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. And the more you drink before bed, the more pronounced these effects.
Is gin good for lungs?
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.
How many calories are in gin?
One fluid ounce of gin contains: Calories: 64. Protein: 0 grams. Fat: 0 grams. Carbohydrates: 0 grams. Gin has less sugar and fewer calories than some other liquors. If you already consume alcohol, gin may be a slightly healthier option. Be careful with mixers, however.
What is gin made of?
In the United States, gin is a distilled alcohol that must be no less than 80 proof (40% alcohol) and have the distinct flavor of juniper berries . While a similar Dutch and Belgian drink called jenever was popular at least as early as the Medieval Period, gin was invented in England in the 17th century. It then became commonplace ...
What are the effects of alcohol on the body?
Alcohol has a U or J-curve relationship with certain conditions. While light drinking has a positive impact on them, heavy drinking negatively affects or increases the risk for the following: 1 Blood Pressure 2 Coronary Artery Disease 3 Heart Failure 4 Ischemic Stroke 5 Type 2 Diabetes
Does gin have antioxidants?
While some online articles have championed the benefits of drinking gin due to the properties of juniper berries, from which gin is derived , no evidence suggests that juniper’s antioxidants survive the fermentation process. When used as a control in a study on red wine, gin showed no special antioxidant properties.
When did the gin craze start?
It then became commonplace during the “Gin Craze” in the early 18th century. England’s monarchs allowed unlicensed gin production while imposing heavy duties on imported alcohol, making it a cheap alternative embraced by the lower classes.
Is gin good for you?
When used as a control in a study on red wine, gin showed no special antioxidant properties. However, there are several health benefits associated with the light to moderate consumption of any form of alcohol, i.e., about 1 drink a day for women and 1-2 for men. These include:
Is gin a good alcohol?
Polyphenol-rich Alcohols. Compared to wine and beer, gin has a very low number of polyphenols (plant nutrients with antioxidant properties). These non-alcohol components appear partly responsible for the various health benefits associated with alcohol.
Why is gin good for you?
2. Gin helps with digestion. Juniper berries used to make gin helps increase the number of enzymes used to break down food, helping with digestion. 3. Drinking gin also means less bloating. Since juniper is a diuretic, it increases urine output and therefore stops water retention.
What is gin made of?
Gin is made up of juniper berries which contain flavonoids, these flavonoids are great for preventing heart disease and do well to improve your blood circulation as you get older.
Where does the word "gin" come from?
The word "gin" actually derives from the older English word genever and the Latin word for juniper, Juniperus. Gin is the most natural spirit as its main ingredient is, of course, juniper berries. These super berries are jam-packed with infection-fighting qualities as they are warming, stimulating and disinfecting.
Why is drinking alcohol considered a guilty pleasure?
Whatever your reason for alcohol consumption it will always be seen as a guilty pleasure due to the adverse effects it can have on a healthy body. The results of drinking alcohol are notably weight gain, liver issues, dehydration, bloating and a whole lot more.
Is gin a pain killer?
Gin used as a pain killer. Since it is very much an alcoholic beverage, it can be used to reduce pain and as mentioned earlier inflammation. In the Middle Ages, gin was used for medicinal purposes as a painkiller way before we had prescription medication. 8. Juniper berries are super berries.
Does Gin help with bloating?
If you're having issues with bloating , or urinary tract infections, gin may be able to help flush out the toxins. 4. Gin helps with arthritis pain & bones. The juniper super berry was a traditional remedy for the suffering of conditions like arthritis and rheumatism.
Does gin help with hay fever?
It might not be the most apparent hay fever remedy, but switching to gin in the summer months could help to soothe your coughs and sneezes if you believer research from Asthma UK.
Apt Antioxidant
Juniper berries are known to be loaded with antioxidant properties that can work wonders for your skin.
Good for Digestion
Gin is widely considered a smooth drink (though cocktail combinations even matter) that causes no harm to your tummy, unlike most other alcoholic spirits. In fact, it does the exact opposite. It prepares your system for an easy digestion process.
Limited Calorie Count
You don’t want to gulp guilt while you enjoy your alcoholic drinks. But most spirits come loaded with their share of calories that can quickly help you put on those extra pounds. However, that is not the case with gins! They are known to be one of the most calorie-deficit drinks out there.
Cures Cough
The culture of enjoying spirits in Australia is pretty vibrant. The countless breweries and distilleries are a testament to this fact. Moreover, the country also houses some award-winning ones. So experimenting with a modern Australian gin can do you more good than you can imagine.
How many calories are in a gin shot?
You don't need to worry too much about your waistline. According to Livestrong, gin is one of the least calorific spirits with 97 calories per shot. The juniper berries come into action by increasing the number of enzymes that break down your food and helping your digestion. This also means less bloating. Mixing it with tonic will actually add more calories, so keep it neat.
Where does the word "gin" come from?
The word "gin" actually derives from the older English word genever and the Latin word for juniper, juniperus. Gin is the most natural spirit as its main ingredient is of course juniper berries. These super berries are jam-packed with infection fighting qualities as they are warming, stimulating and disinfecting.
Does gin help with arthritis?
Gin's makeup helps to relieve achy joints and gout, and its alcohol content coupled with the juniper berries can be an effective treatment for chronic pain and inflammations, such as arthritis. Gin-soaked raisins are especially good to prepare as you can store them in a jar and eat them daily to see the benefits.
Do juniper berries help with water retention?
Juniper berries help stop water retention in your body , allowing you to pass more water than any other alcohol. This means that more of the harmful toxins and bacteria which you consume when you drink alcohol are flushed out your system.
Do juniper berries help with heart disease?
The juniper berries contain flavonoids which are great for preventing heart disease and improving your blood circulation as you get older. Although, of course, excessive drinking could have the opposite effect.
What is the best ingredient in gin?
Credit: Getty. The core ingredient in gin is juniper berries, which are jam-packed full of antioxidants. These in turn can help to promote the appearance of healthy, youthful skin, which means that a regular intake of cocktails could hypothetically be responsible for your smooth, line-free face….
How many calories are in a shot of gin?
Gin is one of the least calorific spirits you can choose, with a mere 97 calories per shot. Add it to a low calorie mixer – diet lemonade or tonic water are our personal recommendations – and you’re still hitting a far lower total than you would with the average glass of wine (160 calories) or pint of beer (208 calories).
What is the safest drink for diabetics?
Research published in the Journal of Diabetes Nursing in 2008 looked into the safest drinks for people with type 1 diabetes to consume, and guess what? They found that gin and tonic came out on top.
Is gin good for anxiety?
While it might not be a natural remedy for anxiety, there are lots of positives about gin that might surprise you. From the slightly more obvious (a relatively low calorie count) to the truly amazing (stay calm, but there’s a very real possibility that gin makes you look younger), there are a number of reasons why indulging in a classic gin ...
Does gin help with bloating?
It eases bloating. Juniper berries also act as a natural diuretic, and – double whammy – the herbs used to make gin are known for their role in aiding digestion. So if you find that alcohol often bloats you, switching to gin will give you a much flatter stomach than your usual beverage and help reduce bloating.
Is juniper good for arthritis?
In addition to its host of other benefits, juniper was actually an old-world remedy for the pain of conditions like arthritis and rheumetism. Of course, a daily Bombay Sapphire isn’t a substitute for proper medication, but there are those who insist that gin-soaked raisins can reduce inflammation, and who are we to argue?
Does gin help with hay fever?
It can help with hay fever. Credit: Getty. It might not be the most obvious hay fever remedy, but according to Asthma UK, switching to gin in the summer months could help to soothe your coughs and sneezes.
Gin Nutrition Facts
U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition facts for one shot (42 grams or 1.5 ounces) of 80-proof gin is as follows: (40 percent alcohol by volume).
Caveats on Drinking Gin
Even if there are certain health benefits to drinking alcohol, there are also risks associated with excessive consumption. Gin's side effects should be taken into account if you decide to drink it.
Contraindications of Drinking Gin
Even in small doses, alcohol should be avoided by some people. If you are taking a drug that makes you tired, don't drink alcohol while taking it. For more specific advice, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Gin have Flavored Variations?
Gin does come in flavored versions, but they are few and far between compared to other types of liquor.
Best Way to Store and Consume Gin
The best way to store gin is in the refrigerator because it is usually served cold. Gin can be kept in the freezer for a longer period of time. After opening, gin is best consumed within a year.
Gin Nutrition FAQ
Yes, diabetics can drink gin because it has no sugar in it. But it can have other negative side effects, so everyone should drink moderately.
Does gin actually provide health benefits?
No. Or at least no more than moderate amounts of any other alcohol. It is too good to be true.
Can gin help with back pain?
Some people swear by gin-soaked raisins to help with their back pain and arthritis (no, really).
Depression
According to a 2013 study, drinking a few glasses of wine throughout the week may help you ward off depression.
Heart health
It’s true, drinking alcohol may help your heart stay strong and healthy.
Organs
Alcohol can damage your vital organs, making it more difficult for them to function.
Cancer
There’s a strong link between excessive drinking and certain types of cancer, such as:
Immune system
Alcohol does a number on your immune system. If you’re regularly hitting the bottle too hard, you’re more likely to develop things like pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Why does gin make you bloated?
Drinking alcohol can often lead to bloating because, as Healthline explained, it's an "inflammatory substance." That's why you may notice your face becoming a little puffy or your stomach bloating after a couple drinks. Although gin is still a type of alcohol, the juniper plant from which it is made has long been in use as a diuretic. In fact, people as far back as the medieval times have recognized its power to reduce water retention, according to Healthline. "Like many natural diuretics," the publication continued, "juniper doesn't seem to lower potassium levels like some drugs do." Sounds like a decent reason to drink gin every night as opposed to other alcoholic beverages.
How much alcohol is in sloe gin?
Regular ole gin is 37.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), whereas sloe gin is anywhere between 20 and 25 percent ABV. "Plus," Carter explained, "there's a lot more sugar in it than a regular gin.". And, as we all know, consuming sugar is pretty much the easiest way to pack on the pounds. So, if you want to drink gin every night, ...
What is a sloe gin fizz?
If your go-to drink is a sloe gin fizz, well, you may be in for a surprise. It's easy to mistake sloe gin — or, as it sounds to the ears, slow gin — as a method of preparation, à la James Bond 's famous "shaken, not stirred" martini. As it happens, though, sloe gin isn't even technically considered gin.
How long should raisins be soaked in gin?
The raisins are to be covered and soaked in the gin at room temperature for one week, after which they should be consumed, ten per day. As Kilham explained, golden raisins are capable of anti-inflammatory activity and, since arthritis is an inflammatory disease, the raisins could help.
Is gin and tequila the same?
For the most part, gin and tequila are equal. A martini and a margarita, however, are not.
Is quinine a tonic?
As of this writing, quinine is still prescribed in some areas to combat the disease, although it's not really used to prevent contracting the disease. Technically, modern-day tonic water may have some preventative abilities, but you'd need to drink a lot of G and Ts.
Is London Dry Gin hypoglycemia?
You may not have to worry about hypoglycemia if you drink gin every night. Shutterstock. Gin, especially London Dry Gin, is incredibly natural. Sam Carter, senior brand ambassador for gin distillery Bombay Sapphire, explained to Good Housekeeping that this variety of gin contains just 0.01 grams of sugar per liter.
