6 Reasons Gin is Healthier Than You Realize

When you think of healthy drinks, gin probably is not the first thing that comes to mind. However, the fact of the matter is that when consumed in moderation, gin does have quite a few health benefits.

If you find that a little bit hard to believe, here are some of the reasons why gin is healthier than you realize:

• Juniper berries are a ‘super fruit’

Gin is made from juniper berries, which is a well-known ‘super fruit’. Juniper berries have high levels of Vitamin C and flavonoids, which makes them great at fighting off infections.

Studies have shown that juniper berries can help treat various conditions including dyspepsia, rheumatoid arthritis, and several others.

• Helps deal with coughs and sore throats

The juniper berries and plant botanicals in gin make it an excellent balm for coughs and sore throats. Their essential oils give gin a smooth texture and help expel mucus that is stuck in the throat. On top of that juniper berries also contain antioxidants and anti-fungal properties that are effective against coughs and colds.

It should be noted that it is best not to refrigerate gin as it will affect the essential oils and reduce their effectiveness.

• Low on calories

Compared to other alcoholic drinks, gin is very low on calories. A single shot of gin typically contains anything from 50 to 90 calories, which is less than wine, beer, cider, or champagne – as well as many spirits.

Keep in mind that if you mix gin with tonic (or other mixers) it will increase the calories – so you may want to drink it neat or with ice if you want to avoid that. It would be best if you especially avoid any mixers that are sweet or carbonated.

• Antioxidants will preserve your youth

The antioxidants in juniper berries can help you to preserve your youth by keeping your skin healthy. However, that is only if gin is consumed in moderation, and not to the point where the dehydration due to its alcohol content adversely affects your skin.

• Relatively low on sugar

Recent studies have shown that gin is one of the best drinks for diabetics, and that is largely due to its relatively low sugar content. Neat gin only contains traces of sugar, which is far less than most other alcoholic beverages.

If you’re diabetic or watching your weight, try to drink gin without mixers. Most mixers such as tonic water or other carbonated drinks do contain sugar, which will run counter to your goal.

• Good for your bones and joints

As mentioned previously, the juniper in gin is a good treatment for arthritis and rheumatism. The alcohol content can help on that front too, and reduce inflammation.

One of the best folk remedies for achy joints is to soak raisins in gin and eat them daily. Of course, it is important to consume them in moderation or you could end up with other issues.

Starting to see how gin is a rather healthy drink? It doesn’t matter if you drink artisan gins such as Tarquins gin or more mainstream gins such as Beefeaters – they all can benefit your health seeing as they are made from juniper berries.

As you may have noticed the one caveat is that you must drink gin in moderation, and never in excess. Try to limit yourself to a single glass of gin every night, and you should be able to improve your health without running into any problems. If you do notice any adverse reactions, be sure to stop and consult a doctor.