Gin, Are There Health Benefits?

Gin is no Sin.

Let’s face it, there’s always a reason to drink. From special occasions, to casual nights out with friends or loved ones. We’ve even heard old adages like “a glass a day” for health benefits when it comes to drinking wine, but certainly this isn’t exclusive to the red stuff, right? Today we’ll chat about a more versatile, and better tasting (in my opinion of course) alcohol, known as gin, and some of its positive benefits!

Low sugar. Low calories. High in antioxidants.

First and foremost, gin could be pretty darn healthy when compared to its close spirit relatives. According to WebMD, one fluid ounce of this alcohol contains just 64 calories, zero grams of fat, and no carbs. As a health nut myself, these are good specs from the jump. I’d still watch the mixers when choosing whether or not I’m trying to be caloric conscious, or looking to spike my sugar content through the roof! Speaking of, if you’re trying to limit your sweetness intake, gin contains zero grams of sugar! Watching what you put into your body is objectively a good idea, whether you’re nutritionally savvy, a desk jockey, or simply a gym rat looking to keep on the gain train. We’ll mull over some drink ideas in a bit, but before we do, I want to touch on what makes this drink so “super.”

Juniper Berries:

Gin is made of these berries which contain elements that could help fight infection, prevent heart disease, improve blood’s circulation, and help fight liver and kidney disease. Furthermore, they’re packed with antioxidants which are proven to increase cell regeneration, which in turn means healthy skin. In short, gin might as well be from the fountain of youth!

Is gin a medicine?

It might seem off putting that such a spirit has any mentionable health benefits, right? Well, if we look at the history of gin, we could see that it was originally a cure-all medicine. Before it became the lovely alcohol we know today, it was called “jenever,” and it was used to treat all sorts of ailments dating back to the 11th century! That’s right, monks went to the stuff to treat coughs, colds, pains and strains of all sorts. They even thought it a cure during the black plague as an answer to their pandemic (albeit a bad solution, but I digress).

Drink ideas:

There’s many low calorie, low carb, and low sugar mixes to choose from when it comes to this spirit. Three of my favorite are:

  1. Low calorie Martini: This lower calorie version is made with 1.5 ounces of gin, half an ounce of Vermouth, and olives for your garnish. You could expect to shave anywhere from 25 to 100 calories by simply being mindful of your ingredients!
    • Calories: 26 g
    • Fat: 0 g
    • Carbs: 0.1 g
  2. The Gin Rickey: Here’s a healthier twist on the old classic Gin and Tonic. The Gin Rickey, named after Joe Rickey, is a zero sugar highball that packs a punch without all the sugar and nonsense. While his version substitutes gin for bourbon, you could certainly use a nice London dry, or gin of your choosing for your mixture. The common denominator for this mix is to use club soda, and unsweetened lime juice.
    • Calories: 18 g
    • Fat: 0 g
    • Sugar: 0 g
    • Carbs: 0.1 g
  3. Gin and (diet) Coke: Last, but certainly not least, we have this classic. This is one of my all time favorite drinks, and it could easily be made healthier by substituting the sugar packed regular colas with their diet counterparts.

In addition, using a diet drink is said to make you drunk faster! According to SignatureMD, “diet soda mixture passes quickly through the stomach, putting alcohol into our bloodstream faster. Apparently the sugar in a mixed drink actually slows down the effects of alcohol, researchers say after conducting an alcohol test on participants.” I personally don’t care about looking like a lightweight; I’ll gladly get more bang for my buck off of a few drinks.

    • Calories: 54 g
    • Fat: 0g
    • Sugar: 0g
    • Carbs: 0.1 g

Conclusion:

Gin is a peculiar alcohol with a background story that takes many twists and turns. Originally used as a medicine and now one of the most known spirits on the planet, it could be the best of both worlds when it comes to drinks and personal health. I’m not saying get out there and smash gin and tonics like they’re going out of style, but rather keep this alcohol in mind next time you’re in the bar and looking to feel just a little bit less guilty about your caloric intake. I’m personally not a believer in the old “a calorie is a calorie” mantra, rather I go with “make your calories count.” Knowing what we do about gin, I would say it has to be one of the most productively working spirits we could consume.

 

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