5 Health Benefits Of Gin | Men's Health Magazine Australia (2024)

Everyone knows that drinking alcohol has its downsides, but it also has its benefits. So you’re probably wondering what type of adult’s poison might be better for you? The jury is still out (depending on who you ask), but gin is up there on the list of liquors that have a surprising number of benefits. We spoke toNatural Distilling Co’sfounder Rhys Staley to find out why gin might trump the other spirits.

1. Gin Makes You Feel Sexier

You could argue that drinkinganyalcohol might make you feel sexier, but a recent survey from Public Health Wales and Kings College London quizzed 29,836 people in 21 countries to find that almost half of people surveyed said they felt sexier and more in the mood when sipping on spirits like gin.

2. Gin Is Low In Calories

Now while we won’t be able to stop you from drunk dialling a pizza at midnight, we can tell you that gin is relatively low in calories (around 97 per shot). Just be mindful of what you drink with it as your mixer can be the thing causing the extra KGs (and the pizzas of course).

3. Gin Is Basically Good For Your Health

Gin is made from the Juniper berry which is packed with infection-fighting flavonoids, along with Vitamin C. The other beneficial ingredients include alpha-terpineol, alpha-pinene, betulin caryophyllene, catechins, limonene, menthol, rutin and delta-3-carene. These can actually help you live longer by aiding blood circulation while regulating the passing of fluids and toxins through your liver and kidneys. It can also aid your digestion by making your body produce more enzymes and is good for joint pain because it reduces inflammation.

4. Gin Won’t Trigger Hay Fever

Gin is one of the best choices of drinks if you suffer from hay fever because clear spirits, like gin and vodka, don’t contain any histamines (the chemicals that cause a runny nose and itchy eyes during hay fever season). Gin also contains no sulphites, which can be known to trigger hay fever, so it’s particularly good choice for those susceptible to bouts!

5. Gin Rarely Causes Hangover

If gin is your drink of choice, there’s a good chance you drink it because it doesn’t affect you as much the next day. Surprisingly there is some science behind this, but again we can’t stop you from overindulging in pizza and whatever else that could contribute to a worse hangover. In your typical gin, there are usually between six and ten botanicals and not much else is added. Combine this with the straightforward nature of the distillation process and gin doesn’t contain bi-products (called congeners) like methanol (which later turns to formaldehyde in your system). Compare this to other spirits that do contain congeners, like whiskey, tequila and Bourbon, whichwill leave you more likely to have a hangover.

FAQs

5 Health Benefits Of Gin | Men's Health Magazine Australia? ›

When it comes to gin, the antioxidants in juniper berries can help your body fight off infections and even make your skin look younger! They also contain flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that can improve circulation and reduce your risk of heart disease.

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What are the benefits of drinking gin? ›

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What was gin used for medicinally? ›

As well as providing relief for aching, and gout. The alcohol in gin, and the presence of the juniper berries can be used as treatment for chronic pain, and inflammations — Gin soaked raisins are a known remedy for joint pain, specifically arthritis.

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Is gin good for the kidneys? ›

It fights kidney and liver disease

Again juniper berries found in gin are often used as a herbal treatment to improve kidney health.

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Is gin good for diabetes? ›

As we have discussed previously, any diabetic on such a low calorie diet should not be allowed any alcohol as the calories from the alcohol would definitely constitute more than 5% of the total calories permitted for the day!

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Does gin reduce inflammation? ›

Gives Your Joints A Break. Juniper is an anti inflammatory and can actually reduce the inflammation in your joints. It has been used in reducing the strain on arthritis patients around the world .

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Is gin one of the healthiest alcohol? ›

If what you're looking for is the lowest-calorie, lowest-sugar alcohol, you'll want to stick with clear liquors, registered dietitian Alex Aldeborgh says. This includes vodka, gin, rum, tequila, soju and sake, among others, which will generally have less calories and less sugar.

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What disease does gin prevent? ›

Quinine and other cinchona alkaloids including quinidine, cinchonine and cinchonidine are all effective against Plasmodium spp, the causative agent of malaria [9].

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What organ does gin affect? ›

Alcohol affects your brain first, then your kidneys, lungs and liver.

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Is gin good for your gut? ›

The bitters used in gin can improve digestion as they increase stomach acid and digestive enzymes, helping to break down your food after a big meal.

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What's the healthiest gin? ›

With such a huge selection to choose from, which of the gins available contain the lowest number of calories:

Brockmans Gin - 56 calories (25ml)
Skol Gin - 54 calories (25ml)
Hendrick's Gin - 54 calories (25ml)
Gordon's Special Dry Gin - 52 calories (25ml)
Sipsmith Gin - 52 calories (25ml)
Opihr Gin - 50 calories (25ml)

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Is it safe to drink gin everyday? ›

To be clear, gin isn't a miracle food, and any alcohol should be consumed in moderation—two drinks or less per day for men and one drink or less per day for women, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With that said, there are a few notable benefits from enjoying the juniper-flavored spirit.