Is Gin Good For You?

 

It’s pretty safe to say that drinking alcohol for it’s health benefits is probably not the way to look at the topic of the benefits of health when downing a gin and tonic.

 

Excessive consumption of alcohol is unquestionably bad for health.

 

HOWEVER, there are some relatively well-known benefits to alcohol consumption and gin consumption specifically.

 

We think the best way of framing the topic of health benefits of drinking gin is to look at all the potential benefits for health and then contrast gin drinking with other forms of alcohol. Gin certainly ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to being a better alcoholic drink from a health perspective.

 

Let’s take a look!

 

What are the health benefits of gin?

 

Boosts Metabolism

 

Alcohol in general, not only gin, has been shown to boost metabolism (reference) in a number of studies. Of course, alcohol itself contains calories (as does the mixer you use), but we do know that an increased metabolism is an overall positive for weight loss and keeping weight off.

 

Weight Loss

 

Whilst gin itself is not used FOR weight loss, it can certainly assist people on a weight loss journey as it’s a great low calorie option. As an example, a gin and soda contains around 65 calories whereas a glass of wine contains double the calories and a full strength beer is even worse at nearly triple the calories!

Calories in Alcoholic Drinks

Type of Drink	Serving Size	Calories
Gin (neat)	30ml	65
Gin and tonic	30ml gin + 150ml tonic	120
Gin and soda	30ml gin + 150ml soda	65
Full strength beer	375ml	150-180
Mid strength beer	375ml	110-130
Red wine	150ml	120-130
White wine	150ml	110-120
Champagne	150ml	90-100
Whiskey	30ml	65-70

 

Please note that these values are approximate and can vary depending on factors like alcohol content, serving size, and other ingredients. As you can see, gin is a better health option when it comes to calorie consumption.

 

Lower Sugar Content

 

Gin is typically made without added sugar, while wine and ciders often contain natural sugars from the grapes.

 

This can make gin a better choice for those trying to limit their sugar intake and fits in nicely with the information above about calories in a gin drink.

 

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

While there is no strong scientific evidence to support this claim, there is some anecdotal evidence suggesting that gin might have anti-inflammatory benefits,

 

Juniper berries are a core component of gin and they are known to have some anti-inflammatory properties. The berries contain compounds called terpenes and antioxidants, are heralded for their anti-inflammatory effects. ]

 

You’re going to get better anti-inflammatory assistance from eating fruits and vegetables of course – don’t go getting s**tfaced on gin to help inflammation haha, but it’s nice to know that gin has the potential to assist!

 

Better Option For Asthma

 

According to Asthma + Lung UK, wine, beer and cider area “Alcoholic drinks most likely to trigger your asthma symptoms”. They cite the high levels of sulphites or histamine in some of those alcoholic drinks as asthma triggers. (reference)

 

They recommend going for low sulphite alcohol options but warn “it’s also possible to get low-sulphite wines. Remember that even low-sulphite wines will contain some sulphites.”

 

With gin being completely sulphite free, it’s potentially good news for Asthma sufferers looking for alcoholic drink options that don’t contain sulphites!

 

Help For Hay Fever

 

Suffer from the dreaded Hay fever? Well, gin may be the answer! There are many triggers for Hay fever, two being histamines and sulphites. So just as with the information on Asthma above, Asthma + Lung UK has the following recommendation for hay fever sufferers:

 

“As for the types of alcohol hay fever sufferers may want to avoid: Red wine and some beers are typically very high in histamines, while white wine and cider tend to have high levels of sulphites.”

 

Gin contains no sulphites and is very low in histamine. Go Gin!

 

Gin Botanicals & Garnish

 

Another thing worth considering is not only the potential for gin to be a superior alcoholic beverage choice

 

Here’s are six popular gin garnishes along with their health benefits:

 

Cucumber: Cucumbers are a good source of hydration, as they are composed of about 95% water. They also contain vitamin K, potassium, and antioxidants, which can promote skin health and help reduce inflammation.

 

Lemon: Lemons are rich in vitamin C, which is essential for immune system function and skin health. They also have antioxidant properties and can aid in digestion.

 

Rosemary: Rosemary is an aromatic herb that contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. It has been linked to improved memory and concentration, as well as support for the immune system.

 

Mint: Mint is known for its soothing effects on the digestive system and its ability to alleviate symptoms of indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. It also contains antioxidants and has antimicrobial properties.

 

Grapefruit: Grapefruit is a rich source of vitamin C, which supports immune system health. It also contains antioxidants like lycopene and beta-carotene, which can help reduce inflammation and promote heart health.

 

Juniper Berries: Juniper berries are the base component of gin and have been traditionally used for their medicinal properties. People often drop a couple juniper berries into their gin as garnish too! They contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, and have been linked to improved digestion and kidney function.

 

Is gin good for you?

 

Should you drink gin excessively for health? No. We all know that excessive alcohol consumption is bad for health. However, there is more than enough evidence to suggest gin is a superior choice to the majority of other alcoholic drinks available.

 

So next time you’re planning to have a drink (responsibly), bottoms up. It’s gin for the win!

 

 

Published Mar 17, 2023

Categorized as Blog