8 Health Benefits of Gin

Looking for an excuse to enjoy a sip of gin? Read on:

Juniper berries offer a lot of health benefits, but it’s the fact that they can be fermented and made into gin that makes them such a popular choice! Gin is one of the most popular alcohols around, and it’s used for everything from a martini to a Gin Rickey to a Gin and Tonic. Definitely a good one to have at home if you plan on entertaining!

But it turns out that gin is also pretty good for your health as well. Here are some of the health benefits of gin:

It packs an herbal punch -- Gin isn’t made with ONLY juniper berries, but it also contains a wide range of herbs, including coriander, cassia, nutmeg, sage, angelica root, and rosemary. All of these herbs offer a wide range of healing benefits, which is why they were included in gin in the first place. Gin was initially designed to be a healing tonic!
It helps to deal with arthritis –– Gin is loaded with the compounds that make juniper berries so effective at treating arthritis and other disorders marked by chronic inflammation. The alcohol in gin can help to reduce the pain of arthritis, but the compounds it contains can also help to strengthen your organs and connective tissue. It’s effective as a remedy for gout, arthritis, and many other types of joint pain.
It’s a bacteria-fighter —The compounds in gin are effective at fighting both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and you’ll find that you can deal with all manner of bacterial infections by raising a glass of gin.
It can improve kidney health –– Gin contains juniper berries, which are commonly used as an herbal treatment to improve kidney health. It can stimulate the urinary passages in your body, helping your kidneys to get rid of fluids and wastes more efficiently. If you have sluggish renal function, renal insufficiency, or having trouble passing urine, drinking gin can help to deal with the problem.

READ MORE: Cucumber Basil Gin and Tonic

It’s a skin booster –– Did you know that the juniper berries used to make gin are packed with antioxidants? These antioxidants help to improve the condition of your skin, promoting the healthy reservation of cells, smoothing wrinkles, and even helping to keep your skin young and line-free.
It can help to treat malaria –– Not only can gin help to fight infections, but mixing it with tonic adds an extra quinine boost that can help to fight off malaria. The drink Gin and Tonic was invented by the British colonials, who drank it in order to reduce their risk of contracting malaria.
It’s a cancer fighter –– Juniper berries contain a lot of antioxidants, and those antioxidants help to neutralize the free radicals floating around in your system. Gin contains many of the same antioxidants found in kombucha tea, but tastes MUCH better.
It’s a digestive aid –-Did you know that drinking gin can help to improve your digestive function? The bitter herbs used to produce gin cause your liver to secrete more digestive enzymes, which helps to process and absorb the food you eat. The alcohol will also promote the increased production of stomach acid, making it easier for your body to break down the food you eat.

As you can see, gin offers quite a few health benefits, so it’s a good idea to include it in your liquor cabinet! It may not be as healthy as wine, beer, or whiskey, but it’s one of those healthy alcohols you may want to drink a bit more of.