Many folks end their day with a tipple of gin. Whether they know it or not, they are doing their bodies a favour healthwise besides refreshing and relaxing them. Gin is a hard liquor that derives its flavour from juniper berries. These berries are superfoods that come chock-full of health benefits, rendering gin an unusual but welcome relief for several health conditions.
Let’s look at five health benefits of gin:
Youthful Skin:
As we age, our skin loses its elasticity due to the weakening of collagen. While some of us embrace the signs of ageing, others grow self-conscious. If you strive to maintain youthful and healthy skin, a glass of gin is your ally. Juniper berries are rich in antioxidants that avert the breakdown of collagen and the formation of wrinkles. You won’t have to fret over furrowed brows, crow’s feet, and parentheses enclosing your mouth.
Arthritis Relief:
Age, trauma, or heavy physical exertion can cause inflammation in the joints. Arthritic pains drastically reduce mobility and decrease the possibilities of healthy physical activity. If anything can soothe your aching knees, fingers, and ankles, it’s a curious remedy involving raisins steeped in gin. Relaxation and relief will surely follow.
Increases Lifespan:
Yes, you read that right. You’d expect alcoholic beverages to be anything but. However, gin is severely underrated as a lifesaver. This doesn’t mean you should drink eight glasses every day, let alone chug it in industrial quantities. In moderate quantities, gin is a boon to cardiovascular health. When strokes, heart disease, and blood pressure become too familiar and risky, you will do well to faithfully take your medicine — your gin and tonic — before bed.
Weight Loss:
No, gin isn’t something you drink to melt extra pounds. Alcohol is loaded with calories. On the other hand, Gin has a negligible calorie and sugar content. Therefore, it does not contribute to weight gain. This will come as a relief to people with diabetes who watch their weight and sugar levels. Make sure you drink your gin with the right mixer—a low-carb, low-sugar fruit juice rather than a saccharine aerated drink if you are diet-conscious.
Digestive Aid:
If frequent stomach aches bug you, it could be a sign that your digestive and urinary systems need some help. A glass of gin can promote the flow of urine, enabling the body to cleanse itself of excess, thereby preventing infections and stone formation. Poor digestion causes gas accumulation, resulting in a bloated stomach. Like a peptic, gin greases the wheels and enables easier digestion.
Final Thoughts:
Who knew that little wild berries could do big things? Juniper berries give gin its considerable remedial properties. If a glass of gin a day is an indispensable part of your life, you are consciously or inadvertently doing your body a good turn. Your skin will stay younger longer, your joint pains will calm down, and you just might live to a ripe old age. Now that you’ve read this article don’t flush your pills and tonics (the medicinal variety) down the toilet. Gin is an excellent supplemental remedy but not a replacement for prescribed medication.
