Whether you drink gin every night in a martini or mix it with tonic water, you may be wondering
what this alcohol does to your body. Are there benefits? Or only down sides? When you drink
gin on a nightly basis, this is what happens to your body.
Could a gin and tonic really get rid of your indigestion? Some people have claimed that
juniper berries, a key ingredient in gin, has helped abate symptoms related to the condition,
including bloating, nausea, and heartburn.
Despite this oft-repeated bit of wisdom, though, there's no solid medical proof to back up
people's claims, at least not in humans. A 2007 study conducted by researchers in Canada
did find that juniper berry essential oil helped improve digestion in cows, but it's
also important to note that, while some people find heartburn relief from gin, others may
experience worsening symptoms.
Kevin Ghassemi, a gastroenterologist at the University of California in Los Angeles, told
NPR that alcohol in general has a temporary but direct effect on heartburn. This is because
alcohol can relax the muscles that connect the stomach and esophagus. He explained that
those muscles are supposed to close the opening between the two, except to allow food to pass
through, and if they're relaxed because of the effects of alcohol, it may allow stomach
acid to seep into the esophagus. That's acid reflux, and that's why a nightly gin and tonic
just might make it worse.
Researchers in Australia studied the relation between juniper berries and bacteria and found
that these powerful berries were able to interfere with the development of bacterial triggers
of three major health conditions: multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing
spondylitis. Juniper berries also showed promising signs of being able to help treat certain
types of cancer, according to the study.
A 2014 review conducted by researchers in India further revealed that the juniper plant
has also been credited with antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant activity, which
bodes well for it's bacteria- and cancer-fighting potential. While gin is the only alcohol that
contains a high concentration of this superfood, it is still alcohol, a known carcinogen.
Still, moderate consumption is generally considered safe. Theresa Hydes, a researcher at the UK's
University Hospital Southampton, told Discover that a person's risk of developing most cancers
didn't increase until a person started drinking heavily. So, while you shouldn't look to gin
as a miracle cure, choosing to drink gin in moderation every night is likely safe.
If losing weight is your goal, choosing to drink gin every night isn't likely to sabotage
your efforts. In fact, it may just help. Amy Gorin, registered dietitian nutritionist and
owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in New York, told Women's Health:
When it comes to gin, there's something else going on here. It's not so much about the
alcohol, but what you're mixing with it. For the most part, gin and tequila are equal.
A martini and a margarita, however, are not.
A gin martini is one of the best low-calorie alcoholic beverages you can have as it contains
zero sugar and zero carbs and is just a smidge above 100 calories. Once you start getting
into alcohol mixed with sodas and other high-sugar beverages, that starts going up.
There is one exception, though: sloe gin. This particular kind of gin is more accurately
described as a liqueur and as such, it's lower in alcohol but higher in sugar. Opt for this
gin, and you might cancel out all those diet-related benefits.
"How much sugar did you use?"
"Sugar?"
It's common to mix alcohol with seltzer water, club soda, and tonic water, but they're all
very different things. According to Healthline, tonic contains quinine, which is a compound
taken from cinchona bark. This is what gives the stuff a bitter taste. It's safe to consume
the compound, but only in small doses. In fact, due to side effects that can result
from quinine, the US Food and Drug Administration regulates just how much can be added to tonic
water.
One gin and tonic isn't likely to lead to any adverse reactions, but it is possible
in some individuals. Healthline also explained that stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and
vomiting can occur, and some people may even experience nervousness, confusion, or a ringing
sensation in their ears.
More severe reactions, including kidney damage, from quinine have also been noted when the
compound is used in medication, but it's even more unlikely you'll experience anything so
severe from your nightly G and T. You'd have to drink around two liters of tonic water
to get a major dose of quinine, but still, if you're sensitive to it, you might want
to opt for a different mixer.
Certain types of alcohol have earned certain types of reputations. Tequila makes you go
wild, beer gives you a belly, and gin makes you cry. In the case of gin, this old wives'
tale may actually be true. A 2017 study conducted by researchers from Public Health Wales and
King's College London in the United Kingdom surveyed about 30,000 men and women between
the ages of 18 and 24 to determine how different types of alcohol affected their emotions and
behavior. And, yes, the legal drinking age in the UK is 18.
Those who drank spirits, including gin, rum, and whiskey, were more likely to experience
negative emotions, including feelings of aggression. While only 2.5 percent of the participants
experienced that particular mood after drinking red wine, a third of those who drank spirits
felt this way.
Of course, there could've been a few factors at play. While gin tears seemed to be a very
real thing, the study also clarified:
"You're a bad drunk."
If you've ever heard anyone make reference to gin curing or preventing malaria, there
is some basis to the claim, sort of. While there's nothing in gin that can prevent the
disease, the quinine in tonic water was first used to fight malaria, and with great success,
especially among the workers who built the Panama Canal in the early 20th century.
Technically, modern-day tonic water may have some preventative abilities, but you'd need
to drink a lot of G and Ts. Deb Mills, medical director of The Travel Doctor, did the math
and came up with a figure of 67 liters of tonic water per day. And that is exactly why
you shouldn't try this at home.
Some 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation
of America. A pollen allergy, also called seasonal allergies or hay fever, is among
the most common. And, as any pollen-allergy sufferers will attest, allergies are the worst.
To make matters worse still, those who have allergy-induced asthma may find that alcohol
only worsens their symptoms. According to a study by Asthma UK, 64 percent of asthmatics
surveyed claimed that drinking alcohol worsened their condition. However, there's more to
the story.
It's not that all alcohol worsens asthma or allergies. Instead, it's certain kinds. Fermented
beverages, like beer and red wine, contain histamine and sulfites, which are essentially
kryptonite to people with seasonal allergies.
According to Asthma UK's study, gin contains both a lower amount of histamine and, thanks
to how it is distilled, zero sulfites. These two things make gin a superior summertime
or, you know, anytime beverage for allergy sufferers.
In your grandparents' kitchen, you may have noticed raisins soaking in a jar on the counter.
Maybe you chalked it up to your nana's eccentricities, but there is actually some science behind
this antiquated home remedy.
As medicine researcher and author Chris Kilham explained in a piece for Fox News, the remedy,
which calls for a box of golden raisins, a glass jar, and gin, is meant to alleviate
arthritis pain. The raisins are to be covered and soaked in the gin at room temperature
for one week, after which they should be consumed, 10 per day. As Kilham explained, golden raisins
are capable of anti-inflammatory activity and, since arthritis is an inflammatory disease,
the raisins could help. Gin is made with similarly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich juniper
berries, which is why it's the preferred booze to use. Kilham added this bit of wisdom:
The fountain of youth is full of gin. Well, sort of. Cleverly named brand Anti-aGin promised
consumers a younger appearance upon drinking their gin. According to a statement by the
U.K. brand, Anti-aGin is distilled with collagen and other, quote, "anti-aging botanicals"
in order to, quote, "help people look younger whilst having fun". Anti-aGin continued,
While this brand does add some look-good, feel-good ingredients to its gin, all gin
contains juniper berries, and juniper berries have been scientifically proven to have the
potential for delivering some anti-aging benefits. So deciding to drink gin every night could
keep you looking youthful, though it's probably best not to base your whole skincare regimen
on this.
Drinking alcohol can often lead to bloating because it's an inflammatory substance. That's
why you may notice your face becoming a little puffy or your stomach bloating after a couple
drinks.
Although gin is still a type of alcohol, the juniper plant from which it is made has long
been in use as a diuretic. In fact, people as far back as the medieval times have recognized
its power to reduce water retention, and that sounds like a decent reason to drink gin every
night as opposed to other alcoholic beverages.
Of course, there may be a difference in how well juniper works as a diuretic in gin form
versus whole food form. No such studies have been conducted to determine if gin is a better
type of alcohol to consume than others when it comes to bloating. Nevertheless, gin does,
naturally, contain more juniper than other alcoholic beverages.
Nutritionist Jackie Lynch had some good news regarding a nightly gin drink and your heart
health. She says:
"As with other types of alcohol, there is some evidence to suggest that moderate consumption
[of gin] can help reduce the risk of heart attacks...This relates to one small glass
per day, as studies have shown that as you increase your intake to three glasses per
day the risk of cardiovascular disease increases dramatically."
Although a nightly gin martini can improve your heart health, other gin drinks may not,
due to the added sugar in some mixers. Because an excess consumption of sugar has been linked
to heart disease, you're going to want to avoid adding any sweet mixers to your measure
of gin and opt for something a little less sugary.
How would you like to never have a hangover ever again? Never have that all-over, achy
feeling, that pounding headache…
"What's the matter?"
"I have a headache."
"It might be a tumor…"
"It's not a tumor!"
That may not be entirely possible, unless you avoid alcohol, of course, but you can
lessen your chances. However, you will have to trade in certain drinks. Studies have found
an association between substances called congeners and hangovers. As it happens, dark drinks
like brandy and whiskey are high in congeners whereas clear drinks, such as vodka and gin,
have much lower levels. Daniel Hall-Flavin, a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes
in addiction, explained to the Mayo Clinic:
So, if you drink gin every night, you'll still want to limit yourself. That's not entirely
bad or surprising news, moderation is key no matter what you're drinking, after all!
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