The Top 7 Surprising Health Benefits Of Gin
The top health benefits of gin arent too surprising when you think about it. Made from juniper berries, a type of super fruit, gin serves as one of the healthiest spirits ever created. Its low in calories, and the botanical properties that survive the distillation process present plenty of health-boosting reasons gin is healthy.
Gin has grown in demand over the years, and distilleries continue to fuel its popularity. Data from the 2018 SIP Awards found that gin was tied with vodka as the number 1 category regarding the number of entrants. In line with trends, we present the most interesting benefits of drinking gin.
Am I An Alcoholic If I Drink A Bottle Of Wine A Night
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines a glass of wine as five ounces, and there are about five glasses in a standard bottle of wine. While this is often considered a good rule of thumb, it doesnt necessarily mark someone who drinks more than recommended amounts as an alcoholic.
Alcohol And The Risk Of Developing Gout
Researchers also discovered that alcohol, especially beer, showed the strongest association with the risk of gout. In fact, those who drink 2 or more servings of beer have 2.5 times greater chance of developing gout. Whereas, men who drink vodka, gin, whiskey and brandy are also at risk of developing gout, but the risk is a bit lower as compared to beer. Meanwhile, there was no reported association between wine consumption and the development of gout. However, some red wines contain oxypurines or purines, which may lead to an increased purine load.
Researchers also revealed that one serving of alcohol a day is enough to increase a persons chance of creating a problem with gout over time. As the number of drinks consumed increases, the risk also increases.
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Recommended Reading: Sour Cherry Juice For Gout
Can Changing Your Drinking Habits Prevent Gout
When you have gout, its important to keep your uric acid levels as low as possible to avoid a flare-up. Because alcohol increases uric acid levels, many doctors will recommend drinking only in moderation or cutting back significantly.
If you enjoy alcohol, making simple changes to your drinking habits may help avoid future flare-ups. Even if you dont have gout, avoiding heavy drinking may even help prevent a first-time gout experience.
Keep Calm & Drink Gin
Again, we’re not endorsing the self-administration of gin instead of the usual medications prescribed for these issues, but it’s nice to know that drinking alcohol doesn’t have to be 100% vice. So queue up those gin and tonics or gin martinis, and tell anyone at the bar who will listen that you’re drinking to good health… and for your health, as well.
Don’t Miss: How To Alleviate Gout Pain In Big Toe
New Year New You Fighting Back When You Have Gout
Now that the holiday feasts are over and the New Year is here, its a good time to take stock of your diet and consider healthy changes especially if you have gout.
Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that can unleash intensely painful flares in individual joints, often in the big toe. An estimated 8 million Americans experience gout attacks, which can last for a few days. The condition can also become chronic and lead to the destruction of joints. Although theres no cure, there are medications to control gout, as well as lifestyle changes you can make to manage the condition and reduce or even eliminate attacks.
Gout develops in some people who have high levels of uric acid in the blood the uric acid can form needle-like crystals in soft tissues and joints. Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down chemicals called purines. Purines occur naturally in your body but are also found in certain foods and beverages. If your body cant get rid of the uric acid efficiently enough , the uric acid in your blood can build up and reach levels that could cause problems .
One way to minimize the risk of a gout flare is to cut back on high-purine foods. The DASH diet a low-sodium diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables over red meats and processed foods is recommended for people with gout. The Mediterranean diet which emphasizes fruits, veggies, whole grains and healthy fats may also help. Find more gout info here.
All Alcohol Even Wine Raises Risk Of Gout Flare
By Ronnie Cohen, Reuters Health
5 Min Read
NEW YORK – Bad news for gout sufferers who enjoy drinking the fruit of the vine – new research finds that all types of alcohol, even previously exempt wine, can bring on attacks of the painful condition.
I dont want to sound too dogmatic and say, You must stop drinking, lead author Dr. Tuhina Neogi told Reuters Health. But, the Boston University rheumatologist said, based on this study, I would counsel patients that any type of alcohol may trigger an attack.
Its not just beer or hard liquor that can trigger attacks, but also wine, she said.
Gout is a potentially debilitating form of arthritis that afflicts more than 8 million American adults, and the number is rising, Neogis team writes in The American Journal of Medicine.
The so-called disease of kings causes joints to swell and redden. It most often strikes overweight mens big toes but also claims feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. A link between intoxicating beverages and gout has been suspected since ancient times.
A 2004 landmark study of more than 47,000 men found that drinking beer and hard liquor – but not wine – increased the risk of developing gout.
Neither has wine been shown in other studies to bring on attacks in people who already have gout, the way beer and liquor have.
Nonetheless, Neogi said, some of her patients report they cant even sniff wine without having a gout attack.
Recommended Reading: Does Epsom Salt Work For Gout
Extend Your Life Span
Okay, so heavy drinking won’t exactly lead you to more birthdaysbut, in moderation, gin may help your blood circulation as you get older, which can prolong life. Juniper berries also contain flavonoids, which have a whole slew of benefits for cardiovascular health: prevention of atherosclerosis and clogged arteries are just some of the amazing things they can aid in preventing.
Image via Shutterstock
If I Am Being Treated For Gout Can I Still Drink Wine
Q: Following a recent trip to “wine camp” and the consumption of a variety of red wines, I experienced an acute gout attack requiring medical treatment. Should wines of all types be avoided if one suffers from gout, even if on medication to treat gout? –Albert, Nashville
A: Gout is an inflammatory form of arthritis caused by excess uric acid in the bloodstream. Most uric acid comes from the breakdown of the body’s own DNA, while some comes from diet. For most people, excess uric acid is simply filtered from the body by the kidney. When the acid remains in the bloodstream, it can crystallize in joints and surrounding tissues, which, over time, build-up and cause the inflammation typical of gout.
According to Herbert S. B. Baraf, MD, a rheumatologist and a clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University, for those worried about developing gout, studies have shown that wine does not increase the risk of gout, although beer can. In a study comparing beer, spirits and wine, he explains, “Using a cut-off point of two drinks a day as “high intake,” beer and, to a lesser extent, the intake of spirits were associated with the subsequent development of new onset gout. Wine did not appear to be a risk factor at this level.”
Have a question about wine and healthy living? .
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Best Drink For Gout 2021
The essential point about the best drink for gout is that it is a personal choice. Significantly, that choice depends on two important personal factors:
- Your attitude to drinking and how that is modified by professional health advice.
- Your specific gout treatment plan. Remember that is your personal mix of medical, herbal or diet treatments as advised by your professional health consultants.
Unfortunately, most gout sufferers who are concerned about their best drink have not considered both these important factors. So I get many questions about the best drink for gout. Yet most questions cannot be answered properly because of that lack of foundation.
Going forward, I will create new pages for common concerns that are related to best drink for gout. Currently, Iâm working on:
Potential Health Benefits Of Gin
While some online articles have championed the benefits of drinking gin due to the properties of juniper berries, from which gin is derived, no evidence suggests that junipers antioxidants survive the fermentation process. When used as a control in a study on red wine, gin showed no special antioxidant properties.
However, there are several health benefits associated with the light to moderate consumption of any form of alcohol, i.e., about 1 drink a day for women and 1-2 for men. These include:
Heart Disease and Other Conditions
Alcohol has a U or J-curve relationship with certain conditions. While light drinking has a positive impact on them, heavy drinking negatively affects or increases the risk for the following:
- People with alcohol dependency issues and people unable to control the amount they drink
In addition, drinking gin may carry the following risks:
Potential Medication Interactions
Alcohol interacts with drugs and other medications, sometimes making them less effective or even harmful. In addition to side effects such as nausea and drowsiness, more serious problems are possible, including internal bleeding as well as heart and respiratory problems.
The impact of alcohol on medication can vary between individuals and change with age. Talk to your doctor about any prescriptions you take in order to see if you can safely consume gin.
Sexual Health Problems
Heavy Drinking
In the short term, excessive drinking can lead to risky behavior or alcohol poisoning.
Read Also: What Is Gout Disease In Spanish
Flush Out Your System
If you’re having issues with bloating, or urinary tract infections, gin may be able to help. Since juniper is a diuretic, it increases urine output and therefore stops water retention. In the case of UTIs, increased urine output often flushes out toxins and bacteria associated with the infection.
Image via Shutterstock
You Can Improve Your Heart Health If You Drink Gin Every Night
“As with other types of alcohol, there is some evidence to suggest that moderate consumption can help reduce the risk of heart attacks…,” nutritionist Jackie Lynch confirmed to Good to Know. Now, that doesn’t mean you can throw back martini after martini and expect to strengthen your heart. “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,” the nutritionist continued. She further recommended opting for a “single rather than a double measure” of gin to be safe.
Although a nightly gin martini can improve your heart health, a gin and tonic may not, due to the added sugar. 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 if you choose to drink gin every night.
Also Check: How To Lower Uric Acid For Gout
You May Not Have To Worry About Hypoglycemia If You Drink Gin Every Night
Gin, especially London Dry Gin, is incredibly natural. Sam Carter, senior brand ambassador for gin distillery Bombay Sapphire, explained to Good Housekeeping that this variety of gin contains just 0.01 grams of sugar per liter. And, since no flavorings or additives are allowed to be added to the gin after it’s distilled, it’s very clean. But, even if you don’t opt for London Dry Gin, distilled gin is also quite natural. Yes, gin is a great fit for people looking to eat a clean diet, but it’s arguably an ever greater fit for people with type 1 diabetes.
According to a study published by the Journal of Diabetes Nursing , gin is the best choice for people with this condition as it doesn’t contribute to hypoglycemia the way other kinds of alcohol do. As part of the study, researchers compared the blood levels of participants after drinking alcoholic beverages and found that blood levels remained the highest in participants who drank gin with a no-carb tonic. Choosing to drink gin every night, as opposed to other drinks like whiskey, doesn’t sound so bad, does it?
Junipers Are Super Berries
The word gin actually derives from the older English word genever and the Latin word for juniper, juniperus. Gin is the most natural spirit as its main ingredient is of course Juniper berries. These super berries are jam-packed with infection fighting qualities as they are warming, stimulating and disinfecting.
Carl Court/Getty
Read Also: Not Giving Up Beer Gout
Is Gin Bad For Your Liver
- You are here:
Alcohol consumption is not typically associated with maintaining a healthy lifestyle as it is often associated with negative effects. But not all alcohol was created equal. With that in mind, you may be wondering, is gin bad for your liver?
We all know that drinking in excess can lead to an inflamed and swollen liver, but moderate drinking has actually been shown to have several benefits.
Keep reading to learn all about the origins of gin, its properties, and the ways in which moderate gin drinking can actually be good for you.
Juniper Berries Are Super Berries
The word “gin” actually derives from the older English word genever and the Latin word for juniper, juniperus. Gin is the most natural spirit as its main ingredient is of course juniper berries. These super berries are jam-packed with infection fighting qualities as they are warming, stimulating and disinfecting.
Recommended Reading: How Long Can A Gout Flare Up Last
What Ingredients Are Needed For The Pomegranate Cocktail
- Pomegranate Liqueur
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If You Drink Gin Every Night You May Be Able To Reduce Water Retention
Drinking alcohol can often lead to bloating because, as Healthline explained, 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, according to Healthline. “Like many natural diuretics,” the publication continued, “juniper doesn’t seem to lower potassium levels like some drugs do.” 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.
Also Check: What Do You Do When You Have Gout
Prohibition And Bathtub Gin
While the British colonists were enjoying their first mixed drinks, Americans were brewing up a cocktail culture of their own. By the Civil War , American-style cocktails were characterized by various combinations of liquor, bitters and sugar water and went by names like “gin-sling, sangaree, mint julep, sherry-cobbler and timber doodle.”
The classic gin martini showed up in the 1870s and 1880s. From Richard Barnett, author of “The Book of Gin: A Spirited World History from Alchemists’ Stills and Colonial Outposts to Gin Palaces, Bathtub Gin, and Artisanal Cocktails“: The martini is “an embodiment of American history at its most diverse: Dutch and English gin, mixed with French vermouth, and served with Mediterranean olives, German-Jewish pickled onions or Caribbean lemons.” The distinctive conical martini glass was popularized in the first decade of the 20th century.
But the real American cocktail boom was spurred by the passing of Prohibition in 1920. With a ban on the production and sale of alcohol, the booze industry went underground, and gin is one of the easiest spirits to make on the cheap.
For Prohibition partiers, gone was the clean, piny finish of a London dry gin. Instead, they got “bathtub gin,” a colorful nickname that alluded to its homemade origins and dirty aftertaste. But no worries, because even the foulest tasting bathtub gin could be covered up by a combination of strong bitters, citrus and simple syrup.