So…what is gin? In case you’re unfamiliar with the drink, it’s a type of flavoured spirit with around 40% alcohol. It’s a distilled drink produced in a process of fermentation and distillation of the base, which is then redistilled with different gin botanicals (mainly Juniper berries).
Common plants used in the production of Australian gin are strawberry gum, eucalyptus, bush tomato and lemon myrtle, just to name a few.
The number of gin distilleries in Australia has grown from 10 to nearly 200 in the last 10 years – the gin industry in Australia is booming!
The history of gin in Australia is quite short. Until recently, Australian distillery laws were stringent mainly due to the government not understanding distilling and its safety concerns. Since then, the government has been a lot more accommodating in helping new distilleries understand their requirements. As a result there has been an exploding trend of many new distilleries opening up.
Did you know that gin was used as herbal medicine from as early as the Middle Ages? Gin, especially Australian gin, when drunk in moderation, has a vast range of health benefits. From being chock-full of antioxidants to fighting various diseases like kidney and liver disease, here are the top reasons to ditch that glass of hard liquor in favour of wonderful old gin.
Infused With The Goodness Of Juniper
Juniper berries, also known as super berries, are brimming with benefits.
They not only contain antioxidants, but have antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects as well. It can also promote heart and skin health.
Low In Calories
Worried you’ll get a spare tire around your waist by drinking gin? Don’t sweat it, gin has one of the least amount of calories per shot compared with other drinks, coming in at around 97 calories per shot. Drink it neat if you’re watching your weight, because adding tonic will increase the number of calories.
Helps You Live Longer
Drink your way to a longer life! The Juniper berries in gin contain flavonoids which are majorly helpful for preventing heart disease and improving your blood circulation. Keep in mind though, that excessive drinking of gin could have the opposite effect.
It’s Great For Your Bones
Say goodbye to chronic pain and arthritis. The alcohol content mixed with the Juniper berries goodness is an effective treatment for chronic pain and arthritis and helps relieve joints that ache.
Fights Off Coughs And Colds
Oils contained in juniper berries can ward off coughs by getting rid of the mucus in the throat and aiding in lung congestion. The awesome thing about gin is that it’s versatile and can be mixed with ingredients like ginger, which helps soothe a sore throat.
As you can see, gin, whether Australian gin or not, offers many advantages. To recap, it offers antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, is low in calories, helps you live longer, is beneficial for your bones, and fights off coughs and colds. Quite amazing really, if you think about it!
There you have it. Drinking gin has so many merits and it’s impossible to ignore the benefits it has on your body. On the flip side though, remember to use your discretion while drinking it. Too much gin (or anything really!) is harmful to your body.