Made of juniper berries, Gin is an alcoholic drink that originated in Europe. Throughout its history, gin has been a favorite of drinkers everywhere, especially in cocktails containing other substances, such as fruit juice and other alcoholic beverages. In addition to drinking it, gin also has a many other uses.
Most notable, gin is touted for its wide variety of medicinal uses, including as a digestive aid, metabolic booster, and for its anti-aging properties. Gin fans also favor the drink due to its many natural ingredients, which are healthier overall for the body and can contribute to overall health when consumed in moderate amounts.
Overall, though, gin is lauded for its taste, which many liken to a Christmas tree. It is this piney, slightly sweet, intense flavor that leaves a biting residual taste after you have taken a drink. Much beloved by alcohol drinkers around the world, who would have thought that gin would have so many uses outside of simply drinking it?
The antioxidants found in gin make it a great ingredient to use in a facial mask. When making a facial mask using gin, you should use a substance, such as honey, as a thickener, as the mask can be a bit thin without one. Check out
Bustle for more on how to make this cleansing facial mask.
Gin also has anti-microbial properties as well, making it perfect for use as a mouthwash. The piney flavor of the juniper berries in the gin make it the perfect flavorful mouthwash, especially when mixed with thyme oil, which gives the mouthwash a more herbal flavor.
Mix gin with a few other ingredients and you have the perfect juice for making delicious pickles. Other ingredients in this simple recipe include sliced cucumbers, lime juice, sugar, salt, and tonic water. You can find out how to make gin and tonic pickles at
Delish.
Gin also helps with digestion, as the herbs used to make it help to increase the acids and enzymes in your stomach. An increase in these two fluids help your body break down the food you eat.
The juniper berries used in the production of gin are known to have anti-fungal properties, making it perfect for use in soaking your feet. The alcohol content in gin also works to kill foot fungus, giving the drink a one-two punch when it comes to getting rid of athlete’s foot.
Adding a little gin to your recipe when making a pie crust can make it flakier. This is due to the lower temperature at which the gin evaporates. In addition, the distinct taste of gin can really elevate the flavor of more savory pies.
7) Use in Herbal Tinctures
Gin is a great alcoholic beverage to use when making an herbal tincture. Start by immersing the herbs in a canning jar filled with gin, and allow it to sit for at least a week. Next, strain the mixture through a cheese cloth for a great-tasting herbal mixture.
8) Use to Improve Circulation
The flavonoids in gin help improve your circulation, especially in older drinkers. When consumed in moderation, gin helps to strengthen the tissue connecting your veins and keep your arteries cleared of plaque, an effect that is directly linked to the flavonoids.
The juniper berries in gin are known to help alleviate indigestion, including an upset stomach and heartburn. Drinking a little gin with your meal might also help to alleviate gastrointestinal infections and get rid of intestinal worms.
Gin (and tonic) was first created as a treatment for malaria to be drunk by British sailors. Gin was originally added to tonic water, which had a very bitter taste due to the presence of quinine, to make the drink more palatable.
11) Helps With Urinary Tract Infections
Studies have shown that D-mannose, a naturally occurring sugar found in juniper berries, which are the main component of gin, helps fight urinary tract infections. In addition to drinking gin, you also need to drink plenty of water when trying to fight or prevent a urinary tract infection.
12) Helps Prevent Heart Disease
In addition to improving circulation, the flavonoids found in juniper berries that are used to make gin can also help prevent heart disease. Keep in mind that this is with moderate consumption, as overconsumption of alcohol can cause its own set of problems.
13) Helps With Weight Loss
The low amount of calories in gin can also help you lose weight. A shot of gin contains roughly 72 calories, about half of that in a can of beer. In addition, gin has 0 grams of carbohydrates, fats, and fiber, making it a perfect lower-calorie, lower-carb alcoholic refreshment.
14) Use as an Air Freshener
You can also use gin as an air freshener. Fill a spray bottle with gin and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. When you spray it, the alcohol in the gin evaporate, leaving behind the scent of the essential oil and the piney scent of the juniper berries.
15) Removes Red Wine Stains
To remove a red wine stain from clothing or fabric, gently blot the area with a clean cloth or paper towel. Follow this up by blotting with a cloth with some gin on it. Repeat this process as often as necessary to remove the wine stain.
16) Helps Fight Kidney Disease
The ability of the juniper berries in gin to help your body pass water more quickly makes it a perfect way to prevent kidney disease. If you do decide to use gin to improve your kidney function, make sure to drink in moderate amounts. Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to an increase in your blood pressure, which in turn increases your risk of kidney failure.
Gin can reportedly boost your metabolism. Researchers at Latvia’s University of Sigulda found that gin increased the metabolic rate of mice by 17 percent for a whole hour after drinking it. This study has recently been brought under scrutiny, though, so stay tuned for the latest on whether gin has the metabolic-increasing properties described above.
18) Use as an All-Purpose Cleaner
You can also use gin as an all-purpose cleaner. Simply spray down the surface you want to clean and wipe it up with a damp cloth or sponge. To remove mold and mildew, allow the gin to sit for a few minutes before wiping it up.
19) Use as a Shoe Deodorizer
Spraying gin into your footwear can help get rid of stinky odors. The alcohol in the gin kills the bacteria responsible for the bad odors and leaves behind the piney scent of the juniper berries. Spray your shoes as needed to eliminate odors.
20) Helps Fight Liver Disease
Drinking gin in moderation can help your liver fight liver disease. The gin acts as a diuretic, causing your body to expel water more quickly, getting rid of toxins and bacteria more easily. Keep in mind that overconsumption of alcohol can be harmful to your body, especially your liver.
21) Helps With Women’s Health
Gin can help regulate the menstrual cycle of women who drink it and can even jump-start a late period, according to some reports. Additionally, gin can help relieve menstrual cramps and nerve disturbances that sometimes accompany a monthly period.
The anti-inflammatory properties of gin can also help with arthritis. A great way to relieve the pain often accompanied with arthritis is to soak golden raisins in gin for a week and then consuming 10 a day. The sulphur dioxide in the raisins is also said to help relieve arthritis pain.
23) Use as a Glass Cleaner
Gin is a great glass cleaner. To use gin as a window or mirror cleaner, mix it with an equal amount of water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto the glass, and remove it using a lint-free, clean, dry cloth.
Another area that gin might help relieve pain is with gout. While each person varies as to whether gin can help them with their gout or not, the anti-inflammatory properties of gin and its use in treating pain offers a potential short-term answer for some gout sufferers.
25) Helps to Lower Blood Sugar
Gin, being an alcoholic beverage, can lower your blood sugar since it has no carbs. But drinking gin is especially risky if you do so on an empty stomach, as this practice can lead to hypoglycemia. If you do drink gin, do so in moderation.
Splashing a little gin on your face or legs can tighten up the skin and give you a nice, piney scent. In addition, the alcohol in the gin can help sanitize any cuts or nicks. Take care, though, as using this method can leave you smelling like gin, at least until it evaporates.
Another use for gin is as a jewelry cleaner. All you need for this project is a soft-bristled toothbrush, some gin, and a soft buffing cloth. Apply the gin using the toothbrush, making sure to get it into all of the nooks and crannies. Follow this up with a quick buff with the polishing cloth to make your jewelry sparkle.
28) Helps Alleviate Coughing
Gin can even help you if you have a cough. The juniper berries in gin contain an oil that acts as an expectorant that promotes the expelling of mucus by your body and which helps with lung congestion. For best results, mix the gin with an herb, such as ginger, to help soothe your throat.
29) Helps Prevent Kidney Failure
Drinking a little gin can actually help prevent kidney failure, according to studies. This is due to the decreased presence of creatinine levels in men and women who drank at least one drink a day. In addition, drinking alcohol is related to an elevation in HDL cholesterol, the good kind of cholesterol.
30) Use as a Soap Additive
The anti-microbial properties of gin make it a great additive for liquid hand soap. In addition to killing bacteria, the gin should also give the soap a nice, piney scent. You can also find a great gin and tonic soap recipe at
Humblebee & Me.
Another way to imbibe gin is to inhale it as a vapor. And while vapor bars are a relatively new thing, they are quickly catching on, with vapor bars popping up in the U.S. and around the world.
The antioxidants in gin helps to slow the aging process. In addition, the juniper berries in gin have properties that help with cell regeneration in the body, which can lead to less wrinkles as you age. You can even find gin containing collagen for an even better wrinkle-fighting formula.
33) Helps Reduce Bloating
Drinking gin can help you avoid bloating and gas while drinking. When compared to other alcoholic drinks, which can cause inflammation, gas, and other gut issues, gin actually causes less of these symptoms. Just make sure to avoid mixers containing sugar, which can also cause bloating.
34) Use as an Odor-Beating Footwash
To eliminate foot odor, soak your feet in a little gin mixed with water. The alcohol in the gin coupled with the anti-microbial nature of juniper berries kills the bacteria that causes foot odor. In addition, gin is anti-fungal, which also helps to relieve athlete’s foot.
35) Use as a Hangover Cure
If you wake up with a hangover, mix some gin with tomato juice for an easy-to-make cure. The stomach-aiding nature of gin, combined with the vitamins from the tomato juice, can help ease any stomach problems and rebalance your systems. You should also drink plenty of water.
If you like this article, please SHARE it with your friends and family.
As you can see, gin has many uses outside of drinking it to get drunk. Gin comes in handy when you clean around your home, need to relieve stomach issues, and want to stay healthy while still drinking a little alcohol. Take advantage of these nifty uses for gin to stay happy and healthy.
Made of juniper berries, Gin is an alcoholic drink that originated in Europe. Throughout its history, gin has been a favorite of drinkers everywhere, especially in cocktails containing other substances, such as fruit juice and other alcoholic beverages. In addition to drinking it, gin also has a many other uses.
Most notable, gin is touted for its wide variety of medicinal uses, including as a digestive aid, metabolic booster, and for its anti-aging properties. Gin fans also favor the drink due to its many natural ingredients, which are healthier overall for the body and can contribute to overall health when consumed in moderate amounts.
Overall, though, gin is lauded for its taste, which many liken to a Christmas tree. It is this piney, slightly sweet, intense flavor that leaves a biting residual taste after you have taken a drink. Much beloved by alcohol drinkers around the world, who would have thought that gin would have so many uses outside of simply drinking it?