Gin has less sugar and fewer calories than other liquors. If you already consume alcohol, gin may be a slightly healthier option. They can cause the sugar content in your drink to skyrocket. Gin is made from juniper berries, which is a superfruit.
Therefore, gin is one of the healthiest liquors to drink in moderation due to its low caloric content and botanical properties. However, drinking too much gin isn't healthy and can cause alcohol use disorder (AUD). You might be thinking: What about white wine? Well, while we love a sparkling glass of prosecco, red wine has more antioxidants and slightly less carbohydrates. As for alcohol varieties, vodka is low in calories.
In fact, a vodka soda is one of the lowest calorie blended beverages out there. A 7.5-ounce vodka soda has approximately 133 calories and 0 grams (g) of carbohydrates. To put it into perspective, a rum with cola has around 200 calories and 17.5 g of carbohydrates. Hard cider is made from fermented apples.
When it comes to calories and sugars, a 16-ounce can contains approximately 269 calories and 28 g of sugar. A key ingredient in gin is juniper berries, which have well-documented benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antibacterial properties. This berry native to Scotland's rugged landscape fights infections thanks to its high levels of vitamin C and flavonoids, a group of plant chemicals found in almost all vegetables and fruits. The precise origins of vodka remain unclear, but the word derives from Slavic for “water” (vodka), and “vodka” first appeared in a 15th-century court document in Poland, where it had become a major export.
Since gin and vodka only contain traces of sugar, they're great options if you're watching your weight. The alcohol content in vodka can range from 35 to 46 percent of ABV, while the ABV in gin generally ranges from 35 to 40 percent. According to the USDA, 1.5 ounces of gin or vodka contain approximately 100 calories, without carbohydrates. They have a lot in common, but once you take a sip you can't confuse one with the other, and drinkers on both sides of the dividing line have strong opinions about which is better.
Unlike vodka brands, which promote their basic materials and filtration methods, the biggest differences between London Dry gin brands lie in their patented blend of botanical products. Gin berries act as a natural medicine containing some antioxidants and antifungal and antimicrobial properties. While other alcoholic beverages may reduce the quality of sleep, the juniper berries in gin may promote restful sleep. Vodka cocktails and mixed beverages usually adopt the characteristics and flavors of anything else in the beverage.
This is what gives gin its distinctive, invigorating flavor that some people find delicious and others compare it to a paint thinner. The name of gin comes from the English “genever”, which derives from the Latin word for juniper, an ingredient that was and still is a pillar of its flavor. Many people already know that the antioxidants in berries can help skin look healthier, but most don't immediately think of these same antioxidants in the form of gin.