Gin Health Archives - Blue Light Caribbean Gin

The Benefits of Gin

New year, new you? Well, how about the benefits of gin? We are all doing it, or at least have thought about it. After feeling the effects of the season of indulgence you’ve promised yourself (and your body) its time for a little detox. However as well intentioned as it sounds, it can be difficult to stick to a diet, find time to do some more exercise and reduce your alcohol consumption. Ok, so instead of trying to do all three why not give yourself a little leeway by swapping your typical sip such as beer or wine to gin? If I have your curiosity tingling, read on to consider the benefits of gin. But the ‘benefits of gin’ sounds counterintuitive right, I hear ya, but hear me out. There are many benefits of gin that you can take advantage of which might just convince you to keep to that detox a little longer… Low Calorie Option Gin is of course low in calories and low in sugar – yep, at the start of the year when calorie counting is at its most popular, an easy solution is swapping that pint of beer (typically more than 200 calories) for a glass of gin (less than 100). As well as the low-calorie count, you’ll also find that gin only has traces of sugar, that said, this will all depend on the mixer of course so choose wisely! So, that’s less calories and less sugar than your typical alcoholic beverage. Already that’s an improvement on your detox regime Other benefits? Well everyone sort of knows that, but what else does gin offer I hear you ask? Ok, well it can reduce hay fever and bloating. If, like me, you find yourself dreaming of the Caribbean whilst you’re sitting at your desk on a grey February day but then bam, reality kicks in and remember the hay fever that plagues your weekends or the bloating that ruins the barbeques. But wait, here’s another benefit of gin! Typically drinks like beer and cider have a higher histamine content compared to clear spirits like gin therefore reducing the effects of hay fever. Gin can also reduce bloating due to the natural ingredients made with gin. Firstly, the natural herbs are historically known to aid digestion and secondly juniper berries act as diuretic which combine to keep your beach bod intact for that late-night skinny dip! More benefits? Surely there’s not much more convincing needed to give gin a go, but if you’re still on the fence I think these benefits of gin will tipple you over the edge. It can reduce wrinkles and make you live longer. Yep you heard that right, again we have the superfood juniper berries to thank, as they are packed full of antioxidants which promote the appearance of youthful looking skin and therefore can help keep those wrinkles at bay. Wait, I heard you say live longer?! I did, a Canadian study found that ‘moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks seems to reduce the risks of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cataracts’ on top of the alcohol, ingredients of gin, specifically Blue Light Caribbean Gin, contains flavonoids and carotenoids in the juniper berries (yep, these guys again) and the citrus fruit extracts which help prevent clogged arteries and strengthening the connective tissue in veins. So there is some truth when Sir Winston Churchill said ‘the gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire’. Guest post by Lewis Evans Aaron SalyerGin enthusiast and Caribbean Dreamer.

The Benefits of Gin Read More »

Why we started making hand sanitizer.

The world’s in a difficult place right now. Having access to essentials during this time is even more important. Hand sanitizer is quickly becoming one of the world’s most essential resources in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Hand Sanitizer Shortage In The Caribbean, there is a serious lack of supply. And it happened fast. Seemingly overnight the shelves dried up. It has also been noted from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that there is a serious lack of supply all around the world. Access to Alcohol As a distillery, even though we are a very small, boutique, we have accesses to high strength ethanol (95%). WHO recommends using an alcohol-based handrub for routine hand antisepsis in most clinical situations. It has also declared that while research on the subject is limited, 60% alcohol (ethanol) should be suitable to kill bacteria on the skin. Therefore, we decided to redirect our efforts on an as needed basis. Alcohol and Aloe Vera We decided to make 70% alcohol sanitiser, to be well above the minimum limit. What does alcohol mean for your skin? The impacts of this strength alcohol on your skin differ from person to person. In general, alcohol can dry out the skin. In severe cases, it can cause irritation and skin cracking. Aloe Vera a natural moisturizer Aloe Vera is a natural moisturizer. “It contains antioxidants, enzymes, Vitamins A and C, and it is highly anti-inflammatory. It can help treat burns, acne and dry skin.” Access to a local supply of Aloe Vera Luckily for us, we had a local supplier with Aloe Vera plants. So, we started harvesting them straight away. Trust me, it’s not as easy as it sounds. You’ve gotta get down and cut the leaves (often getting spiked), then peel each leaf, blend it to make it useable and then mix and blend into the alcohol. We trialed a couple of different percentages to see how much would be effective without being to lumpy/sticky and worked out our “recipe”. Donation to the Elderly It had already been a few days since the noticeable lack of sanitizer on shelves before we started our production. So, we thought it’d be best to give it out to those really in need first. The biggest story on COVID-19 was that elderly folk were most at risk. So, we gave what we had to the local home for the elderly. Island in Lockdown With our island in lockdown, we’ve ceased production for the moment. We will continue to make more on an as-needed-basis. Personally, we are hoping that this timeframe will not be for long and the whole virus epidemic will be under control so that we can all go back to our normal lives. In the meantime, stay safe out there. Aaron SalyerGin enthusiast and Caribbean Dreamer.

Why we started making hand sanitizer. Read More »

Health Benefits of Gin? Yes, Here’s The Top 5 List.

You might be wondering how gin could get any better. If you weren’t already sold on the idea of drinking gin because it tastes amazing, here are some potential health benefits of gin (to make it that little bit better). Gin has long been used for medicinal purposes. But for what purpose exactly? We cover these points below. What’s in Gin that has health benefits? Firstly, what is it that gives gin its health benefits? It is a combination of a couple of things: Juniper Berries (gins main source of flavouring) The alcohol itself Juniper Berries The infamous Juniper Berry (the source of gins goodness) is not actually a berry. It is a flesh cone that grows on the female Juniper Fern tree after pollination has occurred. For the sake of all arguments, it looks and feels like a berry, so let’s call it a berry. They are a blueish colour and are far too bitter to eat on their own, however, they have been harvested across the world (mostly in the northern hemispheres) for centuries by various cultures. Juniper Berries are high in Antioxidants The main source of gins health benefits come directly from the Juniper berries. Berries, in general, are a high source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is good or immune health, collagen synthesis, and blood vessel function. Essential oils in the Juniper Berries contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects Is Alcohol good for you? Besides the Juniper Berries, alcohol makes up a major element of Gin (obviously). But is drinking alcohol good for you? It’s an age old debate that really depends on which side of the fence you’re going to approach the question from. A purely biological or a general health (physical and mental wellbeing). Alcohol is often considered a social/community gathering substance. In this case, bringing people together can be a good form of social health. Regardless of how you look at it, it’s thought that small amounts of any alcohol can have health benefits, but it’s a fine line to being too much of a good thing. Historical Use of Gin & Juniper The health benefits of Gin and Juniper are nothing new. They have gone through various civilisations, each adding their own spin. Here are a few of the significant historical uses. Egyptians The use of Juniper Berries as a medicinal source dates back to around 1,500 BC in the Egyptian scrolls. It was recorded that the Juniper berries were used to initially treat stomach issues like tapeworm. Romans The Romans are recorded as using Juniper Berries for a range of stomach ailments. Greeks The Greeks used Juniper Berries for the original Olympic Games as they believed the berries improved physical stamina. Top 5 Health Benefits of Gin Ok, that’s enough history, what can Gin actually do for your health? Here are some health benefits of gin based on the best available data. Note that most of these are related directly to the Juniper Berries themselves. 1. Improve Digestion and Settle Stomachs As used historically, the Juniper in Gin is shown to be useful for an array of stomach related issues. It’s believed that the berries antioxidants improve stomach acid recreation which help aid the digestive process. 2. Keep Your Skin Looking Young Don’t go rubbing that bottle over your face. Alcohol can actually dry out your skin. The antioxidants in the Juniper can actually improve cellular restoration and overall skin restoration. 3. Improve Your Blood Flow Juniper berries contain flavonoids which can reduce array build up and clogging. 4. Flush Out Infections From Your System Juniper is a diuretic and can aid in flushing out urinary infections with the reduced water retention. 5. Gives Your Joints A Break Juniper is an anti inflammatory and can actually reduce the inflammation in your joints. It has been used in reducing the strain on arthritis patients around the world . Benefits of Gin and Tonic Apart from tasting great, Gin and Tonic has some surprising health related benefits. The famous G&T combo actually came from the British Soldiers who were occupying India in the 19th century. With outbreaks of Malaria effecting soldiers progress, they began to take quinine, which is extracted from cinchona bark (a tree native to South America). The quinine was made into a tonic drink with sugar added to make it palatable. As many soldiers were afforded a ration of Gin (London was still in their gin craze faze). People began to mix the two together (the gin made it easier to stomach the tonic). Note that levels of quinine have changed While historically, “tonic” was used to prevent malaria, the recipe has changed significantly in modern day “off the shelf” caught tonic water. In most cases you’d need to drink around “67 litres of Gin and Tonic a day in order to have a dose of quinine strong enough to prevent malaria“. Side Effects of Gin Like all alcohol, there are potential side effects. Alcohol abuse is no joke. Gin is actually much “cleaner” than most spirits (vodka excluded), and has much less negative effects than others. So, Is Gin Good For You? This is not a medical report. While there are some known health benefits of gin and historical evidence proving its use for centuries, there is still very little scientific evidence around the spirit. As with most things, moderation is the key. So, is gin good for you? Well, if you pour a nice glass of Caribbean Gin under a palm tree on a white sand beach and feel great about life, how can that be a bad thing? Here at Blue Light Distillery, we believe that it’s all in good fun. The gin making process, the drinking process and sharing process. We use all natural ingredients (no preservatives or artificial flavouring) this keeps our gin as pure as possible. Which has got to be good, right? Aaron SalyerGin enthusiast and Caribbean Dreamer.

Health Benefits of Gin? Yes, Here’s The Top 5 List. Read More »