Make mine a double! Why a G&T is a healthy choice (...sometimes)

"Winston Churchill famously declared that 'gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen's lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire'-and over a century later, the boozy tipple is still running through the cultural veins of Britain. The drink's origins lie in nineteenth century India where tonic water, rich in quinine extracted from the bark of cinchona trees, was widely distributed by the Royal Navy."

"'There is no doubt that each drink you have has a negative long term impact on your health,' says Ruchi Bhuwania Lohia, a registered longevity nutritionist. 'When I see clients in the clinic though I see the reality. For many, completely cutting out alcohol is not realistic, with people feeling that they will miss out on social occasions, so a few small realistic changes to your drinking habits can help.'"

"The nutritionist explains that swapping from drinks that are high in calories and sugar to clear spirits like gin can be kinder to your gut, and your waistline. 'It is about making sensible choices. If you are swapping five pints of beer for G&T's then that is a good decision, because it has fewer calories and will not cause bloating,' says Ms Lohia."

Gin and tonic originated in nineteenth-century India when quinine-rich tonic water from cinchona bark was distributed by the Royal Navy. Quinine offered anti-malarial benefits but tasted bitter, so sailors mixed tonic with sugar, lime, water and gin to make it palatable. The combined beverage remains culturally popular in Britain and is credited with some perceived health advantages. Nutritionists advise choosing low-calorie drinks when drinking alcohol. Registered longevity nutritionist Ruchi Bhuwania Lohia recommends realistic small changes, such as swapping high-calorie, sugary drinks for clear spirits like gin to reduce calorie intake and bloating.

Read at Mail Online