DRINKS WITH BENEFITS
Choose the right beverage and would you believe your skin could actually thank you for it?
Nutritionist and best-selling author Lee Holmes says distilled spirits are the best ones to order as they contain less ingredients and can move though your body quicker.
“When it comes to drink and skin health, think the clearer the better,” she says. “Go for vodka, gin and tequila over heavy cocktails or white wine, which contain salt and sugar, two ingredients that can lead to bloated, inflamed and bumpy skin. Cocktails are often high in sugar which can contribute to spots and acne, and even worse, you could wake up with a sugar hangover! Probably best to leave the margaritas and mojitos at the bar.”
Here’s Lee’s lowdown on the fab four:
1. Tequila
“The best choice for your skin as unlike wine and beer, skin issues such as rosacea flare-ups, spotting, or inflammation are not likely, due to it having less sugar than most other alcoholic counterparts. Tequila has also been used as a sleep aid because it’s a relaxant, so the more sleep you get, the more it benefits your skin. It’s a high-purity spirit that doesn't contain congeners, these are by-products of fermentation that are found in darker spirits like whiskey or rum and can contribute to a hangover as well as day-after dull and lifeless skin.”
2. Gin
“Made from juniper berries, it can help improve blood circulation and also be an effective treatment for chronic pain and inflammation. Gin is generally lower in sugar and salt, so it’s kinder to skin and less inflammatory than cocktails or white wine. Try mixing it with tonic for a lighter version. It also aids digestion because of the bitters used to make it which increase digestive enzymes and stomach acid. This helps you to break down food easier and prevents bloating and water retention, so you’ll have a less puffy, bloated face the next day!”
3. Vodka
“Can increase blood-flow and circulation, helping to nourish skin cells. Vodka also acts as a natural astringent to tighten pores and disinfect the skin, so you can use it on the surface of your skin if you suffer blackheads. Gently washing your skin with water and vodka can actually improve your complexion!”
4. Beer
“It has less alcohol than spirits and people tend to take longer to consume it so this means less dehydration which equals more hydrated and plumper skin. Rich in B vitamins, choline, flavonoids and pantothenic acid, beer acts as a hair-growth stimulator and boosts shine. Used on your skin as a cleanser, the vitamins in beer can help reduce acne breakouts too.
Lee’s 6 tips on how to drink more mindfully
1. Space out your drinks and sip and savour the flavour! You’ll end up drinking less and enjoying it more.
2. Follow the three is enough rule and stop after your third drink.
3. Set a goal ahead of time and plan your alcohol consumption, that way you are more likely to stick to what you have planned.
4. Set clear boundaries with your friends and don’t feel obligated to keep on drinking with them if you want to drink mindfully. Mindful drinking is all about drinking with thinking!
5. Think about everything you want to do the next day and what things a hangover would prevent you from doing. This will help you stay on track if you know you have things you need to do.
6. Share a bottle with friends, you don’t need to polish off a whole bottle on your own!
