When You Drink Gin Every Night, This Is What Happens To Your Body

Could a gin and tonic really get rid of your indigestion? Some people have claimed that juniper berries — the predominant ingredient in gin — has helped abate symptoms related to the condition, including bloating, nausea, and heartburn, according to Very Well Health.

Despite this anecdotal evidence, though, there's no solid medical proof to back up people's claims — at least not in humans. A 2007 study conducted by researchers in Canada did find that juniper berry essential oil helped improve digestion in cows (via Very Well Health). However, it's also important to note that, while some people find heartburn relief from gin, others may experience worsening symptoms.

Kevin Ghassemi, a gastroenterologist at the University of California in Los Angeles, told NPR that alcohol in general has a temporary but "direct effect" on heartburn. This is because alcohol can relax the muscles that connect the stomach and esophagus. "The muscle is supposed to be closed, except when food is passing into the esophagus," the doctor explained. If alcohol relaxes that muscle, as it has a tendency to do, stomach acid is able to "come back up into the esophagus, and that's reflux." So, if you drink gin every night, you may worsen acid reflux symptoms.

FYI, you might want to avoid carbonated beverages, too, as it's one of the worst things for acid reflux.