Martini a day keeps the doctor away!

You've heard it many times before, stories and articles about the dangers of alcohol and drinking. But did you know that in moderation, the Martini could actually be good for you?To see how this is possible, let us examine the recipe for a class martini.

The Class Martini Recipe:

Ingredients:
- 4 parts Gin or Vodka
- 1 part Sweet or Dry Vermouth
- 1 Olive to garnish

Directions:

1. Mix Gin/Vodka and Vermouth together with ice in a martini shaker.
2. Shake, pour into Martini glass, and garnish with an Olive.To discover the health benefits, we must have to look at the ingredients!

Olives

The Olive is a species of small tree native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean region. The fruit of the Olive tree is a great source of monounsaturated fats and a good source of Vitamin E. Monounsaturated fats and Vitamin E protect our cells from not oxidizing and generating free radicals that damage healthy cells preventing heart disease, cancer and more! The anti-inflammatory actions of monounsaturated fats and Vitamin E and polyphenols in olives may also help reduce the severity of asthma,osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This Vitamin E may even help to reduce the frequency and/or the intensity of hot flashes in women going through menopause.

Vodka, Gin & Vermouth

Vodka is a distilled beverage. It is a clear liquid which consists of mostly water and ethanol purified by distillation -- often multiple distillation -- from a fermented substance, such as grain (usually rye or wheat),potatoes or sugar beet molasses, and an insignificant amount of other substances such as flavorings or unintended impurities.

Gin is a spirit flavoured with juniper berries. Distilled gin is made by re distilling white grain spirit and raw cane sugar which has been flavoured with juniper berries. Compound gin is made by flavouring neutral grainspirit with juniper berries without re distilling and can be considered a flavoured vodka.

Vermouth is a fortified wine flavoured with aromatic herbs and spices ("aromatized" in the trade) using closely-guarded recipes (trade secrets). Some of the herbs used may include cardamom, cinnamon, marjoram andchamomile.

There has been several studies about the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.An experimental research study conducted by the University of Moscow- Russia found that 2 oz. (or the equivalent of a shots-worth) of vodka a day can actually help prevent colon cancer! It is believed that vodka also helps in treating heart problems.

The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has reported that the greatest health and longevity benefits result from one to two drinks per day. In other words, moderate drinkers live longer thanboth abstainers and over consumers, a finding backed by research in various other countries as well. The benefits are found in both middle-aged and older men and women, but are rapidly lost when too much alcohol is drunk on a daily basis.Interesting, as you can see, everything in a Martini is good for you as long as the alcohol is consumed in moderation. With this, we can design our Healthy Martini recipe!

Healthy Martini Recipe

Ingredients

- 1.5 oz Gin or Vodka
- 0.5 oz Vermouth- 3 Olive

Directions:

1. Mix Gin/Vodka and Vermouth together with ice in a martini shaker.
2. Shake, pour into Martini glass, and garnish with an Olives

The above recipe for our healthy Martini is created to be consumed daily. We hope you enjoy it!For more great Martini Recipes and articles, visit the Martini Guide at http://www.martiniguide.net/

About the Author
Nathan Dickerson is the founder of Pattern Media and a writer for Martini Guide.