Along with alcohol, cocktails are full of preservatives, artificial colours, and sweeteners. We all know what alcohol can do to the body – what more with all that added unhealthy stuff!
Want a healthy alternative to cocktails?
Power it up with a mocktail!
Mocktails is short for ‘mock cocktails’ and is a term used to refer to festive, non-alcoholic party drinks. With the right ingredients, you can enjoy nutrient-dense mocktails without any of the alcohol content and all the other unhealthy components of traditional cocktails.
5 benefits of avoiding alcohol
Avoiding alcohol completely can bring you the following health benefits:
- Lowers inflammation
- Reduces liver damage
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Enhances digestive health and prevents ulcers
- Prevents nutrient malabsorption
5 tips and benefits of health-conscious drinking
1: Use coconut water kefir or kombucha as a naturally sweet and fizzy base for your cocktails and spirits (to replace gin, vodka, white rum, etc.).
BENEFIT: This will prevent the adverse effects on your microbiome by concurrently reflourishing with good bugs. This will also help prevent loose, next-day bowel motions normally associated with alcohol consumption.
2: Use coconut milk or dairy kefir in creamy cocktails like White Russian and Mudslide.
BENEFIT: Skipping poor-quality dairy when drinking alcohol means reduced acidity, inflammation, and mucus production.
P.S. Baileys lovers – Did you know you can now get almond milk Baileys?
3: Use fresh herbs in your drinks! Basil, mint, cinnamon sticks, grated ginger, lemongrass, and coriander are incredibly therapeutic. And that’s just mentioning a few.
BENEFIT: You’ll get the medicinal benefits of whichever herbs you choose.
4: Use fizzy mineral water with a few drops of (flavoured) stevia over soft drinks for your mixer. Manuka honey or coconut sugar are also healthy sweetener options.
BENEFIT: This will significantly reduce the amount of refined sugar, which also translates to less empty calories.
5: Don't binge drink. Drink water in between alcoholic beverages.
BENEFIT: This not only slows your blood alcohol reading but keeps you hydrated as well. It also helps prevent hangovers which lead to poor food choices, fluid retention and nutrient deficiencies.
5 Easy-to-Make Mocktails
Grin and Tonic
Natural tonic water with a rosemary stem and mixed citrus slices. Mandarins, limes or lemons, as well as finger limes are great. Just mix it all together with ice in a tall glass and enjoy.
Strawberry Mint “Not-Daiquiri”
If you’re a fan of daiquiris, you’ll love this refreshing strawberry mocktail with a touch of mint. Find the complete recipe here.
Not-a-Colada
- 1 cup of fresh pineapple cubes
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ¼ cup coconut cream
- 1 teaspoon coconut sugar
- ½ cup of ice
Blend all together and enjoy!
Bloody Healthy
- 1 cup organic tomato juice
- ¼ cup kimchi juice or sauerkraut juice
- 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime or lemon
- dash of Himalayan salt flakes (or veggie-salt)
- sprinkle of cayenne chilli powder
Mix everything, pour over ice in a highball glass and garnish with a celery stalk.
Summer Sour
- 1 cup pure grapefruit juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ mineral water
- ½ cup ice
- 1 teaspoon manuka honey
- 1 sprig of mint, chopped
Place all ingredients in a shaker or blender and mix well.
Stir up some super festive mocktails
Make your mocktails more fun! Bling them up with coloured paper straws, veggie sticks (celery for example), fresh berries, fruit wedges, fresh berries or dehydrated fruit slices, Try using jars, mix matched glasses, herbs, and even sprinkles of edible flowers!
Mocktails can be a fantastic and healthy option whenever you’re up for an alcohol-free sipper. They’re great to serve when entertaining friends in your home or relaxing by yourself. Make every sip special while you nix the booze – enjoy these healthy mocktails without the guilt!
