Alcohol consumption is on the decline for various reasons, says a beverage industry analysis 2022. But worry not. There a number of tasty and healthy mocktail options that you will never feel at loss.
Alcohol and mocktail
There are many who love alcohol and cannot give it up. They have become dependent on it. Food & beverage analyst Emily Moquin did an analysis on alcohol drinking and spending behaviors in 2022. The results showed that alcohol consumption is on the decline. Millennials and high income people are reducing it or completely going sober. Some are doing it for health reasons while others want to avoid discretionary spending.
For whatever reason, one decides to reduce alcohol consumption, one should not feel bad about it. Giving up alcoholic drinks does good to the body. The journal Molecular Psychiatry published an article this year. It revealed that alcohol can make one age faster. It has detrimental effect on a number of body organs including liver, heart, etc. Alcohol interferes with sleep. Dietitian from Illinois, Christine Palumbo says:
“Alcohol prior to bedtime allows you to fall asleep faster, but your quality of sleep is impaired, so you’ll wake up feeling less well rested than if you didn’t have alcohol or if you had just one drink,”
Sparkling blood orange mocktail (Source: Marisa Moore Nutrition)NewYork nutritionist, Karen Ansel adds:
“Alcohol increases the risk of several cancers, including colon and breast cancer, per the National Cancer Institute. Even just one drink a day can increase your breast cancer risk,”
Another 2018 study in BMJ Open showed that one month abstinence from alcohol reduced cancer markers in blood. Mental well being improves.
Mocktails
Christine states:
“Mocktails are definitely a wellness trend,”
“So many of us are trying to minimize the toxins in our body, whether that’s with the makeup we put on, the cleaners we use around the house, or the food we eat — so avoiding alcohol is another piece of this low-toxin environment we’re creating.”
Moderate drinking is OK. CDC puts it at one drink per day for women and two for men. One drink is equal to 5 ounces (oz) of wine, or 12 oz of beer, or a cocktail containing 1.5 oz of liquor per day. Instead try the below healthy mocktail options
Healthy mocktail options
Sparkling blood orange mocktail
It has citrus fruit with honey, vanilla, and lime soda. They are packed with vitamin C.
Sangria mocktail
It has fruit (berries or peaches or plums) and hibiscus concoction. Eat apples and oranges for fiber and vitamin C.
Strawberry sparkling mocktail (Source: Tara Rochford Foundation)Kombucha mule
It has kombucha with ginger. Dietitian Kaleigh McMordie says:
“Not only is kombucha full of gut-healthy probiotics but it’s usually lower in sugar than most mixers, though you still get the bubbles and flavor.”
Strawberry sparkling mocktail
It has strawberries (sweet) and lemon juice (sour). It tastes great and is healthy with vitamin C and no added sugar.
Pomegranate ginger sparkler
Rich in antioxidants, it tastes good too.
Ruby sparkler mocktail
It has rhubarb, a plum, with either agave nectar or honey.
Grapefruit mint kombucha mocktail
It has vitamin C and is gut-friendly.
Sparkling apple cider mocktail
Sparkling apple cider mocktail (Source: Marisa Moore Nutrition)With sparkling apple cider, it has rosemary and citrus slices. Dietitian Rebecca Clyde says:
“You can also cut up a bunch of fruit and make a cider mocktail bar, and guests can pick and choose any fruit or herb to add to their own drink,”
Also, read Which will be the most popular drink of summer 2022?
It is easy and quick to make, healthy and tasty too.