14 Cocktails That You Can Toast to Your Health With
Alcohol sometimes gets a bad rap, but numerous studies have shown that (when consumed in moderation) alcohol can have a positive impact on heart health and even help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Overview
Alcohol sometimes gets a bad rap, but numerous studies have shown that (when consumed in moderation) alcohol can have a positive impact on heart health and even help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Infusing drinks with ingredients such as bark and herbs can increase immunity and help soothe everything from the sniffles to belly aches, according to nutrition expert Rania Batayneh, MPH. So, go ahead and raise a glass to your health with these cocktails that contain healthy herbs, barks, fruits and vegetables. Just remember that the key to truly reaping the health benefits of alcohol lays in the moderate consumption. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this means a maximum of 1 glass a day for women and 2 for men. Do you have a favorite cocktail? Leave a comment below, and let us know.
1. Fresh Start
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHTS: carrot, celery, lime and oregano. Juicing meets mixology in this vegetable-based oregano-infused gin cocktail. The carrot juice in the cocktail is rich in vitamin A, a nutrient that boosts eye and skin health and helps keep the immune system functioning properly. And while the oregano is a small amount, it contains antioxidants that pack a powerful punch. The herb is also rich in fiber, vitamin K, and, surprisingly, omega-3 fatty acids, says,nutrition expert Batayneh.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
2. Kale in Comparison
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHTS: kale and pineapple. Kale is not only ubiquitous in salads and baked into chips; it has now officially made into cocktails too. Kale is one of the richest sources of vitamin K around, packing a whopping 1,327% of your recommended daily value into a single cup. Vitamin K plays a key role in bone health and regulating inflammation. Kale also contains glucosinolates, compounds that protect against cancer, boost heart health and help regulate detoxification processes. What's more, the pineapple juice contains a nutrient called bromelain, an enzyme that acts as an anti-inflammatory and aids digestion by helping to break down proteins.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
3. The Guayabera
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHTS: organic vodka, avocado and agave nectar. When it comes to booze, just like with produce, organic is the way to go if at all possible. Organic vodka doesn't contain any of the potentially dangerous byproducts — including salts and heavy metals from pesticides — that conventional vodkas might contain. The result: Fewer hellacious hangovers, according to Batayneh. Plus, a cocktail that combines organic vodka with avocado's healthy fats and agave nectar's low-glycemic index sugars can reduce inflammation, curb cardiovascular disease, and smooth digestion.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
4. Celery Cup No. 1
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHT: celery. Celery is good for more than ants on a log. The veggie contains myriad antioxidants, including phenolic acids, flavonols, and phytosterols, which can decrease oxidative stress in blood vessels and prevent inflammatory reactions. Plus, according to Batayneh, celery is packed with vitamins A, B, C, and K and contain health-promoting nutrients including magnesium, potassium, calcium, manganese, and folate.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
5. Arbiter of Taste
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHT: Angostura bitters. Extra servings of gentian (a bitter herb) and quinine (an alkaloid found naturally in cinchona-tree bark) are found in the angostura bitters in this drink, and they may reduce fever, curb pain, and ease digestion.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
6. Berritone
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHTS: lemon and honey. Under the weather? Lemon and honey are used in cough drops for good reason. Lemon (full of vitamin C and antibacterial properties) helps to fight infection as well as reduce inflammation in the body while contributing to health-helping hydration levels with the electrolytes calcium, magnesium, and potassium, according to Batayneh. Even sweeter: Honey contains anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal substances, as well as vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that boost the body's immune system, she says. Honey also can bolster energy levels and improve athletic performance.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
7. Fernet Stag
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHT: ginger. There's a reason your mom gave you ginger ale when you had a bellyache: Ginger stimulates the digestive system to curb digestive distress says Batayneh. It's effective at easing constipation, gas, bloating, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting, and can even prevent gastric ulcers caused by everything from common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin to chronic stress — all without the side effects of many medications. Plus, it contains gingerols, compounds with strong anti-inflammatory compounds that may prevent cancer she says.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
8. RJ Maroon
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHTS: strawberry and kiwi. Get your daily dose of vitamin C! Ounce per ounce, kiwis and strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges. Vitamin C helps make the collagen that keeps your bones, tendons, and skin in good health, says Batayneh. What's more, a recent study in the Annals of Neurology linked strawberries' flavonoids to keeping the mind sharp in old age. And, even though "soda" is an ingredient in this recipe, you don't need to worry! Club soda is just water with added minerals that has been carbonated. It doesn't contain any added sugars and is calorie-free.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
9. Lime in the Coconut
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHTS: coconut water and mint. Did you know that a single serving of coconut water contains twice as much health-boosting potassium as a banana? The electrolyte plays a significant role in metabolism, water, and chemical balance in the body. If that's not enough reason to celebrate, the mint in this drink promotes healthy digestion and is a natural stimulant: Its smell alone boosts brain function in the short-term and memory retention in the long-term says Batayneh.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
10. The Invigorator
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHTS: aloe vera and coconut water. Good for more than just treating sunburns, aloe vera juice may also improve digestion, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce your cholesterol says Batayneh. One 2009 study published in Phytomedicine even found that the goey stuff can even aid in the treatment of diabetes. And, in case you've already forgotten, 8 oz. of coconut water contains double the potassium found in a banana. The electrolyte can help prevent heart disease by lessening the effects of sodium on your cardiovascular system.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
11. Brown Derby
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHTS: Bitter, grapefruit, lime and honey. Research on bitters is limited, but herbalists believe aromatic bitters promote bile flow and stimulate the pancreas, promoting healthy digestion and reducing the risk of gallstones. Grapefruit and lime juice contain vitamin C, potassium, folate, magnesium, B vitamins, as well as numerous phytochemicals that may fight carcinogens says Batayneh. When you also consider the health benefits of the honey, this cocktail becomes an immunity-boosting triple threat.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
12. Turf Cocktail
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHTS: vermouth. Red wine is renowned for its health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. And the vermouth used in this cocktail is red wine steeped in wormwood. The concoction was traditionally used to calm irritated stomachs and is said to stimulate the flow of bile. The absinthe in this super-strong cocktail is also made from wormwood, as well as fennel and anise. Absinthe was used in the mid-1800s to curb the symptoms of malaria and dysentery in French soldiers says Batayneh.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
13. Raspberry Summer
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHTS: raspberries and lemon juice. A true superfood, raspberries contain a staggering number of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients that boost brain health and prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease says Batayneh. But the true surprise is that raspberry ketones (the chemical compounds that give raspberries their enticing aroma) might speed metabolism to prevent obesity, according to research on mice published in Life Sciences in 2005. Add in the antioxidant-rich lemon juice, and this cocktail has even more to offer.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
14. Attorney Privilege
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHT: Orgeat syrup. Quick mixology lesson: Orgeat syrup is made from almonds, rose or orange flower water, and sugar. Making up about one-fifth of this entire cocktail, the almond syrup packs big benefits. Besides filling you up to fight overeating all day long, the protein, fiber, and healthy fats in almonds all play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease by reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol, according to Harvard Medical School. What's more, the nuts are rich in arginine, an amino acid that converts to nitric oxide in the body and helps blood vessels relax says Batayneh.
Related: See this Drink's Full List of Ingredients & Calories
Tell Us About Your Favorite Cocktail
What's your favorite cocktail? Did it make our list? Will you try any of these drink recipes? Which ones sound the best to you? Leave a comment below and let us know! Also, keep in mind that the key to truly reaping the health benefits of alcohol lays in the moderate consumption. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this means a maximum of 1 glass a day for women and 2 for men.
Related: 5 Hidden Health Benefits of Alcohol