Early this year, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new advisory on alcohol and its relationship to cancer. This advisory builds on research into the health impacts of alcohol. Where previous studies recommended limits on the number of alcoholic drinks consumed per day or per week, the World Health Organization concluded that even low levels of alcohol consumption may bring significant health risks.
You can moderate your consumption of alcohol while still enjoying the taste of a unique libation. There are numerous non-alcoholic beer options in most restaurants and grocery stores. And you can experiment with unique ingredients—juices, herbs, teas and syrups—to devise your own refreshing beverage. Here are a couple mocktail recipes to get you started.
Chamomile Crush
1 cup chamomile tea (place one bag in water to soak in refrigerator overnight)
1 teaspoon honey
Juice from half a lemon
Sparkling water
Mix tea, honey, and lemon juice. Pour over into a cocktail shaker of ice and shake well. Serve in a glass of ice with sparkling water to taste.
Watermelon Fizz
2 cups frozen watermelon cubes
½ cup lemonade, limeade, or orange juice concentrate
2 cups carbonated water
Lemon or lime slices
Blend frozen watermelon. Strain to remove pulp. Mix in juice concentrate and refrigerate overnight. Mix with carbonated water and serve with a garnish of lime or lemon slices.
Cranberry Blast
1 cup cranberry juice
¼ cup sparkling water
2 tablespoons mint syrup
Fresh or frozen cranberries
Fresh mint
Combine cranberry juice, sparkling water, and mint syrup and stir. Pour into glasses filled with crushed ice. Garnish with fresh or frozen cranberries and sprigs of fresh mint.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or professional services.
