Delicious, Refined Sugar Free Mocktail Drinks for Weight Management
Alcohol and Weight Gain in Those Over 50
If you are like many people, you are outgrowing the alcohol-fueled and sugar-filled approach to the holidays and the rest of the year. Millions are dialing back (or completely omitting) their consumption of refined sugar to improve their health and well-being, and many others are cutting down on their alcohol consumption.
Cutting back or eliminating refined sugar and alcohol are good ideas. After all, refined sugar and booze can cause a number of health and wellness issues. Consuming refined sugar can cause unwanted weight gain, for example, and it can raise your blood sugar levels. Eating a lot of refined sugar for a long time can even trigger the development of diabetes.
Reduce Your Processed Sugar and Alcohol Intake with these 4 Recipes
Here are four recipes for fantastic mocktails that contain very little to no refined sugar.
Stomach Soothing Ginger-Thyme Sparkling Lemonade
Ginger-thyme sparkling lemonade is equal parts easy and elegant. Serve it at any function and your guests will think you spent a fortune and an afternoon creating it.
Ginger and thyme are both good for your health. For example, ginger can ease constipation, bloating, and intestinal gas. Thyme leaves are a great source of potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and selenium. This recipe also calls for honey, which is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-bacterial agent that protects the respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.
Creating the Perfect Ginger-Thyme Sparkling Lemonade
Bring water, honey, thyme, and ginger to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to simmer; maintain simmer for 5 minutes before removing from heat. Stir in lemon juice and lemon zest then steep for 20 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, reserving the liquid in a medium bowl and discarding the rest. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Make each drink separately by combining the lemon mixture with sparkling water. You may also use regular water, if desired, but sparkling water can help you feel fuller longer. Carbonated water can also improve digestion, ease constipation, and even help you kick the sugar habit.
Ginger-thyme sparkling lemonade stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Crisp and Hydrating Cucumber Lime Mocktail
Cucumber lime mocktail is a light, thirst-quenching mocktail that is easy to make and destined to become one of your favorite beverages. Cucumber water helps keep you hydrated, as adding cucumber makes the water more flavorful and tempting. It also replaces sugary sodas and sports drinks. Limes are high in vitamin C and antioxidants; consuming limes may help reduce your risk of heart disease, prevent kidney stones, and promote healthy skin.
This cucumber lime mocktail recipe is sweetened naturally by maple syrup, which has its own health properties. Maple syrup contains 24 different antioxidants, for example, and it has a number of vitamins and minerals. The sweet taste treat also fights inflammatory diseases, helps protect the health of your skin, and may even help protect you from certain types of cancer.
Mixing a Cucumber Lime Mocktail
This recipe contains zero refined sugar or alcohol. It is also easy to make. Simply place a peeled, diced cucumber in a high-speed blender along with water, lime juice, mint leaves, maple syrup and a pinch of sale. Blend until smooth and delectable. Pour the cucumber juice through cheesecloth or a fine strainer into a jar. Add carbonated mineral water and ice cubes to the jar.
Serve over ice. Garnishing with cucumber slices, lime wedges, or mint can make the eye-catching drink even more festive.
Antioxidant Pomegranate Mint Water
As tasty as it is pretty, pomegranate mint water takes sparkling water to the next level. Pomegranate is naturally sweet and an antioxidant powerhouse; mint brings a cool, refreshing touch. Making this drink also gives you an opportunity to muddle, or mash, the mint to release its flavor.
Whipping up a pitcher of pomegranate mint water
Drop the mint into a pitcher and muddle the mint with the end of a wooden spoon. Stir in pomegranate seeds and water – and a bit of honey, if you desire. Honey has many health properties and is a natural sweetener. Refrigerate until well-chilled. You may prefer to serve it over ice to make it extra refreshing.
Refreshing, Healthy Mojito Iced Green Tea
After a holiday meal or at a party, Mojito iced green tea is the ultimate in refreshing beverages. The traditional Cuban punch usually contains rum, but a mocktail mojito provides the minty flavor without the alcohol. This recipe calls for a small amount of sugar to sweeten a large pitcher of mocktails; feel free to use a sugar substitute or a dash of honey instead.
How to Make a Mojito Iced Green Tea
Place green tea bags in a small bowl. Add boiling water and baking soda then let steep for 15 minutes.
While the tea bags and baking soda are steeping, combine sugar and water in a small sauce pan on high heat; heat until the sugar complete dissolves to create syrup. Remove from heat and add mint leaves; spearmint leaves create the traditional mojito flavor. Allow the minty syrup to cool for 10 minutes then strain out the mint leaves.
While the syrup is cooling, combine the green tea, lime juice, and water to a large pitcher. Add the mint syrup to taste – you may want to add the syrup slowly and taste it frequently so you don’t make it too strong. Stir well and serve over ice. Add extra mint leaves and lime slices for a festive touch.
More Weight Management with Mighty
With these four mocktails, you won’t miss refined sugar or alcohol one bit. In fact, you may even be inspired to try other recipes that are free from refined sugar and alcohol. For more amazing recipes that are low in refined sugar and alcohol-free, consult with your Mighty Health coach. Mighty Health provides personalized guidance on exercise, nutrition, and weight management for those over 50! Check it out here!