The 5 Healthiest Cocktail Ingredients

Have your cocktail and drink it too. Cheers! Health-conscious drinking is not an oxymoron. Research has linked red wine in particular to heart health benefits, and new research shows that people in a high-intensity interval training program who drank a beer or two with meals benefited just as much as exercisers who didn’t. And while experts don’t exactly recommend taking up booze for the potential health boost, if you’re already going to drink, there are healthy and unhealthy ways to do it. For one, know the recommended limits (two drinks a day for men, one drink a day for women) and eat before you imbibe, says Sonya Angelone, a registered dietitian nutritionist near San Francisco. Then, pick your ingredients wisely. 100% juice Stay away from the sugar bombs that are concentrated juices like grape and apple, and look for a 100% juice like orange, pineapple or even guava to mix with a sparkling wine, gin or vodka, suggests Joy Dubost, a registered dietitian nutritionist in the New York City area. Pomegranate juice is a good choice too: Research suggests it may help reduce the spread of cancer cells, promote the death of cancer cells and reduce inflammation — three key parts of fighting any type of cancer in our bodies. The fruit has also been shown to help lower blood pressure. Sparkling water Keep it simple and use something bubbly and calorie-free to make your cocktail last longer, cut its alcohol content and up the festive factor. “If you want to add a twist, you could add your own fruit or herbs or even freeze it and make it blendable,” Dubost says. That extra volume can save you from extra booze — and calories — you didn’t know you were getting , since it’s easy to pour (or be […]

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