There’s a whole lot you can do with creative drink recipes that don’t include alcohol as a primary ingredient. Kristin shares some reasons to go lighter on the booze, along with a tasty non-alcoholic drink recipe in this post. —Dina
Alcohol consumption in The United States is on the rise. In 2021, the average American consumed 2.51 gallons of ethanol, the alcohol in wine, beer and spirits, compared to 2.15 gallons in 1995. Have you noticed? We are inundated with messages about alcohol. It is linked to sports and cultural events, sponsorships and product placements, our social media platforms are saturated with alcohol advertising. Alcohol advertising is everywhere.
In the past two decades, this is especially true for women. Since the late 1990s, there has been a clear feminization of alcohol products, drinking culture, and targeting of women. The alcohol industry has normalized drinking and made its consumption synonymous with parenting. “Mommy juice”, “Surviving motherhood one glass at a time”, and “I drink because parenting is hard” are memes I’ve seen in the past week alone.
Let me be clear. I drink alcohol. I’m what most people would call a “social” drinker. Still, I’m sure it’s more than my liver prefers (which is none). My goal is not to finger-wag, but the truth is that there is no downside to drinking less alcohol. This blog is as much a “note to self” as it is to anybody who cares about living a full, healthy, active life.
Historically, we’ve linked poor health outcomes to people who have an alcohol use disorder, but the health risks can come from moderate consumption as well. Alcohol damages DNA, causes oxidative stress, causes tissue damage, increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, and is linked to abnormal heart rhythm (known as “A-fib”).
It’s also a depressant. Alcohol is classified as a central nervous system depressant, meaning it slows brain functioning and neural activity. Most of us have the experience of alcohol’s “relaxing” effect in the short-term; however, over time it can actually induce anxiety and increase stress.
Alcohol is also carcinogenic. In a recent NYT article, alcohol is known to be a direct cause of seven different cancers: oral cavity, pharynx, larynx (head and neck), esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
Sorry to be a kill-joy, but your glass-a-day is not improving your health. Research over the past five years especially is beginning to show that alcohol just isn’t great for our bodies. I, for one, am committed to drinking less, and since this is the time of year when most of us are bombarded with messages about alcohol consumption, I wanted to share my favorite non-alcoholic “mocktail” from therealfooddietitians.com.
SPARKLING CRANBERRY KOMBUCHA MOCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS:
2 bottles kombucha of choice (such as ginger, cranberry, or ‘original/unflavored’)
½ cup 100% cranberry juice
1-inch slice of fresh ginger, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
1 large sprig of fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish
Fresh cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and thinly sliced ginger for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS:
Fill 4 double, old-fashioned glasses with ice and set aside.
In a pitcher or quart-sized mason jar, muddle sliced ginger and rosemary together using the end of a wooden spoon or a muddler if you have one.
Add cranberry juice and kombucha, stir gently to combine.
Pour into ice-filled glasses (using a strainer, if necessary) and garnish with sprigs of rosemary, a slice of fresh ginger, and a few cranberries before serving.
Wishing you all a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2024. Cheers!!!
-Kristin