If you want to enjoy some delicious alcohol cocktails while also staying healthy and as low-sugar as possible, we have some incredible recipes on this page that reduce the sugar as much as possible (most are even keto-friendly as long as you limit it to one per day), and include some superfood ingredients as well. Impress your friends and family at your next gathering with these delicious yet healthy party cocktails! I think you’ll really like these recipes!

Spicy Watermelon Plunge

This hydrating cocktail gives you over 26% of your Vitamin C for your day! Plus, if using super ripe watermelon, you can omit the Domaine De Canton for a 100% naturally sweetened-spicy kick!

Serves: 2
Glass: Rocks

Benefits:
– Cooling & Hydrating
– Immune-Boosting & Antimicrobial
– Metabolism-Boosting

Ingredients
– 1 cup cubed watermelon, very ripe
– 1/2 to 1 1/2 tablespoon diced jalapeno
– 1/2oz lime juice
– 3oz silver tequila
– 1/2oz Domaine De Canton, optional
– pinch of sea salt (heavy)

Aromatics & Garnish
– ripe blackberry
– slice of jalapeno
– kosher salt

Make It
1.) Rim a rocks glass with a lime wedge, and then in kosher salt. Add in ice ball or large ice cubes to the glass.
2.) Into a cocktail shaker, add the watermelon, and muddle well.
3.) Add the rest of the ingredients and a couple of ice cubes, and shake well.
4.) Strain over the ice ball or cubes.
5.) Garnish the glass with blackberry and sliced jalapeno.

Note: Juicy Melons? If you’re lucky enough to have very ripe watermelon, or like your cocktails tart, leave out the Domaine De Canton.

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Popeye’s Secret

While it tastes like a boozy dessert smoothie, this drink packs 937% of your daily Vitamin K and 39% of your magnesium, plus loads of iron, Vitamin C, and other key nutrients no one will ever guess. We can’t decide if this drink belongs at a smoothie bar or the keto cocktail hall of fame!

Serves: 1
Glass: Stemless Wine Glass

Benefits
– JAM-PACKED with iron, potassium, magnesium & fiber
– Bone boosting Vitamin K
– Satiating and appetite curbing
– Better than dessert!

Ingredients
– 1 cup baby spinach
– 3/4 cup ice
– 1 1/2oz vodka
– 1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk
– 1/2 – 1 tablespoon monk fruit or sweetener of choice
– 1 teaspoon cacao nibs
– 1/4 teaspoon peppermint (*test your peppermint strength)

Aromatics & Garnish
– sprinkle of cacao nibs
– mint leaf (smacked)

Make It
1.) Add all ingredients, except cacao nibs, into a blender, and process till smooth.
2.) Add cacao nibs, and pulse until broken up.
3.) Pour the drink into a glass, and smack mint leaf for garnish – Popeye noises encouraged.
4.) Top with a sprinkling of cacao nibs and enjoy!

Note: Keto Lover’s Dream – This creamy keto cocktail is unbelievably tasty and packed with nutrients, antioxidants and healthy fats to make it arguably the most REWARDING post-workout happy hour ever.

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Cucumber Mint Spatini

This drink is so clean and refreshing, you’ll feel like you’re at the spa! The cooling mint and cucumber’s healthy pectin will nourish your cells from the inside out. A perfect revival drink when you’re feeling depleted, to rehydrate your mind, body and soul.

Serves: 1
Glass: Martini

Benefits
– Hydrating & Detoxifying mint & cucumber
– Anti-Inflammatory & Immune-Boosting antioxidants
– Healthy pectin & mint aids in digestion
– Feels like a day at the spa!

Ingredients
– 1 baby Persian cucumber
– 2 to 3 mint leaves
– 1 1/2oz vodka
– 1/4oz Domaine De Canton
– 1/2oz lemon juice, fresh squeezed
– pinch of Himalayan sea salt

Aromatics & Garnish   
– cucumber slice
– mint leaf (smacked)

Make It
1.) Add a large ice ball to a martini glass.
2.) Into a shaker tin, add cucumber. Muddle it well.
3.) Smack and tear mint leaves and add them to the shaker, and then add the rest of the ingredients. Add a few ice cubes, and shake to chill the cocktail.
4.) Strain and server over ice ball. Garnish the glass with cucumber and mint leaf.

Note: This cocktail is also great blended! Simply add all ingredients to a blender with a small amount of ice, process well, and pour in a martini glass, garnished with mint.

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The Elegant Lady

You can’t help but feel classy and youthful with this delicate yet delectable balance of fresh pear and sage. An eye-popping cocktail from first sip to last, with the bright pop of Prosecco and a juicy price at the end, when you save the flavor-soaked pear gems for last.

Serves: 1
Glass: Rocks

Benefits
– Antioxidant-packed pear, lemon & sage
– Vitamin A for youthful skin & hair
– Tummy smoothing pear pectin
– Anti-microbial sage for healthy gums!

Ingredients
– 1 thick Anjou pear wedge (ripe)
– 2 sage leaves
– 1/4oz lemon juice
– 1 1/2oz vodka
– 1/4oz St. Germaine
– Prosecco float (or soda water)

Aromatics & Garnish
– Fresh smacked sage leaf

Make It
1.) Dice pear finely, and muddle well in shaker.
2.) Smack and tear the sage leaves finely, and add to shaker.
3.) Add the rest of the ingredients, along with ice, and shake well.
4.) Pour over crushed ice, and top with a float of Prosecco (or a tiny splash of soda water)
5.) Garnish with sage leaf. Enjoy!

Note: Youthful Skin – Oh la la! Leave the antioxidant-packed skin on the pear for gorgeous drink and gorgeous skin. Enjoy an extra boost of Vitamin A as you devour these flavor-soaked jewels at the bottom of your glass!

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Redhead in Spring

One of my all-time award winners among friends and family. The flavor of this simple but stunning crowd pleaser will knock your socks off, making it a great, easy cocktail to impress all kinds of guests!

Serves: 1
Glass: Martini

Benefits
– Anti-inflammatory lemon & strawberries
– Blood sugar balancing berries
– Packed with immune-boosting antioxidants
– A beautiful show stopper to brighten any table!

Ingredients
– 2 strawberries, rips
– 1/2oz lemon juice, fresh squeezed
– 1 1/2oz gin
– 1/2oz St. Germaine
– pinch of sea salt (very light)

Aromatics & Garnish
– strawberry
– basil leaves
– Persian cucumber, sliced thin

Make It
1.) Smack  a fresh basil leaf and rim a martini glass with the leaf. Next, run a strawberry around the rim of the glass for aromatics. Set the basil and strawberry aside, and add a large ice ball to the glass.
2.) Add the strawberries to a shaker and muddle well.
3.) Add the rest of the ingredients, plus a scoop of ice, and shake well to chill.
4.) Strain and serve over the ice ball. Garnish with a slice of strawberry, a thin slice of cucumber, and the smacked basil leaf.
5.) For best flavor, allow the drink to rest on the ice ball for a few minutes before serving.

Note: Variations – If you like it sweeter, just add more strawberries! Also, try swapping the St. Germaine for Domaine De Canton for a deliciously different twist!

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Harajuku Tea Time

Inspired by long shopping days in Tokyo, this deliciously uplifting cocktail will keep your mind, mood and metabolism fired up! Pineapple’s B vitamin spectrum and natural enzymes, paired with matcha’s thermogenic and brain-boosting superpowers, will make this your go-to cocktail when you want an exotic lift. As we say in Japan… Itadakimasu! (ie: “Let’s enjoy!”)

Serves: 1
Glass: Highball (tall glass)

Benefits
– Deliciously detoxifying
– Memory-boosting EGCG + B Vitamins
– Digestive enzymes for a (flat) happy tummy
– Mood-boosting & Stress relieving

Ingredients
– 1/3 cup pineapple, finely diced
– 1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or similar)
– 1/3 teaspoon matcha powder
– 1 1/2oz gin
– ice for shaking and serving

Aromatics & Garnish
– fresh mint leaf
– pineapple wedge

Make It
1.) Run a pineapple wedge along the rim and set aside for garnish.
2.) Add diced pineapple to cocktail shaker and muddle well.
3.) Add the rest of the ingredients, and shake well to chill.
4.) Strain and serve over ice in tall glass.**
5.) Garnish with a pineapple wedge and sprig of smacked mint.

**Optional: Spoon some of the muddled pineapple into bottom of glass before serving, for added enzymes in a deliciously sweet golden bites!

Note: Fun Fact! – Matcha’s high chlorophyll content makes it a rich alkaline superfood. By drinking one cup of matcha per day you can immediately begin detoxifying the body and changing the body’s pH from acid to alkaline.

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Golden Cowboy

Move over, Spanish Coffee! There’s a new slimmed down cowboy in town. This velvety “East Meets West” tummy warmer might be your new whiskey favorite, bringing the superfood benefits of turmeric-fueled “golden milk” to a yummy cocktail glass. Spice up a cozy night with this lusciously nourishing soul-soother!

Serves: 1
Glass: Glass mug

Benefits
– Anti-Inflammatory
– Anti-viral + Immune-boosting
– Aids digestion

Ingredients
– 1 1/2oz whiskey
– 1 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup (sub monk fruit or stevia for zero sugar)
– 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
– 1/8 teaspoon turmeric**
– 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon**
– 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger**
– 3oz hot water

Aromatics & Garnish
– cinnamon stick (fresh is best, to get the most of cinnamon’s healing goodness!)

Make It
1.) Into a shaker tin, add whiskey, maple syrup (or sweetener of choice), heavy whipping cream and spices. Shake well.
2.) Pour all shaker ingredients into a mug, and top with hot water.
3. Serve with cinnamon stick, for a deliciously healing “infusion stir stick” for the spices that settle on the bottom of the glass.

Spice it Up! – **Seasoning measurements are the minimum! For max flavor & benefits, we encourage you to liberally add more turmeric, cinnamon and ginger to taste!

Note: Stirring this spicy, cozy drink with a cinnamon stick brings a quiet joy you’ll want to repeat again and again. A perfect drink to combat flu season, packed with anti-inflammatory whiskey, turmeric and cinnamon. Bookmark this recipe to warm up brisk Autumn and winter nights!

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Nick’s Picnic

Another crowd pleaser, this is a robust, bitey drink for dedicated whiskey drinkers and newbies alike, offering something new with that satisfying whiskey kick! The blackberry richness delivers a mouthwatering sensation that’ll knock your socks (and boots!) off every time.

Serves: 2
Glass: Rocks

Benefits
– Youthful skin and collagen-boosting Vitamin C
– Bone-boosting Vitamin K
– Packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants
– A crowd-pleasing cocktail for all types of guests!

Ingredients
– 4-6 blackberries, ripe
– 3oz quality whiskey (i.e.: Woodford Reserve)
– 1/2-3/4oz Domain De Canton
– 1/2oz lemon juice, fresh squeezed
– dash of rhubarb bitters (optional)

Aromatic & Garnish
– 2 large basil leaves

Make It
1.) Smack basil leaf, rim a rocks glass with it, and add a large ice ball to the glass. Set the basil aside to garnish the drink.
2.) Into a cocktail shaker, add blackberries and muddle well.
3.) Add the rest of the ingredients and a couple ice cubes, and shake well to chill.
4.) Strain and serve over the ice ball or whiskey cube. Garnish the glass with basil leaves.

A Hot Secret – Want to Really berry-liciious? Here’s a trick: Just heat the blackberries until hot on the stove or microwave, and then follow all the same steps. You’ll be amazed at the intensity of aroma and sweetness that is released into the drink!

Note: A True Cold-Killer? – Did you know that whiskey has as many antioxidants as wine – and is a source of phosphorus, thiamine, zinc, iron and niacin (B3)? Combined with the blackberries, there are many reasons this dignified drink could be considered a healing tonic!

The post 8 Low-Sugar SuperFood Cocktails appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

By: Cat Ebeling, 

Tea has been a beloved and highly prized healthy drink, and both green and black teas have been around for thousands of years. Next to water, tea is probably one of the most consumed drinks in the world. While green tea often gets all the attention for its health boosting benefits, black tea also contains many substances that are beneficial as well.

It is estimated that about 2.5 million tons of tea leaves are produced throughout the world, and about 20% of that is produced as green tea, which is mainly consumed in Asia, some parts of North Africa, the United States, and Europe.

Similarities in Green and Black Tea

Both green and black tea come from the same plant, the camellia sinensis plant. Both teas are harvested from the upper buds and leaves of the plant. Green tea is harvested, dried slightly, and then heated or pan-fired to stop oxidation and enhance the flavor. Black tea is harvested, then crushed or rolled and allowed to oxidize and turn dark before it is dried. This creates the deeper color and the stronger, richer flavor.

Both black tea and green tea contain a variety of health benefits because of the large quantities of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds they contain. However, black tea and green tea contain different types of antioxidants and phytochemicals that work in different ways to protect our health.

These powerful antioxidants in green and black tea are called flavonoids, but each type of tea contains their own specific type of flavonoids. Flavonoids are powerful weapons to protect our bodies against chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more.

Flavonoids are especially protective of the heart and blood vessels and help to lower inflammatory substances that contribute to heart disease. Both black and green tea help to reduce triglycerides, harmful LDL cholesterol and harmful plaques that lead to heart attacks and strokes. And both black and green tea are effective in lowering blood pressure.

While both green and black tea contain caffeine, generally green tea contains slightly less caffeine that black tea, although there can be quite a bit of variation depending on the specific type of plant used, processing and brewing methods. Generally, tea does not contain quite as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, but many people use tea as an effective, gentler way to ‘wake up’ in the morning.

Green and black tea also contain an interesting amino acid that affects beneficial brain chemicals. This substance, L-theanine, brings on an alert but relaxed state of mind, so in essence, it helps to balance out the jittery jolt of caffeine. L-theanine triggers the release of a neurotransmitter in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which brings about a relaxed but alert state, at the same time causing the ‘happiness’ chemicals dopamine and serotonin to be released.

Many people enjoy both green and black tea for this very reason: alertness plus calm, which is a great state of mind to be in for working, meditating, writing, reading, and relaxing. [As I am writing this article, I am sipping on a mixture of green and black teas, feeling calm and alert.]

While both green tea and black tea contain many beneficial flavonoids that benefit the mind and the body, green tea and black tea each contain some of their own significant polyphenols as well.

Green Tea’s Unique Benefits

Green tea’s most well-known and well-studied ingredient is the potent antioxidant, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and is responsible for many of its health benefits that protect against cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, harmful pathogens, and depression/anxiety. In addition, green tea is also known to have some pretty amazing appetite curbing, and fat-burning effects.

Green tea also contains many other protective compounds, including linoleic acid, a fat burning substance; quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that protects and modulates the immune system, helping allergies; theobromine, which helps dilate the blood vessels and lowers blood pressure; theophylline, which helps minimize asthma and wheezing. Green tea also contains amino acids, enzymes, trace minerals such as calcium, magnesium, chromium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc.

Green Tea and Cancer

While both green and black tea contain compounds that beneficial in the fight against cancer, green tea contains more of the compounds that have the most significant effects against cancer cells.

Some of those polyphenols include the well-studied epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), along with several other standout antioxidants, including epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), and epicatechin (EC). These antioxidants in green tea are pretty amazing, but the primary antioxidant, EGCG has an antioxidant power 25–100 times more effective than that of vitamins C and E and is definitely the most potent of this bunch.

Metastasis is the spread of cancer to other healthy cells and organs, and is the primary cause of death from cancer. Stopping and containing cancer cells’ spread is key to fighting off cancer and regaining health.

The anti-cancer effects of EGCG have been shown to actually block some of the steps in the process that allows the cancer cells to invade other healthy cells.  In a large scientific review, an article published in the Journal, Cancer Metastasis Review shows the antioxidants in green tea to be especially effective against skin cancer, prostate, breast, lung, liver, and gastrointestinal cancer.

Fat Burning

One of green tea’s unique and most popular benefits is its ability to help burn fat. Green tea can boost metabolism by the combination of caffeine, and the high-octane antioxidants it contains. In one study, subjects burned 5% more calories over 24 hours.

While that doesn’t seem like a lot, an extra 5% over time, can really add up to some noticeable fat burning potential.

This is due to the fact that green tea’s polyphenols help to activate a fat burning enzyme which dissolves triglycerides and helps the body to burn fat as fuel. Burning fat as fuel is called “thermogenesis”. Triglycerides are fatty substances carried around in the bloodstream as a result of sugar or carbohydrate intake. Lowered triglycerides mean you store less fat. Lower triglycerides also mean better heart health.

Black Tea Benefits

Theaflavins are a group of polyphenols that are unique to black tea. These are actually formed in the fermentation process and are responsible for some of black tea’s unique health benefits, including protection from free radicals, which can damage DNA and lead to serious diseases such as cancer.

Free radicals also damage the heart and blood vessels and contribute to heart disease. These theaflavins can help lower harmful triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and plaque formation in the blood vessels which all contribute to heart disease and inflammation. Theaflavins in black tea also help to lower blood sugar, stimulate insulin and prevent diabetes.

Theaflavins can also help to increase nitric oxide, a valuable substance in the body which helps to dilate blood vessels, lower blood pressure and increase athletic performance.

One other thing about theaflavins—they, like the polyphenols in green tea, help to promote fat cell breakdown, increase thermogenesis, and help with weight loss. That, combined with the extra caffeine that black tea contains is a big boost for weight loss and fat burning.

Matcha Green Tea

With the growing popularity of green tea, several different types of green tea have emerged. Sencha is the green tea variety that is most popular and widely used, but matcha green tea is growing in popularity, due to it’s more concentrated antioxidants. Matcha tea is made up of the actual tea leaves, not the strained tea leaves you drink when you make regular black or green tea. This difference alone allows you to obtain more nutrients from the matcha tea.

Tea plants grown for matcha are shaded for two weeks which increases the chlorophyll content (the stuff in the leaves that makes them green). This boosts the concentration of the healthy compounds like EGCG. While matcha tends to be more expensive than regular tea, you get a bigger bang for the buck. Matcha tea usually comes in a powdered form, which is more concentrated, and can be added to recipes like smoothies, baked goods or even ice cream. A cup of matcha tea is similar to drinking about 3 cups of regular (sencha) green tea.

The Bottom Line on Green and Black Tea

Both green and black tea contain beneficial compounds with strong antioxidant power, which help fight aging, heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Studies show both types of tea contain similar beneficial health benefits, but green tea wins big in terms of the amounts of antioxidants it contains.

Both teas also contain caffeine, plus a brain nutrient that creates a calming, alert feeling helping you concentrate better.  Black tea contains more caffeine, so if you are looking to be more alert, black tea works better.

Adding other substances to tea may reduce its antioxidant power. For example, milk or cream actually slows the absorption of the polyphenols in tea. And of course, go easy on sweeteners. A little drizzle of pure maple syrup or honey often adds just the right amount of healthy sweetness.

As with most things, you can overdo a good thing—even tea. Since tea contains caffeine, it may create an anxious or jittery feeling if you consume too much. Drinking green or black tea in the evening may keep you awake at night. Consuming too much tea can actually cause nausea or liver and kidney toxicity if you drink more than four cups a day.

Most bottled commercial teas lose their healthy antioxidants by the time they make it to the store shelf, plus they often have harmful sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, or sugar in them. Two brands of bottled tea to try are Honest Tea and Tea’s Tea that offer no added sugars. Many other organic, natural brands are appearing on store shelves these days as well. And don’t forget how delicious and refreshing Kombucha tea can be! Kombucha tea, which is made from black or green tea, contains all of the beneficial antioxidants of these teas, plus a good dose of healthy probiotics and B vitamins. And, kombucha tea is fermented, so the sugar in the tea is mostly used up in the fermentation process.

Keep in mind tea leaves can pull contaminants from the soil they are grown in, and may types of tea contain heavy metals, like aluminum and lead, as well as pesticides and fluoride. It’s definitely best to choose an organic tea if possible.

Teas and juices help protect and modulate the immune system. They also contain theobromine, which helps dilate the blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.

#1 juice for high blood pressure (doctor approved)

According to a Duke University MD, if your blood pressure is higher than 120/80:

“Start drinking this hydrating juice every morning.”

You can buy bucketfuls of these ingredients for less than $3.

Yet one 74-year-old patient who started drinking it daily…

Dropped his BP numbers from 150/80… down into a healthy range.

He didn’t start exercising, adjust his diet, or change his meds.

All he did was start drinking this juice every morning at 6am.

(And it probably saved his life.)

Dr. Rick Cohen – a medical doctor for over 22 years – tells all his high BP patients:

>> This is the #1 best juice to help lower your blood pressure

References
https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-black-and-green-tea-tea-essentials-200614
https://draxe.com/benefits-of-green-tea/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/matcha-green-tea#section3
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/black-tea-benefits
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/green-tea-vs-black-tea?utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=authoritynutrition&utm_content=2018-08-03#which-one
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170316093412.htm
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/matcha-green-tea#section2

The post Green Tea or Black Tea—Which is Healthier? appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.