Image from The Drink Blog

Are any alcoholic drinks actually healthy for you? Most of us would answer that they’ve heard or read about red wine being heart healthy or good for us in some way or another. Is that it? Are you only to drink red wine in order to be truly healthy for the rest of your life?

First of all, let me say for the millionth time, we are all unique individuals and there is no one answer to that question.  Second, if you don’t drink, there’s no outstanding health benefit that you’d get from starting to drink alcohol. Third, must I remind us all, MODERATION is key. With almost everything.

Ok, those disclaimers out of the way, what is out there to drink that won’t throw you completely off track with your health and wellness goals?

It’s best to be simple. Clear liquors like vodka, tequila, and gin are lowest in sugar and calories and are easiest for our bodies to metabolize. Avoid sweet mixers, flavored sodas, syrups and tonic water. One or two ingredient drinks with high-quality clear alcohols mixed with sparkling water or club soda are best bets. This is because so many drinks are high in empty calories (no nutritional value), and we often don’t think about or underestimate the number of calories we are drinking. That said, we aren’t calorie counters here at Nourish Coaches. If you are on a health and wellness journey and trying to shed some weight, paying attention to what’s exactly in your alcoholic drinks is important.

(The above writing is part of a blog we published that has more information about alcohol. To read it, click here.)

Avo-Keto Margarita

• 6 oz  tequila
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 avocado (remove skin and pit)
• Pinch of salt
• Cilantro
• Chili lime salt

Combine the tequila, lime juice, avocado, and salt into a blender with 2.5 cups of crushed ice. Blend until texture is smooth. Pour into a rocks glass rimmed with chili lime salt over ice. Garnish with cilantro and a lime.

Created by Eric Ribeiro Bar Manager for Diageo New York

Lemon Fizz

• 1.5 oz vodka
• .5 oz lemon juice
• 8 oz sparkling water
• 1/2 teaspoon honey (to your taste)
• Lemon slice

Add your vodka, lemon juice and honey with ice to your shaker. Shake. Pour over ice. Add sparkling water. Garnish with lemon.