Healthy Drinks

Sometimes we forget that alcoholic beverages also come with some calories, but this shouldn’t scare you. Here are some tips so you can order cocktails without guilt. If you enjoy having a bit of wine with dinner or going out for a couple of drinks with friends, there’s no problem at all. You just need to keep in mind that some types of alcohol contain many more calories than others. You should also consider whether you're drinking a spirit on its own or mixing it with other ingredients to make a cocktail. All of these options ultimately change the caloric content of the drink. Let's start with classic spirits. The good news is that when it comes to vodka, whiskey, rum, gin, and tequila, there are no carbohydrates. What there is, is a caloric contribution per glass served coming from the alcohol. Among these, we can recommend whiskey and tequila as they provide the least calories. The key is to try not to mix them with sodas or boxed juices, as these add unnecessary sugars. In the case of rum and gin, we are talking about higher caloric amounts. Now, with wines, whether red or white, it’s estimated that there are 5g of carbohydrates per glass. It’s not much, but it is more than in the spirits we mentioned earlier. Generally, white wines provide 10% fewer calories than red wines, so they are more advisable if you want to maintain your figure. However, it is also true that red wine is associated with cardiovascular improvements, prevention of heart attacks, and even reduction of cholesterol in the blood. If you're interested in these physical benefits, then a glass of red wine is a good choice. Speaking of alcoholic beverages with a higher caloric volume, we come to beer and ciders. Each beer varies between 6 and 10g of carbohydrates per serving, so you need to be careful. As with wines, light beers are slightly more “light” than dark beers, making them more convenient. Cider, on the other hand, can reach up to 200 calories per serving and more than 12g of carbohydrates. When it comes to mixers, the best options to take are lemon juice and mineral water. Mixing with these keeps the calorie increase minimal, allowing you to enjoy your drinks without any guilt. Be cautious with sodas and pre-made mixes like margarita mixes, as they contain a large number of calories. If you have made an effort to maintain your figure and don’t want to ruin it with a couple of outings, consider that the cocktails with the least carbohydrates and calories are homemade margaritas, vodka soda, Tom Collins, and a refreshing mint julep.   Drink Recipes Recipe for Vodka on the Rocks with a Touch of Lemon Ingredients: - lemon zest (depending on how many cocktails you are serving) - 1 bottle of mineral water - 1 bottle of vodka - ice To see the steps to prepare this cocktail click here.   Recipe for Tom Collins Ingredients: - 2 ounces of gin - 1 ounce of lemon juice - 1 teaspoon of sugar - 3 ounces of club soda - 1 maraschino cherry - 1 slice of orange Click here to see the procedure to prepare this recipe.   Recipe for Jameson Julep Ingredients: - 2 sprigs of mint - lemon juice - 2 ounces of whiskey - 2 ounces of soda To find the steps to prepare this recipe click here.   What drink do you prefer?