Mocktails Vs. Cocktails: Top Health Benefits You Can Reap & 3 Low-Calorie Healthy Recipes to Try
Booze drinks have always been there for fun. It brings people closer to different social situations, where they talk, laugh, dance, and have fun. While cocktails are a great way to relax and enjoy your time, it’s sometimes not your best option. At the end of the day, they’re still alcoholic beverages, and too much alcohol can lead to detrimental health effects.
Thankfully, mocktails have come into the picture to save the day, causing a lot of buzz around it lately. Mocktails are basically coining “mock” and “cocktails” to get a brand new drink with a little play of words. They’re drinks that pretty much resemble cocktails, where lots of fruits, soda, and flavours are mixed but minus the liquor.
In other words, mocktails are non-booze drinks that can give you the happy effect of cocktails yet offer a healthier version. Luckily, there are a lot of recipes out there that you can choose from and enjoy, especially when trying to stay sober. Moreover, mocktails have significant health benefits, so let’s learn more about these exciting trends.
The History of Mocktails and Their Health Benefits
Like any trend in the world, they keep coming and going. What determines whether a trend is here to stay is its popularity amongst people and the influence of social media. Mocktails have been around since 1862, as traced in The Bartender’s Guidebook. They were referred to as temperance drinks, which means non-booze beverages.
Mocktails have made a strong re-appearance in the past couple of years, becoming the new buzz all over social media. Despite its archaic existence, social media has led people to believe it’s a young invention. The reasons it came back into the picture are plentiful, especially since many people want the effect of spirited cocktails without having to face a terrible hangover the next day.
Anyhow, mocktails are booming because social media tends to make a big deal out of literally everything – in a positive way sometimes. Today’s generation is more conscious about their health than their older peers, another reason that brought mocktails back into the game.
Interestingly, these beverages have proven superior to regular cocktails in their nutritional value comparison. Take a long look at the health benefits you can reap from swapping your cocktails with mocktails.
1. Help in Reducing Intake of Alcohol
Younger generations seem to have a lot of health awareness far better than the older generations. This is even obvious in the heavy marketing for adopting healthy lifestyles, cutting out meat, following low-carb diets, and so the game goes. Interestingly, mocktails are among the buzzing trends these years, and we cannot help but be thankful for them.
Opting for a mocktail at a social gathering is a great way to reduce alcohol intake. It even makes it easier for people with an addiction history. Going for mocktails will help give heavy drinkers the same passion and mixology they chase in cocktails.
However, there will be no liquor to steal your sobriety away. Thus, one of the great benefits of mocktails is assisting in reducing alcohol consumption and fighting the temptations of grabbing a glass or two.
2. They Have Fewer Calories
Besides being a safer option, mocktails can have much fewer calories than cocktails. This is true, especially if you depend on fruits and natural ingredients in creating your mocktail. Some mocktails may even be lower than 100 calories per cup, giving you room to enjoy another without worrying about your waistline.
Yet, it’s essential to know that fruits can still have a high sugar content; thus, you should be careful with how much sugar you get into your body, which is more critical for people with diabetes. Otherwise, mocktails are pretty healthy and beneficial, and even pregnant women and young children can enjoy them.
3. Are Extremely Hydrating
Mocktails are a perfect way to stay hydrated. Not only are they deliciously refreshing, but they’re also made with high water content ingredients. Although most mocktails are made with plenty of fruits, which are highly hydrating, the base is usually sparkling mineral water or coconut water.
Milk, vegetables, fruits, and green tea, are also great and healthy ingredients to consider while crafting your mocktail. All of these contribute to hydrating your body and keeping its function optimal.
4. Are Not Addictive
Mocktails are not addictive like cocktails are. There is no such thing as a mock-aholic, so don’t worry about your consumption. Although it’s recommended that you drink and eat everything in moderation, you can still consume mocktails at a rate higher than alcoholic drinks without worrying.
However, those with an alcohol addiction seeking recovery may be advised to take it slow, even with mocktails. Several studies have proclaimed that mocktails can be high triggers for past alcoholics and may affect their recovery journey, leading them to relapse.
5. Don’t Disrupt Your Sleep
Fruits and vegetables can never disrupt your sleep cycle, nor can mocktails. They are basically smoothies with some different twists and much lighter textures. In fact, with the right ingredients, mocktails can help you sleep soundly through the night, especially if you opt for herbal tea and the like.
This brings us to the finest part of enjoying a mocktail or two; there’s no hangover or terrible headaches the following day. Unlike alcohol, mocktails are not laden with the toxic substance that contributes to impacting your sleep quality.
6. They Offer Lots of Delicious Flavours
Since fruits and vegetables are more often the base of mocktails, there are a wide array of flavours to choose from. This makes your journey of transitioning from cocktails to mocktails a rather interesting one that will leave no room for boredom.
Even more, the myriad of flavours also means various ingredients laden with healthy nutrients. Mint, ginger, herbal tea, kombucha, coconut water, and fruits are all tasty and healthy items infused together to give a passionate and nutritious.
3 Low-Calorie Healthy Mocktail Recipes to Try
Interestingly, you can craft your mocktail in the comfort of your home. There are many recipes to try out if you’re opting to drink less alcohol. The ingredients are essential and can be found almost in every kitchen, so it won’t cost you time or effort.
1. Sparkling Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail
Cranberry and kombucha allow you to enjoy your night, sipping away and feeling refreshed the following day. This easy recipe will let you celebrate unstoppably while hydrating and nourishing your body.
Ingredients:
- 2 bottles of kombucha
- 1/2 cup of cranberry juice
- Fresh ginger
- Fresh rosemary
- Fresh cranberries
Instructions:
1- Grab four double glasses and fill them with ice.
2- Jumble up the rosemary and sliced ginger in a mason jar, then add the kombucha and cranberry juice. Combine all the ingredients.
3- Pour the mixture into the glasses, then garnish with fresh ginger, cranberries, and rosemary sprigs. Serve and enjoy!
2. Sangria Mocktail
Virgin non-alcoholic sangria is a great mocktail to consider making when you’re having a small gathering at your place. Not only does it taste spectacular, but it also looks mouthwatering that you’d want to grab and gulp the drink down to quench your thirst.
Ingredients:
- 1 orange (sliced into rings)
- 1 lemon (sliced into rounds)
- Maple syrup
- 1 green apple (cut into wedges)
- 150 ml of orange juice
- 750 mls of alcohol-free red wine
- 500 mls of sparkling beverage
Instructions:
1- Place the lemon, orange, and maple syrup in a glass pitcher,
2- Muddle the ingredients gently with the back of a wooden spoon until you excrete the juice from all fruits.
3- Pour the orange juice and non-alcoholic wine into the mixture and then add the apple wedges. Mix all of them.
4- Let it cool for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator before serving.
5- Don’t forget to add the sparkling beverage while serving and stir, then enjoy!
3. Grapefruit Mint Kombucha Mocktail
Tropical drinks go a long way in refreshing you up during the scorching days of summer. Grapefruit is one of the revitalising fruits you can use to create a succulent mocktail. It’s even more invigorating when mixed with mint and kombucha.
Ingredients:
- 1 grapefruit
- 1 lime juice
- Lime wedges
- 6-8 mint leaves
- 8 oz of kombucha
- Grapefruit seltzer
Instructions:
1- Add lime juice and grapefruit to a cocktail shaker and shake well.
2- In a cocktail muddler, add the mint and squeeze out its juices. Add the mint to the shaker and shake all ingredients together.
3- fill 2 cocktail glasses with ice, then pour kombucha and half of the juice mixture.
4- Finish your mocktail journey with the seltzer and garnish with mint sprig and lime wedge before serving.
Mocktails can be a great option in your journey towards a healthier life, especially when trying to reduce your alcohol intake or give it up altogether. However, be careful what you put into your glass. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a glass filled with sugar.