Have fun this Christmas with my fun, healthy cocktail recipes to get you in the Christmas Spirit.
I'm all about getting balance in life. Life is for living, not for worrying about counting calories. I've put together 2 cocktails and 1 mocktail that will get nutrients into you while enjoying a little alcohol. They are so delicious that you'll feel good about having a little fun when you have friends round to party. In fact you'll probably impress your friends with these simple but scrumptious cocktail drinks.
Cocktails that feed the gut bacteria
Each of the cocktails are packed with gut loving bacteria, so you get to look after your gut while you socialise and enjoy life.
Yes, that's right there is kombucha or water kefir in the cocktails, which are fermented drinks packed with bacteria that supports your gut health. If you were not aware your gut is filled with trillions of microbes that communicate with your body. They interact with your brain and your immune system, so the more diverse your gut microbes are the greater your sense of wellbeing is.
Our gut microbes are affected by things such as stresss, diet low in fruit and veg, diet high in process foods, foods containing sweeteners like saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame, antibiotics, painkillers like Ibuprofen, and excess alcohol.
Poor gut health can result in symptoms like diarrhoea, constipation, gas, bloating, nausea, indigestion and acid reflux. However, it not restricted to the gut, it can manifest itself in chronic health conditions affecting the skin, joints, thyroids, mental health, and much more. A little fermented foods a day may help to improve many aspects of your health. If you are struggling with any of these issue why not check out my blog on 7 ways to improve your digestive system without changing your diet? It even contains a link to my 7 day diet plan which is a starting journey to improving your gut health.
You can buy kombucha and water kefir in independent health stores, Holland and Barratt, and Sainsbury's. Or you can make your own, but you will need a scoby for the kombucha or water kefir grains for the water kefir. Check out the Happy Kombucha website for more details. Or check out my Facebook group TIP TOP TUMS there is a great guest speaker vlog from the lovely Janice Clyne of Nourished by Nature.
Warning: if you are not used to consuming fermented foods go easy. Not that they are bad for you but the effects can cause "rumbly in the tumbly" as that wise old Pooh Bear would say!
Coconut Sparkle
This is an amazing tasting coconut drink. It uses fresh pineapple which is loaded with nutrients including vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, antioxidants and much more to support your immune system. It also contains bromelain which is a natural digestive enzymes and helps you more effectively digest food.
The coconut water kefir not only adds good bacteria to the gut but adds sparkle and flavour.
Ingredient
Serves 2
120g fresh pineapple (or 100ml pineapple juice)
90ml coconut water kefir
40ml Malibu
6 ice cubes
Sprig of mint
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into 2 red wine glasses and top with a sprig of mint.
Ginger Kombucha Mojito
Ginger Kombucha is amazing, not only is it filled with that health promoting bacteria it contains ginger. It's anti-inflammatory, packed with antioxidants, great for reducing nausea, help relieve indigestion and helps to manage blood sugar.
Limes are full of vitamin C and other nutrients that help ward off colds and flus. It's may also be helpful in aiding food poisoning. When my husband was on his gap year, many moons ago, he got food poisoning in Sri Lanka. He was taken into hospital and given lime juice to aid his recovery.
Ingredients
Serves 2
60ml tequila
160ml ginger kombucha
1 tbsp lime
6 cubes of ice
4 mint leaves (plus 2 for decoration)
1 tsp honey
Add all the above ingredients to a blender.
Whizz up until well blended.
Pour into 2 cocktail glasses or gin glasses.
Add a mint leaf to each glass.
Ginless Orange Blossom Mocktail
This lovely refreshing drink is for those that want a little sparkle without the alcohol. The orange adds much needed vitamin C to help keep that immune system tickety boo.
Seedlip is a distilled alcohol free spirit. It comes in 3 flavours and is great for those who want to add a little something to their mocktail. You can buy them in miniature bottles search on Seedlip miniatures to find them. Seedlip have lots of other mocktail ideas on their website.
Ingredients
Serves 2
1 passionfruit
1 glass of ice
150ml passion fruit kombucha
150ml orange juice
50ml Seedlip Grove 42 (optional)
Slice the passion fruit in half.
Split the ice between 2 tall glasses.
Pour the kombucha and orange juice over the ice.
If using pour in the Seedlip and stir well.
In each glass pop 1/2 the passionfruit and enjoy.
Cheers everyone, hope you enjoy your healthy cocktails.
Marie Jarvis is a gut obessed Nutritional Therapist / Nutritionist who loves nothing better than sorting out people's digestive system so they are not constantly running to the loo, bloating like a pregnant woman, straining for relief, or smelling like a sewer, then click here to book a Free 15 Minute Pre-Consultation Session where you can tell me all about your problems, and we can discuss how I might be able to help. Hope to speak soon.