Ring in the New Year with a Healthy Mocktail

It’s fun to ring in the new year, but alcohol does not have to be part of the celebration. It’s not good for you anyway whether you have CF or not, since alcohol puts stress on your liver, causes dehydration, affects your blood sugar and can leave you with a nasty headache, digestive upset and other hangover symptoms the following day

So, why not skip the discomfort and celebrate with a “mocktail.”

A mocktail is a non-alcoholic beverage that uses whole ingredients like fruit, natural sweeteners, herbs and bitters to make a delicious and much healthier drink.

Here’s a recipe for a Pomegranate Ginger Mocktail that makes a great substitute for an alcoholic drink, and is actually beneficial for your health!

Pomegranate juice is loaded with antioxidants- 3 times more than red wine or green tea in fact! Antioxidants can help prevent cellular damage and reduce inflammation. This fruit is also rich in Vitamins C, E and K (look for fresh pomegranate juice without added sugar for the greatest benefits).

Ginger, as you know from last week’s post, is contains anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties and helps stimulate healthy digestion. That’s a lot of goodness in one glass!

This makes about 6 servings.

Ingredients:

3 cups plain sparkling water

1 cup pomegranate juice

1 tsp agave nectar

1 tsp finely grated ginger

1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake for a minute until blended. Then pour into a martini glass and garnish with pomegranate seeds.