When it comes to cocktails, the mixes make all the difference. Elmwood Fitness Center nutritionist Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, said moderate doses of alcohol – one drink per day for women and two drinks for men - can have positive health effects for most people, but sugary drink mixes are always going to be a problem for the health conscious.
“When it comes to drink mixes, that’s where your sugar and calories are,” Kimball said. “A 20 ounce daiquiri can have about 1,000 calories in it. One shot of alcohol has about 100 calories, so the mixes are much worse for your diet than the actual alcohol.”
Frozen drinks tend to have much more sugar and a higher calorie count than non-frozen cocktails, Kimball said, making it a good idea to avoid anything with a paper umbrella.
“The ‘beach drinks’ tend to be dangerous,” she said. “A good rule of thumb is ‘umbrella equals sugar.’”
Instead of a pre-packaged mixer, Kimball recommends adding zero-calorie Vitamin Water or water flavored by Crystal Light to tequila or rum to create a healthy summer drink.
“You can just throw a handful of fresh fruit into a blender with your rum to make a sugar free daiquiri,” Kimball said. “Or you can use tonic water to mix with rum or vodka. You really just want to cut out the mixes.”
Several new products have hit the market for this summer that offer sugar- and calorie-free drink mixes, which Kimball said are also good choices.
“You just have to be really careful with what you are drinking for many reasons, including your healthy lifestyle,” she said.
In a swimsuit while sipping on summer cocktails? Click here to read tips on getting bikini ready.
Mixing Up Healthy Summer Drinks
Articles From July 2011
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