4 Healthy Drinks You’ll Love This Summer!

Summer is here and we’re super excited too! It can be easy to overindulge in sweets and sweet drinks over the summer, including alcohol. While I do think it’s important to enjoy these warmer months, we also don’t want to throw our healthy living completely out the window!

Here are some reasons to be mindful when it comes to alcohol consumption, especially if you’re in the thick of healing.

Alcohol Spikes Blood Sugar Levels

Keeping your blood sugar in check isn’t only important if you have diabetes, but for the average person also. Blood sugar imbalances contribute to anxiety, depression, hormone imbalances, increased stress and cortisol, weight gain. There’s also a very strong link between high blood sugar/insulin and neurological diseases, cardiovascular issues, cancer and insulin resistance.

Alcohol Negatively Impacts Hormones

Did you know that just one alcoholic drink can increase estrogen by 10%?! For the women here looking to reduce PMS symptoms, support fertility and achieve overall hormonal harmony, removing alcohol is a key piece to the puzzle. Alcohol can also lower testosterone levels in men.

Alcohol Impedes Liver Detoxification

Do you find you get more affected by alcohol the older you get? Perhaps when you were younger, you could tolerate multiple drinks and now you get tipsy with just one or two? That’s usually a sign your liver is struggling to detox properly. The liver is essential for not only detoxifying alcohol, but excess estrogens, environmental toxins, processing fats and sugars, aiding the digestive process and filtering the blood.

Alcohol is Dehydrating

One important fact to keep in mind if you choose to enjoy a drink in the sun, is that alcohol is dehydrating. Make sure you keep your water and electrolyte intake up whether you’re drinking or not. You can use real salt, coconut water, naturally mineralized spring water, mineral drops and hydrating fruits and vegetables. Whatever you do, DON’T use sugary sports drinks, concentrated fruit juice, coffee or soda to try to rehydrate, as those will dehydrate you further.

Healthier Alternatives to Alcohol

If you’ve decided to give up alcohol or just want to cut back, here are some alternatives to enjoy so you don’t feel left out this summer!

1. Choose sparkling water and add your own flavours.

Drinks like La Croix, Bubly and Zevia are better options than alcohol (or soda for that matter!). You can add fruit, natural fruit juices, stevia or monk fruit to sweeten and flavour your own sparking water.

2.   Make your own sugar-free iced tea.

I recently posted a recipe for a caffeine-free sugar-free iced tea that is so delicious!! I added fresh lemon juice and stevia extract for a naturally sweet and refreshing drink that will have a very low impact on blood sugar and insulin. Great if you’re working on balancing your hormones, improving energy or trying to lose weight!

3.   Mix your drinks!

You can spice things up by combing sparkling water with real fruit juice that’s not from concentrate. Some ideas include: sparking water with orange juice, tart cherry juice and stevia, natural peach or cranberry juice or making your own healthy lemonade. The possibilities are endless and can be a fun way to change things up with your friends!

4.   Choose a lower sugar option

If you’re going to choose an alcoholic drink, opt for gluten-free hard liquor as opposed to wine, beer or sugary drinks. Just keep in mind that all alcohol rapidly converts into sugar, so choose your drinks wisely.

Final Words of Advice:

If you’re feeling left out, be sure to communicate with your friends and loved ones why you’re choosing not to drink and prioritizing your health. Going alcohol-free doesn’t mean you have to miss out on socializing!

Asher Kleiber

Registered Holistic Nutritionist