You may know what they mean about an apple a day. The same applies when it comes to cocktails. Yes, cocktails – the alcoholic mixed drinks – also have several health benefits that are sure to enjoy. This does not mean you go imbibing on your favourite liquor till you knock yourself out; the key in this case is moderation. Moderation means consuming one or two glasses of alcoholic beverage daily and not any more than that.
Video Source:About.com
Benefits of Having an Alcoholic Cocktail
Perhaps the number one thing that negatively impacts on your health is stress. This only means that if you beat stress then chances are quite high that you will be improving on your health. So what exactly does a glass of an alcoholic cocktail do?
According to research, average weight women who took one or two serving of alcohol on a daily basis gained less weight as compared to their counterparts who either drank too much or did not drink at all.
It’s also been found out that a serving of alcohol a day goes a long way in reducing one’s risk of developing a heart disease. Other than reducing one’s possibility of developing heart diseases, it also goes a long way in ensuring that one’s chances of getting strokes is highly reduced. Yet another benefit that you are sure to enjoy is that you also get to reduce your risk of diabetes.
Over Indulgence Risks
There’s also a flip side to this, especially when you overindulge. So what are the risks associated with over indulgence?
You increase the chances of you developing cancer of the mouth, the liver, oesophagus, larynx, mouth and breast cancer
If you suffer from a cardiovascular disease, then chances are quite high that you may die suddenly by over drinking.
Unlike under moderation, over drinking increases ones chances of developing a stroke.
Increased stress: As pointed out above, drinking in moderation can help reduce stress. Overindulgence on the other hand increases ones stress levels and brings about depression and one may be suicidal.
If you are expectant, you risk suffering a miscarriage and also develop foetal alcohol syndrome.
If you over indulge, chances are quite high that you might hurt yourself when you drink and drive as excess alcohol in your body impairs your motor skills.
Perhaps the biggest risk associated with over indulgence in alcohol drinking is high blood pressure.
The cocktails
A serving of alcohol a day goes a long way in ensuring that you enjoy the aforementioned benefits. There’s no better way of enjoying these benefits than by having yourself a nice cocktail which can easily be prepared from the comfort of your home. Here are 5 cocktail recipes that you are sure to enjoy making and drinking. It needs to be noted though that these five recipes are for cocktails with vodka.
The Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Ingredients: a dash of lime juice, one lime rind, 1 part Cointreau and the vodka; 1½ parts.
Procedure: With all the ingredients mixed up, add some cracked ice and then shake well. Finally pour into a cocktail glass and you’re good to go.
The Sex on the Beach Cocktail
Ingredients: A dash of lemon juice, 5 Ice cubes, 1 Orange wedge, cranberry juice, orange juice, 1 part peach schnapps and 1 part vodka.
Procedure: shake the vodka, lemon juice and peach schnapps together with cracked ice. The next step is straining and pouring the cocktail in a highball glass. You then top up with orange and cranberry juice to complete the sex on the beach cocktail.
The Long Island Iced Tea
Ingredients: A dash of lemon juice, a dash of lime juice, ½ part Triple sec, ½ part Tequila, ½ part Gin, ½ part white rum and cola.
Procedure: Excluding the cola, shake all the ingredients mentioned above with cracked ice. Then strain the mixture and pour it into a high ball glass.
Then top up with cola.
The Black Russian
Ingredients: 5 Ice cubes, 2 parts Vodka, 1 part Kahlua and cola
Procedure: Shake up the vodka with Kahlua and pour over the ice. You then top up with cola and finally serve your cocktail in a tumbler.
The blue lagoon Cocktail
Ingredients: Pineapple juice, 1 part blue curacao, 3 parts vodka
Procedure: Stir the pineapple juice and vodka in a bar glass and then pour the mix into a highball glass. It is after this that over the top you pour a dash of blue curacao.
With these recipes, you can be sure to enjoy the above mentioned benefits associated with taking a serving or two of alcohol. One thing that you need to remember is that moderation is key if you want to enjoy these cocktails with vodka.
Here are five recipes that any beginner will be sure to enjoy. This is especially if you are throwing a party, you can’t go wrong with these recipes. Other than the recipes, outlined are benefits of drinking in moderation and overindulgence.
Flavia Desiree loves food and that’s why she chose a career as a chef. With over 6 years working in the bar business, she has the knowledge, experience, and expertise that come with her kind of lifetime passion.