Cocktails!

Yes, its true, coeliacs cannot drink beer. But do not fear! There is a better option…dare I say….a healthier option!

Before being diagnosed I never really drank beer anyway, but obviously having the option to have a pint taken away from you is not a nice thing!

I live in York, where there are enough pubs to go to a different one every day of the year! Tourist that come to York will often see real ale, local larger and traditional pork scratching’s absolutely everywhere, a different pub on every street. However, one thing most tourists don’t pick up on is the sheer amount of cocktail bars! And thank goodness most cocktails are gluten free!

A traditional pint of real ale has approximately 200 calories in it, with 2/3 coming from just alcohol, so empty calories! Beer bloats, puts the pounds on and is often a low percentage, so if your out to get merry…expect to drink the same amount of calories as a roast dinner!

On the other hand…we have the gluten free option…the cocktail. Now cocktails usually contain similar calories o beer, but don’t worry. The calories are not empty calories. The come from predominantly the fruit juice used. I have a few favorite cocktails…

The Mojito

2 parts White Rum

1 part lime juice

10 mint sprigs

1 part ice cubes

1 lime slice

1 tea spoon sugar (I replace with honey)

top up with soda water

The Mojito is usually a strong, refreshing cocktail, perfect for the summer evenings. Mint is the main flavor and usually takes up a large proportion of your glass. Mint has many health benefits such as soothing your stomach tract…so if you are having stomach pain (which is more common for coeliacs) then a mojito is a great option. Furthermore some research argues that it can help with IBS (again, can come hand in hand with coeliac disease) and is a great anti oxidant!

I like to replace the sugar with honey. You still need the sweetness in the cocktail…but honey comes with a whole range of added benefits. It is packed with anti oxidants, which helps prevent cancer and maintains youthful skin. Moreover “All honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide,” said Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. 

 Red Devil 
½ oz Sloe gin
½ oz Vodka
½ oz Southern Comfort
½ oz Triple sec
½ oz Banana Liqueur
2 tbsp Lime Juice
2 oz. Orange Juice

Ok so this one is a bit of a treat, at 250 calories, it’s a big sugar rush. However it’s a great tasting cocktail and a fantastic example of a cocktail where the calories are half from the fruit juice.  This means that just one cup of this cocktail contains 65% of your RDA of fiber!

Obviously orange juice is one of the best sources of vitamin C but there is a surprising added benefit. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has released a paper, which notes that orange juice can decrease inflammation that occurs after eating a high carb and high fat meal. This can decrease the risk of heart disease and diabetes. 

Sea Breeze 

2 parts vodka
3 parts cranberry juice
3 parts grapefruit juice
1 lime wedge
5 parts crushed ice

So this one is the best example of a cocktail which is packed full of goodness from fruit. First of all vodka is particularly low in calories in comparison to other spirits. It is about 60 calories per shot.

Cranberry juice is incredibly high in anti oxidants which, as I have said before, can help prevent cancer and maintain youthful skin. Furthermore research has shown that the acidity of it has been shown to help prevent UTIs and works as an anti-inflammatory.

Grapefruit juice contains citric acid, high amounts of vitamin C and slightly smaller amounts of vitamin A, B complex, E and also K. Some research has shown that it also contains a fat-burning enzyme, which can absorb, and therefore reduce, starts and sugar within the body.