Fun Healthy Cocktails

Okay so "healthy" is probably an overstatement, but it's Memorial Day weekend and let's face it you're probably going to throw back a few cocktails while grilling, boating, sunning or whatever it is you're doing to celebrate...

You work hard and deserve a little indulgence, but you don't want to look fat & bloated in your bathing suits this summer so why not opt for these lighter drink options that pack a punch without the guilt!


Blueberry Cooler:

Blueberries are an antioxidant powerhouse! A diet rich in antioxidants is important for keeping toxins & free-radicals in your body at bay. Blueberries also contain high levels Vitamin C, Vitamin E, & Fiber.

Another great thing about blueberries is that studies have shown that the anti-oxidants in them help protect the brain from oxidative stress and can help fight Alzhiemers & dementia.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces blueberry-flavored vodka, like Stoli Bluberi
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
About 2 ounces soda water
Blueberries for garnish
Fresh mint sprig for garnish (optional)

Combine vodka, lemon, & lime juice in a glass filled with ice. Mix then top with club soda, blueberries, and a mint sprig for garnish!



Cucumber Mint Cocktail

Cucumbers offer some great benefits for your skin. Its silica content is essential for keeping connective tissue such as muscles, tendons, cartilage, & bone healthy. Silica is often recommended for improving skin's complexion and overall health as well. Cucumbers also have a high water content and we all know how important staying hydrated is for your skin!

Cucumbers also are a natural diuretic. Diuretic foods aid in the elimination of waste and toxins from the body through urination. I really don't care if you think it's gross- it's a nescessary function which keeps your body clean in the long run so that makes it cool.

Ingredients:
2 English Cucumbers
Ice Cubes
1 C Loosely Packed Mint Leaves
2 Tsp Sugar
3 Tbsp Lime Juice
½ C Vodka
2 Tbsp Cointreau

1.Cut 4 thin spears from 1 cucumber, and reserve for garnish. Peel remaining cucumbers, and quarter them lengthwise. Scrape out seeds with a spoon, and discard. Coarsely chop cucumbers, then puree in a food processor until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible.

2.Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add mint, sugar, and lime juice, and shake. Add 3/4 cup cucumber juice, the vodka, and Cointreau, and shake. Strain into 4 glasses filled with ice. Garnish each cocktail with a cucumber spear.




http://www.juicing-for-health.com/cucumber-benefits.html
http://www.womenfitness.net/blueberries.html