Scorching. That’s probably the adjective that comes to mind when you get in the car to go to work, walk to the mailbox, or from the parking lot to the store. The infamous Arizona summer heat shows no sign of letting up, at least anytime soon. Beside staying in doors with the AC on full blast there is one more thing that will help you stay cool while also keeping you healthy and looking beautiful!
Grab a few glasses and sip on these cool summer drinks.
Green Tea
Green Tea – Green tea can help block free radicals, cardiovascular damage, some cancers, infections, toxins and more!
Ingredients:
* 2 cups water
* 1 cup sweetener
* 1 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
* 6 green tea bags
* 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Preparation:
1. Add water, sweetener, ground ginger, and lemon peel to medium saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to where it sustains a gentle boil and cook for about 7-8 minutes. Remove from heat and add the green tea bags. Steep this tea mixture for 10 minutes, stirring or dunking the bags often.
2. Remove tea bags and stir lemon juice into the tea liquid. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 to 2 weeks.
3. To make a cup of iced tea, pour 1/4 cup of the concentrated tea mixture into a tall glass and stir in 3/4 cup of sparkling or seltzer water or club soda. Add ice cubes and enjoy! greenteatoday.com
Sangria– Perhaps the most celebratory drink of backyard parties and outdoor dining, sangria is also one of the healthiest alcoholic beverages you can order. Wine is packed with flavonoids and resveratrol, antioxidants that have antiaging effects — they help prevent and reduce the damage of “free radicals” on the skin. You also reap the health benefits of the fruit you choose to use!
While red wine does have a higher antioxidant content, white also has these properties, and it’s a lighter option for summer nights (or days … we won’t judge). A rule of thumb for selecting fruit: Go with cool colors for white wine (green apples, green grapes, oranges, and pineapples) and warm for red wine (red apples, red grapes, raspberries, and strawberries). Slice fruit into a pitcher, add wine, and refrigerate overnight — the longer it marinates, the stronger the fruit flavor! Dailyglow.com
When I saw this healthy choice I had to share!
VEGAN MUDSLIDE– Calories: 80
Ingredients:
1 oz. vodka
2 oz. coffee
3 oz. light almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions: Combing all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake, then strain over ice into a cocktail glass. Kristin and Beth, bloggers for Haute + Healthy
For a fun, refreshing, and easy drink mix your favorite low-sugar juice with club soda.
