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Disclaimer: I am not encouraging you to drink even a drop of alcohol. However, if you want to enjoy some libations without their acidic effects, do it the better way.
The holidays are so fun and merry. But let’s be real—they pack more stress on your body than the toys Santa fits into his big red bag. Acidic eating and drinking, stressing about gifts and extra events, and relatives in town (need I say more?) all have a snowball effect on your physical and mental health.
This year, partake in all the merriment you want—just do it the STRENGTH LIVING™ way.
The next time you want to sip on a Menorah Martini or toast to the New Year—remember these FOUR MAIN RULES:
Choose a drink with the least amount of sugar and acid. Read the cheat sheet below for details.
Dr. Daryl’s Cheat Sheet To Alcohol The STRENGTH LIVING™ Way.
Below is just a quick taster. For a deep dive and to answer your “whys,” please review this blog post.
Avoid
As much as possible, try to avoid the beverages below. If you drink these often, you haven’t even tapped into how energetic and wonderful you could feel. Time to kick the can(s) and feel great.
CIDER: Cider is another bad apple in the brewski family. Hard cider is highly acidic because, like beer, it combines sugar (a lot of it), fermentation, and in many cases, added gluten.
LIQUEURS & PRE-MIXED: Vodka and tequila, on their own, actually made the “APPROVED” list (woohoo, I bet that put you in better spirits 😉), but their pre-mixed friends are poppin’ off in sugar, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and acidic ingredients.
Occasional
WINE: A little wine is fine as it is high in minerals and antioxidants, but many are still high in yeast and sugar. Always check the label for grams of sugar. Dry Farm Wines are made with virtually no sugar. Always go for dryer wines such as Merlot, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, and Prosecco.
WHISKEY, BOURBON & SCOTCH: Here’s the deal with the whiskey family— they don’t have sugar, and in this family situation, not being sweet is a good thing. But they are on the “occasional” list because they are made from grains, including wheat.
APPROVED (In Moderation)
Here’s the secret these spirits are holding: All alcohol is fermented, but then liquors are distilled, which removes water, sugar, carbohydrates, and impurities.
VODKA: Drink vodka made from grapes, potatoes, or other vegetables. My go-to is Ciroc. Tito’s (corn), Cirrus (potatoes), Glen’s (beets) are some runner-ups. Smirnoff, Absolut, Grey Goose, Three Olives, Ketel One, and SKYY are all popular grain-based vodka, putting them on the naughty list.
RUM: Although it’s made from sugarcane, rum does not contain sugar, gluten, or preservatives. Just watch out for flavored rums, as they will throw in loads of artificial ingredients.
TEQUILA: Even though it’s made from blue agave, tequila is processed by distillation, which means you are not consuming any sugar.
The big takeaway I want you to remember is that one drink will not do irreparable damage on special occasions. Yes, it’s acidic, but you can make choices to minimize the acid (such as drinking Acid-Kicking Minerals).
It’s all about moderation, not deprivation. You are a human, not a robot. Therefore, moderation is a manageable lifestyle. Deprivation just leads to devastation and frustration.
Lastly, if you want to skip the alcohol but not the festive drink, opt for one of my mocktails, such as the Lemon Basil Mocktail.
