During 2020, drinking an alcoholic beverage hit a 30-year high. The average American was drinking 17 drinks per week! It was indeed a stressful year, but alcohol intake should be minimized so let’s consider making the switch to mocktails.

American cancer society (ACS) and American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR), encourage Americans to minimize their alcohol intake. If you do choose to drink, it is recommended for men to have no more than 2 drinks per day and for women to have no more than 1 drink per day. So, below are a few fun summertime beverages that are refreshing, alcohol-free, and are high in anti-inflammatory properties (remember inflammation is bad, so anti-inflammatory is good!).

Mango Mule

Ingredients

• 4-5 slices of cucumber
• 1 tsp agave nectar
• 3 tbsp mango puree
• 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
• Approximately ¼ to ½ c ginger beer
• Ice

Directions

Place cucumber and agave nectar in the bottom of a cocktail or any shaker. Add mango puree and lime juice and shake with ice vigorously. Strain into a copper mug. Top with ginger beer (**ginger can help with nausea**) and stir.

Virgin Watermelon Margarita

Ingredients

• 1 medium seedless watermelon, cut into chunks
• ½ c fresh lime juice
• ¼ c of coconut water
• ¼ c sparking water

Directions

In a blender, puree enough watermelon chunks so that you have 4 cups of watermelon puree. Add lime juice and coconut water (** good source of potassium) and mix again. Pour into 4 cups. Top with sparkling water.

Revitalizer

Ingredients

• 1c carrot juice
• 1c apple juice
• 1 tbsp of shredded fresh ginger
• 1 fresh lime squeezed
• 2c of lime-flavored sparkling water

Directions

Combine ingredients and shake with ice. Strain into glasses. Makes four drinks.