Fresh Strawberry Daiquiri
By Cheryl Forberg, RD
Who says an occasional cocktail isn't healthy? Not me! The first I heard this news was in 1991 when Morley Safer unveiled the "French Paradox" on the "60 Minutes" program. The new research results revealed that drinking red wine had cardioprotective benefits and gave us another welcome reason to indulge in this healthful libation. But researchers have continued to stir up clues that substantiate this theory, and then some.
The hidden gems in red grape juice and its fermented counterpart, wine, play a vital role in the fight against aging, thanks to phytochemicals called flavonoids. Resveratrol, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, and quercetin are just a few of them, and their impact is profound.
Protection from heart disease is not the only benefit of red wine's flavonoids. Their antioxidant properties are believed to fight against age-related mental decline. They also appear to minimize inflammation and discomfort of painful diseases such as arthritis. Like all antioxidants, they fight to keep our inveterate contingent of free radicals under control. Red wine is well-endowed with resveratrol, and its concentration relates proportionately to the length of time the grape skins are present during the fermentation process in winemaking. That's why the levels are significantly higher in red wine than in white wine. In some studies, this flavonoid has shown promise in slowing the growth of cancer, too.
Yes, it is still an alcoholic beverage, and moderation is advised because of other potential health risks. One concern is resveratrol's structure, which is similar to that of the hormone estrogen. The potential benefits of this plant hormone could backfire if consumed in excessive amounts, resulting in the promotion of hormonally related cancers, such as breast or prostate cancer.
Like other plant chemicals, we know that they appear to be most beneficial when consumed in their natural form and moderation from various other whole food sources. The synergy of their collective powers seems to provide optimal benefits.
But grapes are not the only fruit that can add a healthful boost to a tasty cocktail. Just about any fruit can fill that bill because they are all loaded with antioxidants and an array of vitamins.
Today, I am adding fresh strawberries to a classic cocktail, the daiquiri. There is a myriad of stories related to where and who invented this libation. But the main ingredients are constant; rum, fresh lime, and sugar. Between the lime juice and the strawberries, you will enjoy a healthy dose of Vitamin C. I think you will also enjoy this cocktail – santè!
Fresh Strawberry Daiquiri
Makes 2 cocktails
Ingredients
4 ounces (1/2 cup) dark rum
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) maraschino liqueur*
½ ounce (1 tablespoon) simple syrup (or Melissa's Organic Blue Agave Syrup)*
2 1/2 ounces (1/3 cup) Melissa's fresh lime juice
1 cup fresh Melissa's Strawberries
1 - 2 cups ice
Garnish:
Key lime wedge
Floater of good dark rum
*I used Luxardo, but you can use Cherry Heering or maraschino juice if you prefer.
Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Taste for sweetness. If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to add a bit more sweetener.
Garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.
Who says an occasional cocktail isn't healthy? Not me! The first I heard this news was in 1991 when Morley Safer unveiled the "French Paradox" on the "60 Minutes" program. The new research results revealed that drinking red wine had cardioprotective benefits and gave us another welcome reason to indulge in this healthful libation. But researchers have continued to stir up clues that substantiate this theory, and then some.
The hidden gems in red grape juice and its fermented counterpart, wine, play a vital role in the fight against aging, thanks to phytochemicals called flavonoids. Resveratrol, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, and quercetin are just a few of them, and their impact is profound.
Protection from heart disease is not the only benefit of red wine's flavonoids. Their antioxidant properties are believed to fight against age-related mental decline. They also appear to minimize inflammation and discomfort of painful diseases such as arthritis. Like all antioxidants, they fight to keep our inveterate contingent of free radicals under control. Red wine is well-endowed with resveratrol, and its concentration relates proportionately to the length of time the grape skins are present during the fermentation process in winemaking. That's why the levels are significantly higher in red wine than in white wine. In some studies, this flavonoid has shown promise in slowing the growth of cancer, too.
Yes, it is still an alcoholic beverage, and moderation is advised because of other potential health risks. One concern is resveratrol's structure, which is similar to that of the hormone estrogen. The potential benefits of this plant hormone could backfire if consumed in excessive amounts, resulting in the promotion of hormonally related cancers, such as breast or prostate cancer.
Like other plant chemicals, we know that they appear to be most beneficial when consumed in their natural form and moderation from various other whole food sources. The synergy of their collective powers seems to provide optimal benefits.
But grapes are not the only fruit that can add a healthful boost to a tasty cocktail. Just about any fruit can fill that bill because they are all loaded with antioxidants and an array of vitamins.
Today, I am adding fresh strawberries to a classic cocktail, the daiquiri. There is a myriad of stories related to where and who invented this libation. But the main ingredients are constant; rum, fresh lime, and sugar. Between the lime juice and the strawberries, you will enjoy a healthy dose of Vitamin C. I think you will also enjoy this cocktail – santè!
Fresh Strawberry Daiquiri
Makes 2 cocktails
Ingredients
4 ounces (1/2 cup) dark rum
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) maraschino liqueur*
½ ounce (1 tablespoon) simple syrup (or Melissa's Organic Blue Agave Syrup)*
2 1/2 ounces (1/3 cup) Melissa's fresh lime juice
1 cup fresh Melissa's Strawberries
1 - 2 cups ice
Garnish:
Key lime wedge
Floater of good dark rum
*I used Luxardo, but you can use Cherry Heering or maraschino juice if you prefer.
Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Taste for sweetness. If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to add a bit more sweetener.
Garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.
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