March, 24 2017

Have you ever found yourself looking forward to that evening glass of wine or cocktail, so you can unwind from the stress of the day? I know I have!

While the occasional glass of wine or margarita is fine with me, I know that alcohol is particularly hard on a midlife woman. It creates acyetlaldehide which is carcinogenic and neurotoxic. Alcohol breaks down into sugar which feeds candida and bad gut bacteria. Alcohol increases hot flashes and night sweats. It interferes with sleep and contributes to weight gain.

While I didn’t want to give myself a hassle for one or two drinks a few times a week, I also want to feel fully vital as a midlife woman.

Thus was born my healthy mocktail habit.

A mocktail is a non-alcoholic beverage that mimics a cocktail. I also wanted to mimic that ‘aaahh’ relaxation feeling for a real cocktail, so I added nutritional powders that encourage the muscles to soften and the nervous system to unwind.

Here’s one of the dozens of versions I’ve created.

Fruit
Juice of 2-3 limes
Juice of 1/2  – 1 lemon
1 whole tangerine
Thin slice of citrus peel

Powders
Start with the smaller amount at first
Magnesium glycinate: 1/2 – 1 tsp  (150mg – 300mg)
Inositol: 1/4 – 1/2 tsp (700mg – 1400mg)
Phosphatidyl serine: 1/4 – 1/2 tsp (200mg – 400mg)

Optional 
Stevia or raw honey or maple syrup to taste

Blend
with a few ice cubes if you like

Dilute the juice with…
Club soda, or sparkling water or kombucha to taste

Pour into a pretty glass, cozy up with your loved ones including pets, and relax as you sip.

It is a lot more fun to take these useful supplements in a mocktail than in a capsule. About what you might spend in alcohol will cover the cost of the supplements. I get excited about how we can take care of ourselves without resorting to pharmaceuticals. It puts the power back in our hands.

Here’s more information about the powders. There are links for purchasing from my estore:

Magnesium Glycinate  helps loosen tight muscles and supports the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin. It is chelated or attached to the amino acid glycine which acts as a down-regulating neurotransmitter so that we can unwind. It is often used for improving sleep as well as reducing muscle cramps and restless legs.

Inositol is also known as Vitamin B8 and is nourishing to the nervous system. It helps induce sleep and reduces food cravings.  Inositol is also used for balancing female hormones, depression, anxiety, and in larger doses for OCD, panic attacks and even preventing Alzheimer’s disease.

PhosphatidlySerine (PS) is a phospholipid that is naturally abundant in the brain, and is used supplementally for combating stress-related cognitive decline. Long-term exposure to the stress hormone, cortisol, damages the hippocampus, the part of the brain that deals with memory and learning.  PS has been studied for its benefits to the brain. Studies have  found that elders performed better on cognitive tests after taking 300mg/day of PS.  It’s also used to address depression and improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s and athletic performance. Research Paris Kidd has written extensively about PS.  Here is another well-researched article on PS for those who would like to read more about this amazing nutrient.

PS is expensive, but it is worth it for those of us who need it. It is also fine to leave it out and just use the magnesium and inositol which will still provide much benefit. 

By drinking these mocktails about 3-5 times a week I have noticed less anxiety, a deeper sense of calm even in a stressful time. I am sleeping more deeply, and I have fewer food cravings.