Healthy Drinks for the Holiday

After spending the day battling the hoilday shoppers, it is nice to go home to a hot and refreshing drink. You may be surprise but there are several drinks not only good but healthy too.

Hot Cocoa

Hot or Cold cocoa contains potent antioxidants which reduces inflammation in cases involving heart disease. You want to be sure the cocoa lists dark chocolate as its first ingredient. Three onces of dark chocolate daily can lower your blood pressure. Around the holidays this surely is a good thing. You should also use skim or low-fat milk for a healthier body.

Mulled Wine

Mulled wine contains red wine which has shown to have powerful antioxidants in the grapes that produce it. Grapes contan flavnoids and resveratrol, which have anti-inflammatory effects that is thought to help slow the progression of Alzheimer's desease. Resveratrol is also considered to help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in people over 55.

Apple Cider With Cinnamon

Here is a great combination. Apple Cider, make sure it is paxteurized, has a great nutrient called quercetin in the apple. Quercetin works like an antioxidant and protects brain cells from damage which can trigger such diseases as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

The cinnamon in the apple cider can improve glucose and cholesterol levels. Which is good news for people who have type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.

Hot Eggnog

Hot Eggnog is a great tasting drink for the holiday, but again like hot cocoa use skim or low-fat milk to reduce the calories and fat You can always use the calcium in the milk. The egg in the nog is a great protein source. Eggs also contain a antioxidant called lutein. This has been noted to help prevent vision problems.