Alternatives to Drinking: How to Relax Without Alcohol

As you change your relationship with alcohol, it also gives you the opportunity to change how you celebrate special occasions. Turn your focus inward to how you want to feel and imagine your ideal environment. These alcohol alternatives can open your world to endless options as you decide what moderation looks like to you or what sobriety means for you.

Drinking And Stressful Events

But if you can’t get your hands on the store-bought stuff, it’s pretty easy to make at home — as long as you have a starter culture set. Even if you don’t wake up with a hangover, alcohol can dehydrate you, dull your skin, and increase inflammation — all seemingly overnight. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol.

healthy alternatives to alcohol

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I live a very satisfying beverage life sans booze, but soda doesn’t always cut it when I want to feel included in a toast, bring drinks to share at a picnic, or sit and sip on something that is itself the main event. There is growing hype around fruit-infused water and we totally get why. They are the perfect low-calorie and low-sugar swap for those sweet alcoholic drinks. Many brands are hopping https://thewashingtondigest.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ onto the trend and releasing various flavors with added electrolytes, which help you stay properly hydrated. “A zero-calorie soda or sparkling water with a slice of grapefruit is so delicious and a glass of water with ice and lime will also do the trick and keep you hydrated.” Traditionally, Matcha tea is made from green tea leaves that have been stone-ground into a soft powder by hand.

healthy alternatives to alcohol

A quick look at our picks of the best nonalcoholic drinks and mixers

For a drink to warm the insides in the fall and winter months, nothing’s quite as cozy as cranberry apple cider. Although the original Delish AF recipe recommends serving it chilled, the flavors taste like fall Top 5 Advantages of Staying in a Sober Living House and make for a delicious cocktail for when the evenings turn colder. Finding a balance between being in the company of others and unwinding with ample solo time is what keeps our connections with others strong.

As November 2020 approaches, so does an extremely tense presidential election and an autumn resurgence of Covid-19 in the United States. In light of this, it isn’t a stretch to assume that right now is a particularly stressful time live in the US. L-theanine elevates levels of GABA and dopamine, both neurotransmitters that help us feel good. This flowering plant root has substantial early evidence as a stress-reducer and is also shown to reduce fatigue.

How does stopping drinking improve your health?

Offering tame bitterness and light botanical flavors, these sodas are like a cross between bitters and soda and hard seltzer. No. 2 is a well-balanced sweet and salty bottled cocktail with a nice spicy kick. We also appreciate the premixed Pentire Adrift & Tonic cans, with the tonic adding a not-too-sweet note that brings out Adrift’s subtleties.

  • “This tea served in a pretty teacup with a touch of decadent Manuka honey is an indulgence that is booze-free but still feels special,” says Manaker.
  • For example, soda is technically alcohol-free, but, because of its high added sugar content, soda consumption has been linked to an increased risk of chronic conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes (23).
  • Between boozy brunches, post-work happy hours, pub trivia nights, birthday parties, and weddings, giving up alcohol might feel like giving up your social life.
  • This creates a very stable high kavalactone concentration of kava juice and is super easy to use.
  • There are tons of adaptogenic plants out there, but they work similarly by decreasing stress levels and increasing wellness.

Effects Of Giving Up Alcohol for One Month

  • “POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice makes for a perfect ingredient in mocktails that also gives a boost of nutrition,” says Manaker.
  • “Champagne is a healthier option because the grapes used contain polyphenols10,” says Shapiro, which help manage blood pressure, promote circulation, and even improve systemic inflammation.
  • “Sleep is really integrated with overall health.” Good, solid sleep may also reduce the urge to reach for that bottle of wine.
  • Extremely quaffable and a great option for those who aren’t necessarily looking to replace an alcoholic drink with anything overly similar, but are instead keen to go for something entirely new.

However, more recent research suggests that there might not be a “safe” amount of alcohol after all because of alcohol’s negative effects on brain health (14, 15). While we didn’t get to test it, we’ve heard through the grapevine that the All Out Extra Dark is one of the best nonalcoholic stouts on the market. The company’s lineup also includes DayPack — a line of lightly hopped sparkling waters.

Most relevant of its many roles, it helps quiets the activity of neurons in the brain – essentially chilling them out. The anxiolytic activity without sedation or muscle relaxation makes it a candidate as a stress reliever that maintains alertness and coordination – something compromised by alcohol. Users describe feeling more open-hearted, compassionate, and attuned to the emotions of those around them. Helping them form a deeper sense of connection with others—whether it’s with friends, romantic partners, or even strangers. While you cannot directly compare the effects to alcohol, supplementing oxytocin does accomplish some of the same pro-social benefits. From brightening mood to sleep, to relaxation, Kin has crafted something for every occasion.

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