Healthy alternatives to drinking alcohol
Whatever you eat or drink, be sure that you’re keeping in mind what it does to your body. Whether you realize it or not, everything that you put in your body has major effects on your mood, energy, everything is centered on what you eat and drink.
Because of these, many times each day you will decide what to drink. Whether at a party, restaurant, or just hanging out at home, living a sober life does limit your choices, but it doesn’t have to limit your life. Take control of your life by picking drinks that are better alternatives. Living a sober life means changing the way that you think. Exchanging one craving for another one – instead of craving an alcoholic drink, I want that sweet bubbly water I got hooked on last week. It sounds silly at first, but give yourself a chance to settle into the new mindset. Believe that it will work, and it can!
One helpful thing to do when considering all your alternatives to alcohol is to try to keep the drink choices as in your control as possible – this might mean throwing more parties at your own place instead of going out. Go to the store and pick out a couple fun sodas or other drinks that you might want to try, pick your favorites then go back for more when it’s time to hang out. Alternatively, if you do go out, find ones that you can take with you and stock a good supply of your go-to favorites at home and bring them with you when you choose to go out. Again, it might seem strange at first, but if you have friends that support you and want to see you succeed, there will be no difference.
Jazz Up the Water
If you’re not a fan of just plain, regular water, that’s okay! Many people don’t drink just regular water without some kind of flavoring or other with it. Keeping hydrated is crucial for health and well-being. Water lubricates your joints, delivers oxygen throughout your body, boosts skin health and beauty, cushions the brain, regulates body temperature, and so much more! Flavoring water in this way is a good and healthy way to try to get you to drink more healthy choices. Here’s some fun and easy ways to help you do this:
- Pop some fruit-filled ice cubes in your plain or sparkling water
Freeze some fruits and keep them around for when you want a little drink. Just a little flavoring can go a long way! Try it for yourself to see the difference. Use chunks of pineapple, strawberry, mango, blueberry—whatever’s in season - Add fresh herbs from your garden to spice up water
If you don’t have your own garden, go to the market and get these spices anyway. They all work the same, just a little bit will do the trick. Spices are a great way to get a refined taste for other things as well. If you’re just starting out, try mint, rosemary, or thyme!
- Citrus for a twist
Squirting a little juice in your water will certainly do the trick, but if you don’t want an overwhelming taste, just the peel will do. A peel of lemon, lime, grapefruit (or all three!) will give your water some zing. This works best when the peel has been sitting in the water for a longer time, so if you want to be ready think of setting up a jug that you can refill and add the ingredients too again.
Take back control of your life and start on the road to recovery now.
Tea (hot or cold)
Tea contains antioxidants and can have less caffeine than coffee. It may reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke and boost your immune system. There are plenty of benefits to tea, and on top of those benefits it’s a very well understood craft. Go to your market today and look at all the different types of teas that you can get. Here are a few examples of teas to try:
- Sweet
Raw sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, agave, molasses - Spicy
Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves - Fruity
Lemon, berry, passionfruit, pomegranate - Floral
Jasmine, rose, chamomile, hibiscus
Wake Up with Coffee
Coffee can improve your energy levels, make you more confident and sharper. It may lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes and protect you from Alzheimer’s and dementia. Coffee is another alternative that is very well studied.
Take the time to check out all the different types of coffee that you can try and give what sounds good a shot! There are also plenty of coffee fanatics out in the world, so go to your local coffee shop and strike up a conversation! There will be a very high chance that you will find someone passionate and want to share everything with you, who knows, maybe you’ll become as passionate about coffee one day too!
Coffee can be spiced up, too! Try cinnamon, nutmeg, lavender, or cardamom
Coffee is best with syrups, and can make most coffees a consistent flavor and something that you already enjoy and don’t have to get used to. Try French Vanilla, chocolate, caramel, or English Toffee.
Try different beans. There are so many different places that coffee is grown, each with their own distinct flavors. Go check out all the different types and see what you like. To start one can try Arabica, Robusta, or Liberica.
Juice It Up—Beyond Apple and Orange
Juicing can reduce your risk of cancer, boost your immune system, remove toxins from your body, aid digestion, and help you lose weight. Juices are a little more played out than coffee or teas, but there are still so many to try. Get to your local market, get a cheap juicer, and try to make some at home! These kinds of activities are some of the best things that you can do to keep your mind off of your addictions and maybe find a passion that may one day replace your bad habits.
For juice, there’s only two ways you can go, and neither is wrong. Try fruit juice – pineapple, coconut, guava, or papaya. Or try vegetable juice – carrot, wheatgrass, or dandelion.
This can be a difficult journey, but you don’t have to go it alone. Let us be your guide and provide you the environment needed to regain control of your life and begin the path to recovery.
On the Town
A night out doesn’t have to be your downfall. Check out the venue online first to see what non-alcoholic choices they offer. Many bars and restaurants intentionally have a non-alcoholic menu to accommodate those who want to kick their addiction. Make sure you use these accommodations to your advantage! Don’t let them go to waste. Look at the menu for these items:
- Club soda
Add a lime, berries, mint, or citrus - Mocktails
Virgin margarita, Shirley Temple, Brazilian lemonade - Spritzers
Add a splash of juice to sparkling water
Recovery can be difficult, but it’s not impossible and doesn’t have to be boring. While these ideas will only help you on your journey, every little part helps.
If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, reach out to us at EcoSoberHouse.com right away and get the help you need.
About Author
