Drinking's good for you!
Well, okay, none of these drinks are actually going to do you good exactly, but the happy news is that each of these drinks has a property that is, in some way, beneficial to your health.
Tequila sunrise
(tequila, orange juice, grenadine)
Orange juice is a fantastic source of vitamin C and potassium and a great way to keep away the scurvy. Citrus also offers protection from mouth and stomach cancers. An orange has over 230 different good guys fighting the good fight, with anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and blood clot inhibiting properties, as well as strong antioxidant effects. The agave plant from which tequila is made has health benefits is known to be a relaxent as well as be low in cholesterol. Unfortunately, any benefits from the plant are lost when distilled in alcohol. Ah, well. The Loft: King St Wharf?(above Bungalow 8), 3 Lime St? 2000. (02 9299 4770)
Hot Toddy
(hot water, whisky, honey, lemon, a little bit of butter)
The
perfect drink to cure what ails you, it's as effective for a common
cold as it is a damaged soul and is as good as a woollen blanket. There
are several ingredients in a Hot Toddy with benefits. Aside from the
whisky to kill the bugs and numb the throat (and the senses), there's
lemon juice for vitamin C and also to speed the metabolism and bring
down a temperature. And honey is full of vitamin B and is a natural
antiseptic, which is why it's so good for sore throats. The Three Weed:
197 Evans Street, Rozelle, 2039. (02 9818 2788)
Gin and tonic
(gin, Indian tonic water)
Contrary to popular belief, tonic water isn't good for you. Filled with sugar, it's actually the opposite. The good news is quinine - the active ingredient in tonic - is incredibly good for you, and the ingredient that gives tonic that bitter taste. A white powder from the bark of the cinchona tree that is found in the Andes mountain range of Ecuador and Peru, it's great for reducing fever and was the first anti-malarial drug ever used. It was very popular back in the days of colonial India and the addition to tonic was the fizzy that made Schweppes famous. The East Village: 234 Palmer St, East Sydney, 2010. (0410 990 009)