Homemade Christmas Gifts

Relaxing with a tasty cocktail is a great way to let the stress from a long week melt right away when you have some down time. Why not kick things up a notch by adding ingredients to your drinks that will keep you feeling young both mentally and physically? Here are five delicious cocktail recipes to enjoy any night of the week that are sure to slow the signs of aging:

Cranberry Lemonade

Cranberries contain antioxidants that help protect the body from age-related ailments, and the lemon in this drink offers up a nice dose of vitamin C to promote your immune health. Make one with the following ingredients:

• 6 ounces cranberry juice

• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

• 1 tbsp maple syrup, agave nectar, or honey

• 1 ounce vodka

• 3-4 ice cubes

Put the cranberry and lemon juice in a tall glass and then add the sweetener. Stir the mixture until well combined. Add the vodka and ice cubes, give the glass a swirl, and enjoy!

Orange Coconut Cream Dream

The coconut milk in this cocktail will help satisfy your appetite so you don't end up drinking too much after a day of light eating, and the orange juice contains lots of collagen that will keep your skin firm. You'll need the following ingredients to make this hardy drink:

• 2 ounces orange juice

• 2 ounces coconut milk

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• 1 ounce light rum

Put all of the ingredients in a tall glass and stir with a spoon until well combined. You can also blend the ingredients with a few ice cubes to create a frosty treat. Add a little ice cream to make a feel-good dessert.  

Strawberry Yum Rum

Nutrients that are contained inside strawberries have been found to help protect against Alzheimer's disease, and they are so delicious that they cover up the taste of alcohol in this cocktail. Here is how to make one:

• 3 fresh strawberries, stems removed

• 4 ounces club soda

• 1ounce dark rum

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1 thin slice lemon

Muddle the strawberries in a martini glass to break them up. Add the sugar and muddle the mixture more until well combined. Add the club soda and rum before stirring and enjoying.

Watermelon Spritzer

This is a great way to quench your thirst for beer or soda while giving your body a punch of nutrients. The watermelon in this seltzer cocktail fights free radicals to help slow down the signs of aging. Here are the ingredients needed for each cocktail:

• 2 cup watermelon chunks

• 4 ounce seltzer water

• 2 ounces white wine

• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Run the watermelon chunks through a juicer or blend them until well combined. Mix the watermelon juice, seltzer water, wine, and lemon juice together in a glass and chill in the freezer for about 20 minutes before enjoying.

Carrot Apple Punch

Carrot juice helps keep skin and nails healthy, and provides a fabulous color for this sweet and tangy drink. Without the alcohol, this drink will hydrate and energize you for a long day of work or adventure. The ingredients you'll need are as follows:

• 4 ounces carrot juice

• 2 ounces apple juice

• ¼ cup frozen raspberries

• 1 ounce tequila

Stir everything together and pour over a few ice cubes. Give the berries a few minutes to thaw inside the drink for a more flavorful experience.

You'll find that each one of these options are easy to make at the end of the day. Implement these cocktail options into your weekly routine or ask for them at a bar instead of indulging in beer or strong drinks, and both your body and mind will be sure to thank you the next morning.