From mushrooms to magnesium and Gaba – we test three booze-free drinks for Alcohol Awareness Week
Alcohol causes hangovers and sleepless nights in the short term – and in the long term, too much can lead to a higher risk of increased blood pressure, cholesterol and even cancer.
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Drinking even a bit less can make a big difference to your health and boost energy levels.
For Alcohol Awareness Week, I've put three booze alternatives to the test . . .
FUNCTIONAL MUSHROOMS
MUUSH can be mixed with sparkling water for a non-boozy alternative and is naturally sweet (with just 2.6g per 100ml) and as it's made with natural fruit and Lion's mane mushrooms, it's also packed full of plant fibre and vitamins.
The flavour of the mushrooms give this thirst quencher a distinctive mushroomy smell but add soda and ice and it's palatable. Loved the different flavours which include raspberry and lychee, and blood orange and ginger.
A 100ml serving only contains 10.4 calories but has added Vitamin A and Vitamin D. £30 for a 70cl bottle. See muush.co/collections/all.
GABA
SENTIA is a 0 per cent alcohol spirit designed to boost brain health.
It works by boosting something called Gaba – a neurotransmitter – that blocks impulses between nerve cells in the brain.
Low levels of Gaba may be linked to anxiety, stress and mood disorders. Mix a 25ml shot with your favourite soft drink and apparently this can promote deep, restorative sleep and lessen stress.
It's a great alternative to booze and I loved drinking it with ginger beer. There's three varieties to choose from: Gaba Red which helps you unwind, Gaba Gold lifts your mood and Gaba Black to boost energy levels. A 25ml serving contains no more than 9.5 calories, 1.6g sugar and less than 0.01g salt.
You shouldn't drink more than 100ml a day due to the drink's herbs, a limit set by regulators. £32 for 50cl bottle. See sentiaspirits.com.
MAGNESIUM
TRIP offers a selection of CBD or magnesium-infused soft drinks to help you unwind.
The range of CBD flavours include elderflower mint, peach ginger and raspberry orange blossom.
But I tried the wild strawberry lightly sparkling magnesium and botanicals drink because I am obsessed with magnesium for relaxation.
It's basically made with sparkling water and fermented grape juice concentrate for a slightly grown-up flavour.
There is also strawberry, lemon balm, calming chamomile and sour cherry juice, sweetener, lion's mane and magnesium citrate, which is the type you want at night to help with your sleep.
I loved these and have ordered more. Each 330ml can contains 30 calories and 120mg of magnesium. From £1 a can. See drink-trip.com.
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There, doctors discovered that Katie had broken the top part of her neck and she needed three weeks recovering in hospital in a neck brace. 'Roy was really worried, and my dad, Garry, was too,' she says. 'My dad had seen me in a wheelchair several times because of breaking my limbs and he was so worried about me. 'He was housebound due to Parkinson's disease and he couldn't come and visit me, which really upset him. 'The doctors told me that if I hadn't been so big, then I may have just knocked or bruised my neck, but 23st falling onto my neck meant that it fractured.' Shortly after the incident, Garry passed away. 9 9 9 9 A few years later, once she had recovered from her neck injury, Katie decided to book gastric surgery in Turkey. 'I used some of my inheritance money from dad to pay for it as I knew he would be so pleased,' she says. 'He always knew how much I wanted to lose weight, so he would have been delighted that I was finally doing something about it.' Katie flew to Turkey with Roy by her side, and had the operation, which was successful. 'Strangers used to ignore me, now they smile and say hello' 'The weight started to fall off me,' she says. 'And when I finally hit 12st 6lbs (79kg), I couldn't believe it. 'I've dropped from a dress size 26 to a 12, and I look like a different person. 'Roy thinks I look fantastic too, although he's always loved me whatever size I've been. 'People are much more friendly towards me now I'm thin as well. 'Strangers smile and say hello - but when I was fat, I just got ignored. 'And best of all, having the surgery and losing all the weight has helped with my condition. 'I still have to be careful, but I don't fall with it like I used to. 'My neck is still a bit tender sometimes, so I have to be extra careful of that. 'But if my legs lose sensation, then they aren't trying to hold up 23st any more.' 9 9 How to lose weight without surgery There are various other ways to lose weight without going under the knife. According to the NHS, to get the best possible start on its weight loss plan, there are the seven steps you should follow. Get active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions Aim to get your 5 A Day – 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit or vegetables count as 1 portion Aim to lose 1 to 2lbs, or 0.5 to 1kg, a week Read food labels – products with more green colour coding than amber and red are often a healthier option Swap sugary drinks for water – if you do not like the taste, add slices of lemon or lime for flavour Cut down on food that's high in sugar and fat – start by swapping sugary cereal for wholegrain alternatives Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust – they can help motivate you when you have a bad day
