For many, cocktails at Christmas can be tradition; but what do you do if you don’t want alcohol this year? 

We’ve created 3 gut-boosting mocktails that can be enjoyed by all; even the kids can join in! 

Passionfruit Martini

The nations favourite, a Pornstar Martini is the top choice for a cocktail around the UK.¹ Usually containing vodka and passionfruit liquor, it is easy to swap these out for some alcohol-free ingredients and create a gut-boosting, delicious mocktail to enjoy this Christmas (or all year round!)

To make 4 of these delicious mocktails, you will need:

• 4 passion fruits
• 200ml of cloudy apple juice
• 60ml of passion fruit syrup
• 60ml of lime juice
• Vanilla extract (to taste)
• Ice 

It’s super easy to make - just scoop out the passion fruit seeds into a cocktail shaker with your ice. Add all your other ingredients and shake, shake, shake!

This recipe makes 4 mocktails, but don’t overload your shaker. You can do them one by one if need be just by using ¼ of each ingredient at a time. 

Gut Health Benefits:

Each serving of passion fruit seeds contains around 2 grams of fibre; it’s really packed in there for such a small fruit!²

The seeds can act as a natural laxative, helping you to have a bowel movement if you are suffering from constipation. They also contain a healthy dose of vitamin C, an important antioxidant that can reduce inflammation in the gut.³

Cloudy apple juice contains more antioxidants than regular apple juice, making it a super healthy choice. The antioxidants help control free radical molecules that can damage cells and lead to metabolic diseases.⁴

Lime juice is a powerhouse; a fantastic addition to any diet (so long as you aren’t allergic to citrus fruits!). Lime juice has been linked to an improved immune system and iron absorption, a reduced risk of heart disease and kidney stones, and healthier skin.⁵

Berries Galore

For our berry special, you’ll be getting a fantastic dose of fibre, the number one ingredient for good gut health.

Fibre is a non-digestible substance, meaning it is able to surpass stomach acid and reach the intestines, ready for the good bacteria to consume. This allows the good bacteria to grow strong, multiply and create harmony within the gut microbiome.⁶

For this recipe, you’ll need:

• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Coconut water
• Raw honey 
• Fresh Mint
• Lemon Juice
• Lime Juice
• Sparkling Water
• Ice

Add your mint leaves, lemon juice, lime juice, honey and ice into a shaker and shake well. You may have to go in and scoop your honey back into the mixture to make sure it is fully combined given its thick consistency. 

Once they are all combined, pop the mixture into your glass or pitcher and add the sparkling water. Give that a stir, and chuck in as many berries as you like in your drinks.

Gut Health Benefits

Blueberries and strawberries are great sources of fibre, as well as being powerful antioxidants. As well as helping to reduce your risk of cancer, they can help to improve your skin, blood sugar levels and risk of disease.⁷

Coconut water is a great source of hydration, which is essential for a well functioning gut. If there is not enough fluid moving through the digestive system, food can get stuck and cause digestive discomfort and prevent nutrients from being absorbed.

Coconut water contains electrolytes, meaning it can be great for replenishing hydration after exercising.⁸ If you like a brisk Christmas walk or a sunrise run, this can be a great mocktail to replenish your electrolytes once you return!

Raw honey is a great source of prebiotic fibre. It helps the good bacteria to thrive and multiply, keeping your gut harmonious. It can be less harmful to your gut microbiome than refined white sugar whilst still adding that much needed sweetness.⁹

Avocado Margarita

A margarita is the most popular cocktail in the world. 

For this one, you'll need:

• Avocado
• Sparkling water
• Orange Juice
• Lime 
• Raw honey/agave
• Jalapeno (no seeds!)  

To get that classic margarita feel, you’ll want to start by covering the rim of the glass with sea salt. Use lime juice to ensure the salt can stick. Then, all you’re going to need is a blender!

All the ingredients can be blended together at once, so there’s really no faff here. Just make sure to remove the seeds of your Jalapeno, unless you like a super slap of heat. 

Gut Health Benefits

Avocados can be considered a superfood; they contain the nutrients vitamins C, E, K, and B6, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, potassium, lutein, beta carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids. If that list of nutrients isn’t impressive, I don’t know what is!¹⁰

Orange juice is a great source of fibre and vitamin C.¹¹ Along with the impressive benefits of limes and honey that we discussed earlier, this margarita recipe is not only super easy, but super beneficial for your gut.¹²

So...you tempted?