During the festive season, we joyfully share laughter, meals, and toasts with drinks. Yet, it's crucial to note that alcohol consumption may contribute to heightened cognitive decline. In fact, a recent study found that even moderate alcohol consumption was related to accelerated loss of brain cells and an increase in amyloid plaque buildup, a significant marker of Alzheimer's disease.1
This doesn't mean you have to skip the celebrations entirely! There are smart choices you can make to enjoy the festivities while keeping your brain health in mind. Explore the potential of ingredients already on your dinner table to craft delicious drinks that elevate your brain health and celebration. As part of our commitment to MINDful choices, we've developed this delightful Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail.
Cranberries are vibrant berries that are rich in flavonols: myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol. These compounds have been shown to play a protective role in the brain, helping to combat inflammation, prevent degeneration, and combat development of cognitive disorders and Alzheimer’s.2
Visit here for one of our favorite brain-healthy cranberry recipes by Medical Advisor, Dr. Annie Fenn.
Author
NeuroReserve
Ingredients
½ cup of cranberry sauce
1 bottle (750ml) sparkling water
1 cup orange juice
Sliced limes
Garnish
Cranberries
Cranberry ice cubes
Optional
For a sweeter mocktail, add simple syrup or agave infused with fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, or orange rind.
Directions
For the cranberry ice cubes:
Add one cranberry in each ice cube mold and pour water over top. Freeze until solid. Tip: A silicon flexible ice cube tray with a no-spill snap-on lid works well here.
For the mocktail:
Add ice cubes to a large pitcher.
Add premade and cooled cranberry sauce, then orange juice, and sparkling water.
Stir to combine.
Add in sliced limes and cranberries and stir.
When you're ready to serve, give it one final stir, and add cranberry ice cubes and sliced limes to your serving cup. Pour in the mocktail and enjoy!
Recipe Note
Visit here for one of our favorite brain-healthy cranberry recipes by Medical Advisor, Dr. Annie Fenn.
We at NeuroReserve are committed to equipping you with the diet and nutrition you need for lasting brain health. As you make progress with your diet, our product RELEVATE can help fill in the gaps where your diet falls short. RELEVATE is designed upon the framework of the evidence-backed Mediterranean and MIND diets, and includes 17 nutrients for long-term brain health. Click here to learn more about RELEVATE. For the month of December, we also have a limited special offer with 2 bottles of RELEVATE, plus a 3D countered blackout sleep mask to help you achieve better sleep routines for safeguarding your lifelong memories. Click here to learn more about the De-stresscember Special Offer.
References
1. Day, S. M., Gironda, S. C., Clarke, C. W., Snipes, J. A., Nicol, N. I., Kamran, H., Vaughn, W., Weiner, J. L., & Macauley, S. L. (2023). Ethanol exposure alters Alzheimer’s-related pathology, behavior, and metabolism in APP/PS1 mice. Neurobiology of Disease, 177, 105967. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NBD.2022.105967
2. Spencer, Jeremy P E. “Flavonoids and brain health: multiple effects underpinned by common mechanisms.” Genes & nutrition vol. 4,4 (2009): 243-50. doi:10.1007/s12263-009-0136-3
