Being healthy is one of the topmost priorities these days since health is on a decline as a result of our constant quest to meet our daily needs and the luxuries we yearn for. You may hit the gym or go for a walk but unless you stick to your diet the weighing scale won’t budge an inch. Following a diet religiously is what would get you closer to your destination. Along with healthy eating, people have now resorted to healthy drinking. Give your beer some time off and check out the green drinks that have caught people’s fancy off late. Green drinks are nothing but your vegetables concocted in a liquid form to cater to your daily intake of minerals, vitamins, fiber, magnesium, etc. Check out  some of the most popular green drinks have not just worked wonders for people but also taste good once you get used to it. The kiwi and spinach smoothie:  Kiwi is known for its various health benefits and is very popular among those who aim at controlling their blood pressure. Spinach has high proteins, fiber, calcium and aids weight loss. This unusual combination brings to the table the perfect blend of the fruit and the vegetable and keeps you feeling full at least till your lunch.

As soon as summer arrives, everyone starts craving for refreshingly cool lemonade iced tea served in tall glasses with generous cubes of ice. A very common drink in the south, it has been noted that iced tea makes for about 85% of the total tea consumption in the United States. The reason for such a high margin is pretty simple, iced tea is a healthy alternative to carbonated beverages. Iced tea is available in many flavors, the most common among them being fruit-based flavors. Many novel flavors of iced tea have now been introduced. These include iced jasmine tea, herbal iced tea and the like. However, despite these new-age flavors and so much variety, the good old lemonade iced tea is still a favorite among many people. Easily made at home, lemonade iced tea is healthy as well as quite versatile since it can be an accompaniment to any meal or had as a standalone drink. Generally made with green tea leaves, it has all the health benefits of tea including a high proportion of antioxidants. It is also known to be good for the heart, especially its unsweetened variant. The addition of lemon gives the drink an astringent quality, which is known to be good for your gums and teeth.

In 1979, British-born American singer Rupert Holmes wrote a single with a wacky title Escape (The Pina Colada Song). With its catchy tune, this song about rekindling romance through a shared love for Pina Colada and rain has been used in the soundtrack of popular movies such as Guardians of Galaxy, Grown Ups, and Shrek. The lyrics of Holmes single are so simple that the words get stuck in your head and makes you crave for Pina Colada and go dancing in the rain or maybe somewhere out there to a beach. Perhaps to the idyllic beaches of Puerto Rico, where Pina Colada was first made? Just a year before Holmes wrote his song, Pina Colada became the national drink of the Caribbean Island in 1978. Puerto Ricans are so proud of their creation that they celebrate National Pina Colada Day every year on 10 July. Made with pineapple juice, coconut milk, and rum, the cocktail has a Spanish-origin name. Pina Colada literally means ‘strained pineapple’. The credit for the original recipe of Pina Colada is owned by Puerto Rican bartenders: Ramon “Monchito” Marrero Perez and Ramon Portas Mingot. According to one story, Ramon “Monchito” Marrero Perez made the first Pina Colada drink by mixing rum and coco lopez, that is, cream of coconut.

Do you know that the tiny Caribbean island of Puerto Rico celebrates a National Pina Colada day? Yes. You read that right. Every year on July 10, Puerto Ricans pay tribute to the fruity sweet cocktail beverage. Why? Because Pina Colada has its origin in Puerto Rico. The people of Puerto Rico are so proud of the cocktail that they have made the Pina Colada their national drink. And why should they not? The cocktail’s basic ingredients (coconut and pineapple) are abundantly available. The cocktail is refreshing and suitable for the eternal summer of Puerto Rico. The best way to celebrate National Pina Colada day is to give interesting twists to the drink. The original recipe calls for mixing white rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice and crushed ice. All these are blended until smooth. The resultant cocktail has a creamy consistency, sweet flavor, and a fruity aroma. Whether you’re celebrating National Pina Colada Day or not, you can certainly make different variations of the tropical cocktail. Here are a few interesting twists to the pretty looking Pina Colada. Berry-Packed Pina Colada: This one is also known as Lava Flow for its vibrant reddish-black color that resembles lava. For this, you have to do away with the coconut milk altogether.

Bloody Mary is quite an ironical drink: an alcohol-based cocktail that is known to to be sure shot cure for a hangover. With a splash of vodka and mix of tomato juice, lemon juice, Tabasco and other spices, Bloody Mary seemed to have come out of nowhere. Although the cocktail has no relation to Queen Mary I of England, its origin is quite uncertain. One claim is that the cocktail was discovered by Fernand Petiot, a bartender at the New York Bar in Paris. The bar later changed its name to Harry’s New York Bar. Another claim is that Bloody Mary was first served in the Hemingway Bar at The Ritz Paris. Despite two conflicting stories, one thing is certain. The racy vodka-tomato based cocktail originated in the glamorous world of Paris. Also, it is related to Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway was a frequent patron at the New York Bar. It is quite interesting that a cure for hangover was concocted in a bar frequented by a writer who was known to be a chronic alcoholic. Also known as Red Snapper, the Bloody Mary can be given several twists and twirls by adding different ingredients. Here are four quirky twists to make Bloody Mary.

Along with healthy food, it is necessary to pay attention to what you sip as well. Drinking healthy is also essential to maintain a balanced diet and keeping your body healthy. Here are a few best drinks recipes or combinations that are healthy for you. Warm Lemon Water: Having a glass of warm lemon water it on an empty stomach helps to detoxify your body early in the morning right after you wake up. Warm a glass of water and squeeze the juice of a half a lemon. Add a teaspoon of honey to make more appetizing. Honey also adds certain benefits such as regulating blood sugar levels and reducing gastrointestinal disorders. Enriched with Vitamin C, this drink helps to fight infections and common cold. Also, it boosts your immune system and balances the pH levels of your body. Add a dash of ginger for an extra kick. Having warm lemon water regularly is known to aid in weight loss as well. Cucumber-Apple: This drink combines the coolness of cucumber and goodness of apples. This is like a magic potion for your skin and hair. It cleanses your skin pores and gives your healthy glowing skin. Also, it helps to improve the luster of your hair.

The urge to quench your thirst is at its peak during the warm days of summer. Also, it is the perfect weather to go for picnics and organize outdoor outings. Along with good finger food, it is necessary to create a good drinks menu as well. Here are recipes for five best drinks for the summer. These not only look good but are also quite refreshing. You can make these on day prior and keep them refrigerated. 1. Blueberry Ginger Mojito: This drink looks quite lovely when you make a whole lot in a pitcher. With its sharp lavender shade, it combines the flavors of ginger and blueberries quite well. In a pitcher, muddle a cup of blueberries (fresh, if you can find), lime wedges (of one lime) and handful of fresh mint leaves. Refrigerate this for a coupe of hours. Just before serving, add a cup of ginger syrup, 4 ounces of vodka and 5 ounces of club soda. Stir the mixture and pour into glasses filled with ice cubes. Serve with a garnish of blueberries and mint. 2.Frozy Naval: This drink is sunshine in a glass with its bright yellow shade. In a blender, combine concentrated orange juice, frozen peaches, orange liquor and schnapps.

The world would be less interesting if everything in it didn’t have a story about it. These stories or legends have a certain appeal to it. Once you are familiar with it, you would start seeing the object in a different light altogether. These stories would give you an insight into what makes it what it is! Even your food and beverages have ancestors you can trace it back to. When you are sitting in a bar and sipping on some margarita, did you ever give it a thought about how it originated? Well, everything evolves and your favorite drink too has evolved. What was a simple margarita back then has been modified and now when you surf the internet for various margarita recipes, the list is endless. The origins of margarita is a bit murky as there are many stories behind it. One such popular belief is that it was invented by Carlos Danny Herrera at his restaurant Rancho La Gloria near Mexico. He had created this drink for the vivacious Ziegfeld dancer, Marjorie King. The story states that Ms. King was allergic to all sorts of spirits other than tequila. So, Herrera tried making a special drink for his customer with tequila, lime, and some salt.

Bloody Mary is one of the most intriguing drinks that one can come across. Often people think that this cocktail has something to do with the age-old myth used to scare children to sleep. However, sipping on a glass of Bloody Mary won’t conjure any spirit, instead it would definitely make you feel ecstatic. The Bloody Mary is a concoction that contains vodka, tomato juice and different spices and flavorings such as Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, piri piri sauce, beef consomm or bouillon, horseradish, celery, olives, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice and/or celery salt. An amalgamation of so many different things is what makes it quite an interesting drink. If you wish to make your own bloody mary instead of going to the bar, there are a lot of DIY bloody mary recipes and the best part is you can mix and match different ingredients and try your hand at making your own bloody mary recipe! You can definitely research on the different types of blood mary and how to make them, but your research would be more interesting if you take a glimpse at its history. According to the story, the origins of the bloody mary can be traced back to an American bar, The New York Barin Paris.

Is your busy routine making you skimp on fresh and nutritious veggies and fruits? Well, worry not! There’s a wonderful way to include essential nutrients in your day- juices. We are not talking about store-bought  juice  laden with harmful preservatives and additives. Processed with heat and excessive sugars, they barely make for a healthy choice. Instead, just grab your blender and whip up these good-for-you juices right at home. DIY Juices At Home Pineapple, Carrot, and Ginger Juice This juice is not just delicious but has a great nutritional and health value: It is rich in vitamin C and strengthens your immune system. Vitamin A in carrots is excellent for your eye health. Ingredients: 8-10 large scrubbed and diced carrots ½ glass water 1 cup pineapple 1-inch peeled knob of ginger Instructions: Blend all the ingredients with water. Add black pepper and rock salt to taste. Garnish with fresh mint leaves. Serve chilled. Orange and Lemon Juice with Turmeric and Ginger This delicious juice is our all-time favorite. Here’s why you must try this juice at home today: It is rich in antioxidants that reduce free radicals, it prevents heart problems and some types of cancers. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that help ease joint pain.