All aboard the detox express (From Halesowen News)

All aboard the detox express

7:00am Saturday 10th January 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Lucy Corry raises her glass to the week's best buys.

Fancy a drink? No, I didn't think so. Few people do when the great drinkathon that is December comes to an end. The endless round of Christmas parties, catch-up drinks with people you haven't seen all year, the big day itself and then New Year's Eve when you simply have to drink more than you should just to stay awake.

The trouble is, I find strong drink is needed in January to stave off both the cold and the crashing boredom of people harping on about their various detox programmes.

Possibly the only thing worse than listening to a reformed-for-January drinker is being stuck at a party with an accountant or being trapped on a Laotian bus with a Dutch psychic (trust me, I have experienced both).

Do these people not realise that we're all hurting from the festive excesses? Do they think they were the only ones to wake up in a sweaty heap the morning after dancing on a table at the work Christmas bash? Do they really think they are the first person to experience the gut-wrenching regret of remembering the port-fuelled rant at their mother-in-law?

We all know that drinking too much is bad for our health, our waistlines and our wallets - but we are only human.

Give up the demon drink if it makes you feel better, but don't tell everyone about it. Half of them will hate you for making them feel guilty - and the other half will try to ply you with alcohol at every opportunity.

Perhaps the best idea is to take a more moderate approach. I favour the words of actress Julia Roberts, who once claimed that "the secret in drinking is to find a balance between champagne and carrot juice".

If you can find your own version of that balance (even gin with a bit more tonic than usual), then you'll be on track for a happy, healthy 2009.

DRINK THIS: One of the best bits of my job is getting to try new products before they hit supermarket shelves or bar shelves. My hot tip for 2009 is Hoppers, a range of UK-made 'soft brews'.

Hoppers are made in a brewery using hops and malt and currently come in three flavours - apple, citrus and blackcurrant.

As a concept, it's a little hard to get your head around, but trust me, they taste amazing. They have a frothy head, a fruity tang and a crisp, clean finish - but are completely alcohol free.

Nationwide stockists are still being finalised, but you can order online at www.juicebrewery.com. They cost £1.30 each, or £12.99 for a case of 12 online. Enter code BGFAA when ordering and you'll receive free P&P (saving £4.50).

LIQUID NEWS :: If you're really on a health kick - or at least thinking about going on one - give yourself a headstart with this power-packed recipe from Kenwood. Rest assured that their Smoothie 2GO (RRP £24.99) is also handy for making more lethal cocktails when your detox ends!

JUMPING JACK :: 1 pear, peeled and cut into chunks, 1 banana, peeled and cut into chunks, 100ml soya milk, 75ml yoghurt, 2tsp linseeds.

Put the pear, banana, linseeds and yoghurt into the Smoothie 2GO and top up with the soy milk. Blend until smooth. Serves one.

:: Don't despair if you want to lower your alcohol intake - the array of lighter options is growing all the time.

The neatly named Entwine range offers an update on that old staple, the spritzer. These low-calorie, low-alcohol drinks mix white wine with pure fruit juice or sparkling water - so they're also much lower in calories than the real thing.

The Bucks Fizz - sparkling wine and Brazilian orange juice - would be good for a recovery brunch, while the Sauvignon Blanc Spritzer makes a light and lively aperitif.

The Entwine range is available from Booths and Asda, RRP £4.99.

:: The worst thing about giving up alcohol is the limited choice of options available in pubs. After all, there's only so much juice or sugar-loaded fizzy that a person can take!

Treat yourself and your fellow detoxers at home with some refreshingly different soft drinks.

Feel Good Gently Sparkling Juice Drinks are packed with fruity goodness and vitamin C - good for beating off evil hangovers or recovering from post-party flu.

I've long been partial to the pretty in pink Raspberry & Passionfruit version, but the new White Grape & Peach variety is also a good pick-me-up for this bleak time of year. Other flavours include Cranberry & Lime, Orange & Passionfruit and Cloudy Lemon.

Feel Good Gently Sparkling White Grape & Peach is available exclusively in Sainsbury's, while the rest of the range can be found in Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Ocado, Co-op, Morrisons, Budgens, Wilkinsons, Booths and other stores, RRP £1.99.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)