Fruity Cocktails - Health Food For the Rest of Us

Here at Scott's Spot, our health is a high priority. In fact, we were into red wine even before it was scientifically proven to be healthy. And not just red wine - we've discovered the benefits of amber lager, gold tequila, and nut brown ale.

So it comes as no surprise that new research has found that drinking fruity cocktails may not only be fun, but that these tasty treats are in fact classifiable as health foods. And before you dismiss this research, you should consider that it comes not only from greedy corporate funded US researchers, but also from researchers in Thailand.

Adding ethanol - the type of alcohol found in rum, vodka, tequila and other spirits - boosted the antioxidant nutrients in strawberries and blackberries, the researchers found. And it's not just strawberries and blackberries - the health benefits of any colored fruit are enhanced with the addition of a splash of alcohol, the researchers reported in an article published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

The researchers were exploring ways to help keep strawberries fresh during storage. Treating the berries with alcohol increased in antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity, they found.

People who eat more of these fruits and vegetables have a documented lower risk of cancer, heart disease and some neurological diseases.

So have some Fruity Pebbles for breakfast and a fruit salad for lunch. And when happy hour rolls around, may we interest you in a strawberry margarita? Yes? Great! Your body’s going to thank you!