This week hosts Julie C. May and Susan Emmer chat with Dr. Charles Sophy and enjoy some healthy cocktails mixed by VeeV Acai Spirit Co-Founder, Courtney Reum.

Alcohol

Dr. Charles Sophy, medical director for the LA County Department of Children & Family Services addresses popular questions like: is there a genetic predisposition to alcohol? What is blackout drinking? How do you know when you have a problem with alcohol?

Things to consider before taking a drink:

The darker the alcohol, the more things are in it to give you a hangover
Clear alcohol like Vodka and Gin have less additives
Time of day is important – earlier in the day means you’ll get intoxicated faster, drinking late effects sleep patterns
EAT before you go out
Fluids are important – make sure you’ve had plenty of water

How to cure a hangover
Hair of the dog – Bloody Mary (it actually WORKS!)
Take aspirin
Drink lots of fluids
Coconut water; it has no fat, is low in sugar, and includes the same five electrolytes found in human blood

True or False? Watch and find out!

Cold showers, fresh air, and hot coffee can help a hungover person
Time is the only thing that can really remove alcohol from your body.
Everyone reacts to alcohol the same way.
Mixing alcohol will make you drunker.
Eating a meal before you drink will keep you sober.

Organic Wines

Did you know there are 17 or more pesticides in grape crops for regular wine??

Suggested organic wines:

Health benefits of wine. Cheers to your health!
Cabernet as well as Pinot have the highest amount of Resveratrol. It’s an antioxidant found on the skin of the grapes.
Half a glass of red wine daily can help prevent skin cancer. It slows the progression of Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons disease.

Greening your bar at home

Recycle Empty Bottles

• Create an easily accessible recycling bin for all of your glass and plastic bottles and take them to the recycling or redemption center; use a curb-side recycling service it is if available.
• Make sure plastic bottles are recyclable.
• Cut up corks and use for furniture leg pads or glue together for coasters.

Ditch the Disposable and Plastic Barware

• Bar Towels – cotton, use instead of paper towels
• Cocktail Napkins – linen instead of paper or use coasters
• Coasters – recycled materials, bamboo
• Straws – stainless steel
• Swizzle Sticks – glass, stainless steel
• Olive Picks – stainless steel, bamboo
• Cutting Board – bamboo

Buy Fresh, Local Mixers & Garnishes

• Use fresh squeezed juices to avoid using more bottles or cartons.
• Ditch the electric juicer for one that requires a little muscle.
• Choose organic, locally grown fruits, herbs and other garnishes.
• Compost garnish scraps. Citrus fruits take longer to compost than other food scraps, but if you cut them up they will compost faster.

Be Conscious of How You Use & Make Ice

• Unplug your refrigerator’s ice maker, especially when the bin is full.
• Switch to ice trays – you’re using the freezer’s power already, so eliminate the ice maker all together. Look for large ice trays (some will make up to 60 cubes) and non-plastic trays if you can.
• Stock up on ice by storing finished cubes in a freezer bag or ice bucket.
• Use only the ice you need and use cubes for mixed drinks (they melt slower).

Courtney Reum, co-founder of VeeV Acai Spirit mixes some “herbacious” cocktails in studio
Brazilian Holy Water – less than 100 calories! VeeV w ice, water, lemon
Acai lemonade – VeeV with lemonade, cranberry juice

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