Cocktails - good for you?

Still regretting that sixth vodka and cranberry juice at the weekend? It seemed like a good idea at the time - then again, after the third round it always does.

Fear not. Throbbing head aside, American and Thai researchers have discovered that fruity cocktails may be good for you. According to their report in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, after the addition of ethanol (the type of alcohol found in rum, vodka and other sports), antioxidant levels in strawberries and blackberries rose.

Antioxidants, which protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, are found in any brightly coloured fruit or vegetable. So next time you are at the bar, order the fruitiest alcopop you can - and feel good about it!

It was a little early in the day for any alcohol so I decided to give the vodka a miss, this time.

Feeling rather creative this morning I made my own mix this morning of strawberry, kiwi and pineapple. All you have to do is chuck it all into the juicer, but don't be surprised if you get a lot less juice out than expected. The more expensive juicers work more efficiently and produce a higher yield of juice. I will call it 'Jazz delight' as it really was a delight to drink, even if the colour was a bit dodgy! Rating 5/5

I went back to an old favorite later in the day 'round the clock' (avocado, banana & milk). The best thing about this particular smoothie is that is doesn't use the juicer which means less washing-up to do afterwards.

Today's Ratings (out of 5)

Energy: 5

Hassle: 2

Benefits: 3