Food Villains #20: Bottled Cocktail Mixers

Who doesn't love a nice cocktail to kick back and relax at the end of a long day of work? Whether it's a margarita, a pina colada, or a Long Island Iced Tea, something cold and stiff is definitely the way to go! Unfortunately, cocktail mixers could be less "the way to go" than you'd think! [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Source: nysportsjournalism.com[/caption] First of all, we look at the hefty mixers like Pina Colada or fruit juices. The average Pina Colada contains:

• 644 calories
• 90 grams of carbs

The pre-mixed Pina Colada mixers are LOADED with calories, so they're going to be less healthy than you'd like. Of course, you could always go the route of "Skinny Mixes"--low-sugar, low-calorie mixers. Unfortunately, even those aren't safe, as many of these mixers contain sodium benzoate. The chemical turns toxic when mixed with ascorbic acid, also known as the Vitamin C in lemon juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, and more. My advice: Stick with wine or light beer. (Easier on your gut, better for your heart, and lower in calories!)  

Featured Image Source: verticalki.com

Resources: http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slide/worst-adult-beverage?slideshow=77193#sharetagsfocus, http://www.forbes.com/2006/12/06/fattening-drinks-cocktails-forbeslife-cx_1207cocktails_slide_4.html, http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/09/03/whole-foods-yanks-skinnygirl-margarita-citing-toxic-ingredient/