Fun and Fitness for the 40-Something

Antioxidants are said to help prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, cataracts and asthma, and may enhance immune function. You can take supplements to get your antioxidants, but experts suggest that it’s safer and more effective to get them from food sources, like fruit. And there’s no reason fruit can’t be mixed with some other ingredients to make what Self magazine recently called a “healthy happy hour.”

The July issue included recipes for five drinks that count on fresh fruit to add antioxidants and cut calories. Here are a couple that might be worth trying this Labor Day weekend.

South Pacific Mojito (alcohol-free)

Boil 1 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar, and two 6-inch pieces of lemongrass; let cool. Puree in a blender until lemongrass begins to shred. Strain and return to blender. Add 1/2 cup cubed fresh pineapple; 1 cup each of fresh lemon and lime juice; 1 cup sparkling water; and 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh mint. Blend until smooth; serve over ice. Garnish with mint sprig and lemongrass. Serves 4; 90 calories each.

Red Wine Sangria

Combine 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine; 1/4 cup agave or honey; 1 sliced orange; 2 sliced lemons; and 1 cup each of cherries (or raspberries) and blackberries in a large pitcher. Stir in 2 cups of sparkling water. Refrigerate 1 to 4 hours. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh basil. Serves 10; 115 calories each.

If these don’t catch your fancy, Women’s Health magazine offers recipes for antioxidant-rich white wine sangria, a blackberry sunset, and a melon kiwi-tini. I particularly like WH’s suggestion that white wine has been linked to better lung function. As a runner, can I afford not to drink white wine?