All the Alcoholic Drinks You Can Have While on the Paleo Diet

OK, let’s address the elephant in the room: The paleo diet doesn’t really endorse any alcohol. Of course, it’s your body and you get to choose what you want to put in it. As with every diet, some semblance of balance and compromise is necessary.

Related story This Easy-To-Clean Cold Brew Maker Works With Your Favorite Wide-Mouth Mason Jars & Basically Pays For Itself

If alcohol is a real point of pleasure for you, there are paleo-friendly drinks that promise not to totally wreck your week or get you kicked out of paleo club. Most of them follow the principles of paleo itself: limited ingredients, avoiding added processed sugar and keeping things as natural as possible.

The good news is that wine and liquor are on the list. The bad news is that pretty much everyone agrees that beer is totally off the table as a paleo-friendly indulgence. But there are plenty of other options that even purists would find tempting. Here’s the down-low on what you need to know when it comes to paleo-friendly wines, liquors and cocktails.

• Organic, sulfite-free red wine

  

  Organic, sulfite-free red wine tends to be semi-safe ground for the paleo diet. Unlike beer, it doesn’t contain gluten. A moderate amount is good for your heart and can lower your blood pressure, among other reported health benefits. Sulfites can cause more intense hangovers in some people, which is why sulfite-free wine is recommended. And reds contain tannins and resveratrol, where much of the antioxidant benefit is derived from — whites do not.

• Red wine sangria

  

  This red wine sangria skips on sweeteners and focuses on adding fruit.

• Red wine spritzer

  

  Tart cherry juice and seltzer water make up this paleo red wine spritzer.

• Potato or grape vodka

  

  Look for potato or grape vodka in order to avoid grains, which aren’t paleo-friendly.

• Bloody mary

  

  This paleo bloody mary recipe uses vodka, a paleo-approved liquor, and contains no added sugars. Plus, you get a serving of vegetables.

• Maple-mint vodka spritzer

  

  This maple-mint spritzer recipe contains vodka and does add maple syrup, which is paleo-approved for being natural and a historically accessible sweetener.

• Tangerine-thyme martini

  

  This martini recipe contains vodka and up to a cup of honey, which is paleo-approved since it’s been eaten for centuries as a sweetener.

• 100 percent agave tequila

  

  Tequila is a great option, but make sure it’s 100 percent agave — anything less means there are likely added sugars.

• Blackberry mojito

  

  This blackberry mojito uses tequila instead of rum and skips out on any added sweeteners, using fresh berries instead.

• Grilled habanero margarita

  

  This spicy margarita recipe uses a little honey to sweeten it but otherwise relies on mango, lime and tequila to give it a punch.

• Special occasions: Champagne

  

  Although it’s not red wine, Champagne is fermented twice, giving it some probiotic benefits and making it an acceptable sometimes-treat for paleo dieters.

• Peach-lychee bellini

  

  This bellini recipe is just Champagne and fruit, making it a real paleo treat.

• Peach sangria

  

  This white sangria recipe adds a sweet, white moscato in addition to Champagne and fruit.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tLTEpKWor6NjsLC5jp%2BmqJxdlruledGemqKolah8tLjInZysoJ%2BsfHp8j2pmqZmcmnqnvsiepZ2kqWKura%2FOoaalZw%3D%3D