Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms
**A Spotify 'Rising Star' show** How do I drink less without quitting completely? What's the difference between low, no and light alcohol drinks? Why can't I drink like I used to? Why do alcohol-free drinks cost so much?
If you're in your 30s, 40s, 50s or beyond and asking these questions, this is your podcast.
Welcome to the essential show for midlife adults who want to drink less, on their own terms—without the pressure to quit completely, follow rigid rules, or label themselves as sober.
I'm Denise Hamilton-Mace, your mindful drinking mentor, magazine editor, writer and public speaker on all things low, no and light. Each week, I help stressed parents and busy midlife adults navigate their relationship with alcohol through practical approaches grounded in real-world experience and behaviour change strategy, not willpower or wellness culture
What you'll get:
Mindful Moderation Solo Episodes – Deep-dives answering the questions that matter to sophisticated drinkers who want to moderate smartly:
- How do I cut back when my partner still drinks at home?
- Why do premium alcohol-free drinks cost the same as full-strength versions?
- How do I navigate social situations when I'm the only one moderating?
- What really works: willpower vs. strategy?
Drinks 101 Mini-Series – Short educational episodes demystifying the confusing world of low and no alcohol drinks:
- What does ABV actually mean?
- What's the real difference between non-alcoholic, alcohol-free, low alcohol, and light beer?
- How are alcohol-free drinks made?
- Which drinks are safe for pregnancy, driving, or recovery?
Meet the Makers – Intimate conversations with the founders, brewers, distillers, and visionaries creating the premium drinks and experiences that support your moderation goals.
This podcast is for you if:
- You want drinks that taste like the ones you already love
- You're looking for practical advice that fits your demanding life, not another wellness overhaul
- You recognise that coasting with mid-strength drinks, zebra-striping, or bookending your evening with something non-alcoholic are all valid strategies
- You want better mornings without giving up celebrating life's special moments
This isn't about going completely dry or reinventing yourself. It's about keeping energy for what matters most: family, health, career, and living life on your own terms.
Join the moderation revolution happening in midlife – because while Gen Z gets the headlines, you're the one actually doing it.
Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms
158. Drinks 101: What Are Adaptogens?
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Ever wondered what all those mushroom-infused drinks are actually doing for you? I'm breaking down adaptogens—the ancient herbs, fungi, and botanicals showing up in your favourite alcohol-free drinks—and explaining why ingredients like lion's mane and ashwagandha are becoming the go-to for achieving that sense of ease you once got from alcohol.
More: ep#94. Lifted: The UK's First High Protein, Alcohol-Free Lager
On Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/94-lifted-the-uks-first-high-protein-alcohol-free-lager/id1701338793?i=1000711117476
On Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/6U4FMuCeLp7aOEydLEgqYB?si=pQVuoR-RTXO25-7-HU2JXA
On Overcast – https://overcast.fm/+BDZGvGrj9s
& feel free to email me any topics or questions you’d like me to answer for you on another episode of Drinks 101.
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You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com
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🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/
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🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset
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🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator
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🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/
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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.
Welcome to Mindful Drinking and Moderation in Midlife, Drinks 101, where in just a couple of minutes each week I help you to understand some of the mysteries behind low, no, and light alcohol drinks. Today we're looking at adaptogens. Following last week's first Drinks 101, where we looked at the broader topic of functional beverages in general, for the next three weeks we'll be looking more closely at the main types that we find in the low, no, and light drinks space. Now, adaptogens are ingredients, usually naturally occurring herbs, fungi, and botanicals that have bioactive compounds that help the body to adapt to stress and restore balance. They've been used for centuries in Eastern medicine and they're now finding their way into more mainstream beverage consumption amongst those of us who are looking to do things a little bit differently. Now, many brands are including adaptogens in their low-no drinks to help users still achieve a sense of personal or social ease that they would have previously tried to get from alcohol. Examples of adaptogens include ingredients like lion's mane mushroom, which we use for memory and overall cognitive function. You'll see lion's mane absolutely everywhere at the moment. Reishi mushrooms, which we use for immune support, ashwagandha, which we use for stress reduction and improved sleep. And then we've got things like Ltheanine, which is extracted from green tea, which is used for reducing anxiety and improving focus, and then ginseng for natural energy boost. Now, obviously, there are a lot more ingredients out there that can be included, and you'll find these and other ingredients in drinks from brands like Sentia, Collider, and 3 Spirit. Other adaptogenic ingredients may have more health and fitness focused roles, such as the 10 grams of protein found in non-alcoholic beer brand Lifted Brewing. That's made for those post-workout moments so that you don't lose any of your gym gains, but still get that great beer taste that you love. Although I reckon you might still get some funny looks from other gym goers. I spoke to the founder of Lifted Protein Beer in episode 94. So I'll link to that in the show notes for you. And you'll also find my email address there if you'd like to send me a question to answer in another drinks 101. Next time we're looking at new tropics. Until then, cheers to a life less intoxicated.
