It’s BBQ season and this means I have to work extra-hard to keep the LH on the straight and narrow. What man doesn’t love to grill a sausage while drinking an ice-cold beer? He may deserve a few extra calories after running in the relay of yesterday’s half-marathon, but it’s all too easy to overestimate how much we burn off during exercise. And anyway, it’s not so much the calories that matter — rather the large globs of saturated fat that we deposit into our bloodstream. It’s those that block our blood vessels and contribute to heart disease. And blocked blood vessels also contribute to impotence. That would ruin your sausages forever!It’s funny, barbecuing has the potential to be so very healthy, and yet we can get it so very wrong. Chicken, fish and lean meat, grilled and served with baked sweet potatoes and a large green salad can be super healthy. Burgers, traditional sausages and a side of mac n’ cheese… not so much. You don’t have to write off red meat completely — try making your own burgers from lean ground beef, or grill a lean pork tenderloin. Use herbs and spices for flavour instead of salt or sticky marinades and you can give yourself a gold star. Even sausages aren’t totally off the menu — just try the fresh Applegate chicken and turkey options. Their chicken and apple sausages are very kid-friendly and they have spicy versions too. Strangely, their organic hotdogs aren’t so delicious — and they are really salty, so I would go for their regular options instead.It’s also a great idea to give your summertime drinks a makeover. It’s tricky to stick to water as the weather heats up and most people wash down their burgers with a can of soda. But as sodas contain between 12 and 22 teaspoons of sugar (would you put that in your tea or coffee?) or a handful of artificial sweeteners, let me give you some ideas for healthy choices.1. Bring the spa homeEveryone loves the fruit infused water at Willowstream and it’s cheap and easy to do at home. Just add slices of lemon, lime, orange or apple to jugs of iced water. If you are using citrus fruits, give them a little squeeze in the water to release some of the juice.2. Switch cordial for antioxidant rich juiceCordial or squash is a cheap concentrate usually filled with artificial colours, high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. Does it nourish your body? No. Instead, buy a bottle of Pom pomegranate juice or any of the other superfruit concentrates — acai, blueberry or cherry would all be good choices. Dilute an inch with 4 or 5 parts water for something that is fruity and refreshing but much lower in sugar than a soda. Use sparkling water for bubbles.3. Make your own iced teasPeppermint, rooibos, white and green teas all make fantastic iced teas. Just brew the bags in hot water as usual and then chill. Pour over ice and add some fresh fruit slices for extra flavour. Use a little agave syrup if you want to sweeten it a little. The recipe for Green Tea Lemonade here is a slightly more complicated version — but it’s delicious and worth the extra effort. Green Tea is a regular on the detox circuit as it’s rich in antioxidants called catechins. Emerging evidence suggests that these help to scavenge the free radicals that contribute to cancer, atherosclerosis and outward signs of premature ageing. In addition, green tea has less caffeine than a cup of regular tea or coffee — and if you want to go completely caffeine free, you can buy it decaffeinated too. As this recipe does contain some sugars (from the agave and fruit juice) I’d say it’s best to use occasionally, rather than every day. Make this as a fun detox option when you have friends or family over for a BBQ. Serve it with a healthy snack while the grill warms up — try it with blue corn chips and guacamole. Delicious!Green Tea LemonadeServes 8, serving size — 1 cupIngredients:· 7 green tea bags· 7 cups hot water· ¼ cup agave syrup· ½ to 1 cup fresh lemon juice (depending on how tart you like your drinks!)· ½ cup pomegranate juice e.g. Pom· Ice cubes, plenty· Lemon slices and fresh mint for garnish (optional)Method:1. In a large pitcher, combine tea bags and hot water, steeping bags for 5 minutes. Remove bags.2. Add agave, stirring until it dissolves.3. Add the lemon and pomegranate juices.4. Chill for at least 30 minutes.5. Pour into tall glasses packed with ice.6. Decorate with lemon/lime slices and mint leaves.The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is the Managing Director of Natural Ltd and a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a Registered Dietitian. For details, please go to www.natural.bm or call 236-7511.