Maybe you think fruit juice is good for you. Maybe you’ve heard you shouldn’t drink your carbs. There are a lot of different things people think they know about choosing healthy drinks, but we are here to tell you some of the healthiest things you can be drinking. There are healthy drinks that are filled with nutrients and health benefits to help your body thrive.
To start off let’s discuss some of the main drinks to avoid. Pop, punch, sports and energy drinks are all saturated in sugar. There’s nothing natural about these beverages and they’re doing you no favours. Along the same line as punch, fruit juice is not as good for you as you might think. Juice is mostly sugar water with a few nutrients. Unless you are having freshly squeezed fruit juice it is probably worth skipping. Even if you are having freshly squeezed fruit juice it’s best to keep it as an occasional treat and not your go-to beverage.
So what are some healthy drinks?
Green Tea
We’re in love with green tea because this is such an easy, healthy drink. It’s packed with health benefits that you aren’t going to want to miss out on.
One awesome benefit of green tea is that it helps you lose weight. It has been proven to help boost your metabolism over a short term, which naturally translates into burning more body fat. A weight loss boost of any size is nothing to snuff at. This drink has proven to lower your risk of obesity.
Green tea also boosts your health in general. The leaves used for green tea are a great source of a variety of antioxidants your body needs. These antioxidants can help reduce the signs of aging and help prevent disease in the body. There is something in green tea called Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), which has medicinal properties used to treat many diseases.
Green tea can also protect your brain from aging. This green drink has shown to protect brain neurons and lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This wonder drink can also help prevent type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity. It has been shown to lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) and help prevent cardiovascular disease. Green tea can kill bad bacteria. Your mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, so drinking green tea is a perfect way to kill that bacteria and improve your oral hygiene. On top of that, it also helps prevent infection. As if it couldn’t get any better, by killing off the bacteria in your mouth, the tea freshens your breath. Probably the most amazing thing about green tea is how much it reduces the risk of different forms of cancer. Studies have shown green tea to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women by 22%. Men who drink green tea have a 48% lower risk of developing prostate cancer, and a 57% lower risk of colorectal cancer in women. These numbers are huge. This alone is enough reason to start drinking green tea. It’s not a cure but its preventative nature is still fantastic.
Water
Sometimes the best drink option is the simplest. Good old H2O is a healthy drink that your body needs. The majority of your body is made up of water so it makes sense that we should be drinking plenty of it. The recommended amount of water we should be drinking is 2 liters a day. This isn’t a hard-set rule. It depends on your body size, your level of exertion, and the temperate, but 2L is a healthy amount.
Water helps boost physical performance, energy levels, and brain function. Water can help treat and prevent headaches, kidney stones, and constipation. It can do wonders for a hangover, and can help you lose weight. This simple beverage can do a lot for you.
Water doesn’t have to be boring. There are plenty of healthy ways to infuse flavour into your water that’ll taste great and supply you with extra nutrients.
Lemon: Lemons are a great source of vitamin C, which will do wonders for your immune system. It’s also shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes. Lemons are also great for your skin and keeping you looking young. Read more about lemon nutrition.
Ginger: Ginger is a fabulous addition to water. It treats nausea but also has anti-inflammatory principles. It can even reduce the pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis.
Cucumber: Cucumber is mostly water so you’re not adding a lot more than flavour to your water. It’s low in carbs and calories, but it does contain small amounts of many nutrients, including vitamin K.
Mint: Peppermint water is great, or you can add mint to cucumber water for another great flavour option. Peppermint can soothe nausea and has a relaxing effect on your abdomen. It reduces abdominal bloating and helps relieve pains suffered by people with irritable bowel syndrome. It’s also incredibly refreshing and will keep your breath smelling fresh.
Add any of these healthy flavours to your water the night before and leave it in the fridge. This way you’ll have healthy, flavoured water ready for your entire day. By adding different flavours to your water you go from having one to having many health drinks. Don’t stop at good food, add healthy drinks to your diet!
