Strong immunity is the need of the hour. With the world turning their attention towards healthy eating and regular exercising, watching what you drink is just as crucial. It’s important to distinguish between the good beverages and the bad ones. Every restaurant, coffee shop or supermarket is flooded with a variety of them. It can get confusing to pick the right beverage for your health.
Some drinks are amazing for you while others may cause more harm than good. Is kombucha good? What about coconut water? No more Chocolate milk? Not good old sunny D! Today we’ll talk about the best and worst drinks for your health.
Let’s begin with the worst drinks:
Diet soda What do artificial sweeteners, coloring and flame retardants have in common? They are all in your favorite fizzy soda. These carbonated drinks are responsible for wide-spread obesity in America. Low in satiety, loaded with gross amounts of sugar and zero nutritional value, diet soda is a no-go for a healthy lifestyle. It is responsible for causing breakouts and headaches induced by excessive sugar and lower bone density. Did you know that diet soda drinkers also have a higher chance of being diagnosed with depression? Along with wreaking havoc on gut health it can also trigger diabetes and hypertension.Don’t get fooled by ‘diet’, it is just as bad as a regular soda, or maybe worse! What healthy option do you swap your diet soda for?
Packaged Fruit Juice Does going for that packaged orange juice box make you feel healthier than drinking soda? New flash! These fruit juices are alarmingly high in fructose and low in fiber that leads to a spike in blood sugar. So if you think it is healthy, we’re sorry to say...it’s not. When compared with coca cola, packaged apple juice contains more calories. Liquid calories are highly fattening, more than fat causing foods. The high sugar levels will also cause tooth and enamel erosion. Say goodbye to those pearly whites. If you do want to have a glass of refreshing juice then choose freshly squeezed whenever possible.
Super sized Coffee Coffee in itself is not a great choice of drink for anyone. Drinking small amounts is still acceptable but after a point this simple cuppa joe is not good for you. When drunk in excess it can cause an increase in anxiety and erratic sleeping patterns. A large cup of coffee will also cause a serious rise in blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, then swapping your regular coffee order with a decaf will be the best option for you. Over time drinking these massive cups of coffee will mess up the normal functioning of the stomach.
Caffeinated Alcohol What does a rum and coke, jager bomb and irish coffee all have in common? They are known as caffeinated alcoholic drinks. Alcohol and caffeine are 2 ingredients that should never be mixed together. The combination of alcohol with energy drink chasers has become popular among the youth. Mixing these two allows caffeine to mask the depressant effects the alcohol brings out. This makes drinkers feel more alert than they normally would while drinking alcohol which could result in them drinking more than the normal amount and become more impaired in judgement overall.
Bubble Tea Over the last couple of years bubble tea (commonly known as ‘boba tea’) has exploded as a trend among internet foodies. It is made using milk, sugar, tea and tapioca pearls which are the bubbles found in the bottom of the drink. These are starchy carbs have little to no nutritional value. Cooking these tapioca balls makes things even worse. Just 1/4th cup of cooked tapioca balls contains as much as 160 calories! When paired with sugary syrup and other processed ingredients it is not one of the healthiest drinks around. Have it in moderation or consider switching to healthier alternatives.
Vitamin Enhanced Water Heavily marketed as a healthy drink, vitamin enhanced water is said to contain added essential minerals and vitamins. Although the name indicates that it is healthy, vitaminwater is loaded with tons of added artificial sugar. Did you know that it contains almost the same amount of sugar as a can of coca cola? This is because the form of sugar present in this type of water is pure fructose while soda contains half the sugar content. Adding vitamin enhanced water to your weight loss journey may be counter productive, due to high sugar content.
Tomato Juice Tomato is one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet. It is also a convenient way of adding nutrient dense food to your diet. Loaded with antioxidants and vital minerals they have some amazing health benefits including heart health. Although impressively nutritious, tomato juice does have some downsides. Products containing tomato juice or packaged tomato juice are loaded heavily with sodium. High sodium foods and drinks lead to high blood pressure. This may also not be suitable for people who are salt sensitive or have acid reflux. It is best to choose pure, 100 percent tomato juice with no added sugar or salt.
Now, on to the best drinks for your health:
Filtered Coffee Coffee can be a healthy drink. Especially filtered coffee. It is said that drinking it is much better than not drinking coffee at all. It promotes heart health and lowers blood pressure. This is because filter coffee removes the oily content present in coffee that causes cholesterol levels to spike. Dressing up your coffee with sugar, creamer and milk eliminates all the positive effects that a filter or black coffee has. Coffee drinks like frappuccinos and other fancy ones accelerate weight gain by adding calories and increasing the risk of cardiac disease. Swapping your regular coffee with filter coffee will be the right choice. Are you able to quit this habit? Now back to the best and worst drinks for your health.
Fresh Coconut Water You can never go wrong with coconut water, the ultimate thirst quencher. It’s loaded with essential nutrients and minerals whose list of benefits can go on and on. Packed with the goodness of natural potassium, Vitamin C, Calcium and manganese, having just one glass of fresh coconut water will help with heart protection. If it’s smooth and glowing skin you’re after then this is one drink that should be included everyday. The antioxidants present in it can help you get rid of all those free radicals that cause harm.
Red Wine Love red wine? We have good news for you! Ever since the ancient ages the benefits of this drink have been applauded. Drinking it has been linked with lowering hypertension and heart related issues. This doesn’t make drinking a bottle a day okay. Drinking red wine in moderation is a great way to regulate blood sugar and in some cases even treat the common cold. It is loaded with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds and lipid regulating elements. Excess alcohol is always harmful so be sure to limit red wine to 1 glass for women and 2 glasses for men.
Kombucha Originating from China, Kombucha has turned into a trend for its medicinal properties and health values. In simple terms, it is a fermented drink that is created by adding yeast and bacteria into a mixture of black or green tea. For many, it may sound sketchy but this mildly fizzy and slightly sour drink is filled with probiotics. It also contains the goodness of essential vitamins and minerals ranging from Vitamin, C and B to B1, B6 and B12. Drinking it also protects the body from free radicals because of the high antioxidant content while giving your metabolism a jump start.
Lemon Water Nobody can go wrong with lemon water! A few slices of lemon or its freshly squeezed juice not only enhances the taste of plain old water but also adds some amazing health benefits. Along with promoting hydration, it is also a great source of vitamin C. Drinking it regularly, especially in the morning reduces the risk of developing wrinkles and makes the skin look healthy. A specific type of antioxidant found in lemon water also helps in limiting weight gain, the possibility of developing stroke and lowers blood pressure.
Pomegranate Juice The health and skin benefits of pomegranate juice can go on and on. Along with being delicious, it is packed to the brim with antioxidants. If you have been feeling a little forgetful these days then you should try drinking a cup of pomegranate juice every day. There are special elements called polyphenols present in this juice that improve memory. Feel free to combine your flavors and prepare a pomegranate smoothie. It has the capacity to improve gut health by reducing inflammation as well. Traditionally it has also been used as a remedy for diabetes.
Green Tea Green tea is more than just a hydrating, healthy drink. It contains natural antioxidants called catechins. Not only a morning beverage used to increase alertness, it is also known for improving brain functioning. This includes improvement in mood, vigilance and reaction time. Along with lowering the risk of developing diabetes, green tea also helps in preventing the development of cardiovascular disease. If weight loss is the goal, then drinking it will give your metabolism a major boost. Swapping your regular cuppa joe with this healthy beverage is also a great way of starting your day on a lighter and a more refreshing note.
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