Healthy and tasty beverages that are safe to drink daily!
If we’re talking about staying hydrated, flushing out toxins, and keeping good tonus, water is the best possible choice. But unfortunately, it’s not always our first. A child might not like to drink plain water (yeah, let’s pretend that kids are the only ones), and wants more options.
What do we do then? Well, if you ask me, reading this article is a good starting point. Here, we’re going to add 10 healthy drinks we should all try, other than water. But you should take into consideration that these aren’t replacements for water, just sweet “delights” when we want to spoil ourselves and keep up with a healthy lifestyle.
Green tea
Green tea is probably the second healthiest drink, but you should be drinking it in moderation, otherwise, you’ll be climbing up walls from all the caffeine intake. It’s rich in polyphenols and natural antioxidants that can help you slow down the aging process. It also protects your cells from toxins and carcinogens.
It helps protect against heart diseases, as it relaxes the blood vessels, and reduces blood clot formations. Not convinced yet? It can also strengthen bones and reduce the risk of tooth decay and osteoporosis. Plus, according to some studies, green tea boosts your metabolic rates and increases fat burning.
Mint tea
Mint tea has antispasmodic properties, which means that it relaxes your muscles and reduces stiffness and aches. Also, it helps digestion, as it promotes the movement of food through the digestive tract. It also has a cooling effect, so it’s perfect for a hot and steamy summer day.
Peppermint acts as a pain reliever, so it increases blood flow that helps ease the pain. In addition to a particularly pleasant smell, peppermint comes with lots of antibacterial properties that help kill the germs that are responsible for dental plaque. If you’re feeling tired, having a cup of mint tea might load you up with energy as well.
Black coffee
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Black coffee is extremely healthy if you consume it in moderation. When you drink it in the morning, it provides you with protective benefits from heart diseases and dementia. Also, caffeine is known to be a great stimulator of your nervous system, as it signals fat cells to start breaking down body fat.
And, as you might have heard, this black darling pumps up the adrenaline levels in your blood, which helps you feel energized and full of life. Until the next coffee break, at least. Personally, I find it extremely satisfying to hear that my favorite drink is on this list because I genuinely owe it a lot of hard mornings!
Fat-free milk
Milk has many components that are essential in any healthy meal, such as carbohydrates, protein, and a little fat. It helps stabilize blood sugar and reduce cravings. It’s also rich in calcium and vitamin D. There are few other sources as right in high-quality protein as milk.
Milk proteins are predominantly consisting of casein and whey, two of the most essential amino acids, which your body can’t produce on its own, so you need to include them in your diet. Also, fat-free milk is rich in calcium and phosphorus, two minerals that give structure and integrity to your bones and teeth.
Soy milk or almond milk
If you are vegan, soy milk is probably your favorite alternative. As it’s rich in fiber and protein, it helps you lower bad cholesterol levels and triglycerides, but also reduces the risks of heart disease. If you prefer, you can also buy fortified soy milk, which has even more calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D.
Even so, you should keep in mind that soy contains phytoestrogens, which are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Almond milk, on the other hand, is also rich in protein and extremely low in calories. And if you ask me, even tastier than soy milk. It’s also a good source of vitamin E and D, and its fortified versions have other vitamins and minerals that your body needs.
Hot chocolate
Chocolate milk without sugar is really healthy if you consume it in moderation. Cocoa increases the production of serotonin, which is our HAPPY hormone, so maybe now you can understand why all those years growing up, all you ever needed was a big chunk of chocolate.
Hot chocolate can be prepared by adding a spoon of cocoa powder to any fat-free milk, soy milk, and if you want it a bit sweet, almond milk or oat milk. I personally love seeing this drink on the list of healthy beverages! Actually, it is recommended to have a cup of hot chocolate after a training session, because it works great on muscle repair.
Orange or lemon juice
Freshly squeezed orange juice is the perfect source of vitamin C. It can protect you from a variety of diseases, reduce the risk of cancer, boosts immunity, improve your digestion, and protect your skin from aging. Oranges are rich in ascorbic acids, which are a part of collagen, and we all know how much we need it!
It will help your cells rejuvenate and promote the growth of tissue your body needs. Plus, it will improve your digestive health, as oranges are rich in fibers. But you should raise your daily intake steadily, as too much orange juice may lead to diarrhea.
Homemade smoothies
I believe these drinks have earned their place on the top of the list of healthiest drinks. They’re actually the stars, even though, again, they shouldn’t replace the HOLY water. But anyway, homemade smoothies can be made just by blending fresh fruits, vegetables, greens, and nuts.
They can be very filling, and they have tons of nutrients. The best part about smoothies is that they can be a meal replacement, although it isn’t recommended to exaggerate and replace all your meals with smoothies. But when you feel like you’re too busy to cook something, just drop a few foods into your blender and you’re good to go!
Kombucha
Kombucha is a drink that originated from China or Japan, and in the last few years, has become wildly popular. While it might sound a bit scary, this drink is made from different but specific strains of bacteria, yeast, and sugar to black/green tea. Don’t worry, it’s extremely healthy! For example, kombucha that is made from green tea provides the same benefits as the original drink. But on top of that, many people love Kombucha thanks to its antibacterial properties, particularly for infection-causing bacteria and Candida yeast. Although there are still ongoing studies, it might also have a positive impact on heart diseases!
Beet juice
If you have the opportunity to add this drink to your everyday diet, don’t hesitate! Beetroot juice is FAMOUS for its range of essential vitamins and minerals. Also, it’s rich in a bunch of great antioxidants, that reduce oxidative stress, hence the development of cancer, inflammatory conditions, and heart disease. Beetroots are a great source of vitamins and minerals, such as:
- folate – essential for DNA and cell health
- vitamin B-6 – keeps the metabolism strong
- calcium – essential mineral for bone growth
- iron – allows red blood cells to carry the needed oxygen
- magnesium – an essential mineral that keeps the immune system strong
- manganese – helps regulate the metabolism
- phosphorus – essential nutrient for teeth and bones
- copper – plays a role in the production of collagen
- zinc – enhances wound healing and encourages normal growth
If you enjoyed reading this article, we also recommend you: 10 Ways You Can Make Your Morning Coffee Even Better.
