Health drinks promise a convenient source of nutrition, yet often contain excessive sugar and preservatives. When shopping for health beverages, look for 100% juice with few additives or homemade smoothies as an ideal solution.
Coconut water is the go-to healthy drink, as its natural hydratation properties contain electrolytes like potassium and magnesium that help balance fluid levels in the body. Tart cherry juice also has powerful anti-soreness benefits; tart cherries contain phenolic compounds that may ease muscle soreness after strenuous exercise.
Freshly Squeezed Orange or Lemon Juice
Orange and lemon juices are delicious refreshing citrus beverages that provide vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and other vital nutrients to maintain good health and to prevent respiratory illness such as the common cold and flu. Juicers that utilize hand juicers offer added health benefits since these do not contain added sugars or artificial flavors that could negatively impact overall wellbeing.
Orange juice has the ability to reduce chronic inflammation in your body, which may be linked to heart disorders and metabolic syndrome. Packed full of antioxidants and micronutrients like folate, thiamine and potassium – as well as 100% of your daily vitamin C requirement!
Homemade Smoothies
Homemade smoothies provide an easy way to incorporate nutritious fruits and vegetables into your diet, and can even be customized with flavor boosters like ginger root, fresh herbs or ground spices as well as nutritional supplements like chia seeds or protein powder.
Smoothies may contain high amounts of fruit sugars that could put those with diabetes or health conditions that require reduced added sugar at risk at risk. Store-bought smoothies also tend to contain too much added sugar without enough fiber, protein or fat content to satisfy hunger pangs.
Tart Cherry Juice
Many athletes believe that drinking tart cherry juice helps speed recovery after intense exercise and relieve soreness after each session, according to research published in 2010. One 2010 study from Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition demonstrated this by showing runners who consumed tart cherry beverage experienced reduced pain after long distance runs due to its diverse phytonutrients which provide anti-inflammatory benefits.
Tart cherry juice may help improve sleep quality and may relieve symptoms associated with gout, though too much sugar-laden cherry juice or food products could lead to weight gain and other health problems. For optimal results when drinking tart cherry juice, either make it yourself at home or opt for brands without added sweeteners.
Blackstrap Molasses Drink
Blackstrap molasses is an ideal complement to milk for creating a satisfying and warming drink, providing a moderate glycemic load and natural sweetener benefits that can aid diabetics and weight loss diets. Furthermore, it contains calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron for health benefits.
ADD and ADHD have long been linked to nutritional deficiencies, particularly zinc, magnesium, calcium, and iron deficiencies. Blackstrap molasses is rich in these essential minerals and may help alleviate their symptoms.
Molasses contains high concentrations of iron which can help alleviate menstrual cramps and PMS symptoms as well as providing arthritis pain relief.
Coconut Water
Coconut water is a refreshing beverage made up of liquid extracted from young coconuts that’s low in calories and fat but high in electrolytes.
This refreshing beverage is ideal for athletes seeking to re-hydrate after exercising or anyone spending all day outdoors in the heat and sun. Additionally, it may help those attempting to lose weight.
This drink provides natural sources of sodium, potassium and magnesium with less calories than most juices. Additionally, it includes essential folic acid and pantothenic acid for women’s health as well as helping balance pH levels within the gut to alleviate diarrhoea or stomach issues.
Hot Chocolate
Cocoa contains beneficial elements to support heart health, such as lowering LDL cholesterol and reducing inflammation, according to the National Library of Medicine. Furthermore, cocoa can boost nitric oxide production which loosens up fat-storage in arteries while maintaining an ideal blood pressure level.
Hot chocolate can help combat winter’s blues by stimulating endorphin production, relieving tensions and lifting spirits on cold and dismal days. Plus, its calcium-rich content provides essential strength and health to bones.
Choose low-fat milk or plant-based milk alternatives and sweeten with natural sweeteners to achieve the taste you prefer. Add salt, cinnamon and vanilla extract for additional flair!
Watermelon
Watermelons contain 92% water, making them a natural health drink to keep hydrated and replenish fluid losses through sweating or exercise. You should drink one throughout the day as an aid in replenishing lost fluids.
Citrulline, an amino acid found in this supplement, helps the body produce nitric oxide to increase blood flow to muscle tissue and thus decrease muscle soreness.
Lycopene found in watermelons is an anti-cancer antioxidant and may reduce inflammation within bones and joints. Furthermore, watermelons contain high concentrations of this essential nutrient for bone health as it also acts as a way to protect them against future injuries.
