As a kid, I loved kool-aid. As a teenager and early 20-something (and late 20-something), I loved diet soda – specifically diet Dr Pepper, it tastes just like the real thing but with no calories!! Unfortunately though, none of these options as very healthy. Kool-aid is jam-packed with sugar and diet soda is jammed packed with chemicals among other things. Here are a few healthier options I am digging these days.
1) Herbal or green tea – Tea has so many wonderful benefits and so many varieties, which you can drink hot or cold. When I was little, we would drink hot black tea with a little milk and sugar. Now, I prefer green tea for the extra anti-oxidant boost with a little agave nectar, and lemon ginger herbal tea for the digestive benefits (more on that topic next week!). One of the best things about tea is that with so many different herbs, most teas can be consumed with just simply some water to brew it.
2) Kombucha – One of my more recent favorites, I had heard about it before but had never tried it until a year or so ago. Kombucha is fermented sweetened tea. It has a slight wine taste to it, and does contain trace amounts of alcohol. The healthy part about it is the fermentation process. The culture used to ferment the tea eats away at the sugar and probiotic enzymes. These enzymes aid in digestion (much like yogurt) and overall support of the healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. Kombucha is quite tasty, and is also thought to be medicinal beyond the digestive aid. Many people who use alternative health practices drink kombucha daily to either prevent or diminish diseases.
3) Water with lemon- water is of course the hydration king, but as I have previously posted, add a little lemon and the benefits go way up. Lemon adds digestive fire, Vitamin C, and many other benefits. Also, who doesn’t like a little flavor to their water? Next time you grab one, squirt a little lemon juice (or any citrus) and enjoy.
4) Zevia or sparkling water – sometimes, you just need a little fizzy drink. Soda is most people’s go to, but no matter what kind, it is just not good for you. If you need some bubble sin your life, try sparkling water. It is light, refreshing, and can satisfy the soda craving. Once in awhile, I need a little something more though, so I go for an all natural “soda” sweetened with stevia extract from the stevia plant. It is also a great alternative to the harsh chemicals and colorings in both regular and diet sodas.
5) Coconut Water – natures electrolyte water. Sports drinks are a fabulous idea at heart – take water, add electrolytes, make it tasty and help people stay hydrated. The down side is the huge amounts of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial colors and flavorings. Luckily, nature has given us an alternative. Coconut water is slightly sweet and contains the electrolytes needed to replenish the body after intense sweating.
So there you have it, my five favorite drinks. Go ahead and try one this weekend – branch out and try something new. After all, what is life but an adventure?
Coming up next week, I’ll be posting about our upcoming travel plans and how to stay healthy on the road, how to spice up your life with ginger, and my personal approach to fitness.
Happy weekend to you!
Jessi
chelsea
September 13, 2012 at 11:48 pmi bought Kombucha… not sure why it disappeared in the previous post.
chelsea
September 13, 2012 at 11:47 pmi bought yesterday. I haven’t had it yet, but i’ll let you know how that goes. Also, Dr. Zevia is so yummy!!