Given that it has no calories and a wide variety of positive effects on health, water is likely the first beverage that springs to mind when the topic of healthy beverages is brought up. However, in addition to such beneficial beverages, you should also consider include others on your menu. “Some beverages have tremendous health benefits, ranging from protecting against serious conditions like osteoporosis to relieving minor ailments like indigestion.
Best: Green Tea
The media has made a lot of a lot of hype about the supposed health benefits of drinking green tea, and those benefits are real. Flavonoids and polyphenols are two types of naturally occurring antioxidants that are found in high concentrations in green tea. These antioxidants have the potential to protect cells from carcinogens (substances that cause cancer) and inhibit the growth of tumors by combating free radicals that are produced by the body.
Antioxidants in the tea may also protect against cardiovascular disease by preventing the formation of blood clots, which are the cause of heart attacks and strokes, and by relaxing blood vessels. This would be accomplished by suppressing the production of blood clots. Green tea not only includes fluoride, which strengthens teeth, but also flavonoids, which may enhance bone health and prevent osteoporosis and tooth decay. Fluoride strengthens teeth. Flavonoids increase bone health. In addition, matcha green tea has a wide variety of extra positive effects on one’s health.
Worst: Juice Drinks
The terms “juice drink” and “juice cocktail” are almost invariably just euphemisms for brightly colored sugar water. This is true even when the drinks themselves contain no juice. If you want to drink something that is truly good for you, look for sorts of juice that are one hundred percent juice, such as orange juice, cranberry juice, or aloe vera juice. After it, there is nothing else.
Best: One-Percent Reduced-Fat Milk
Milk is a fantastic choice for a healthy beverage because it comprises the building blocks of a nutritious meal, which are carbs, protein, and a trace amount of fat. These components contribute to delayed absorption and prolong satiety, making milk an excellent choice for a healthy beverage.
In addition to this, it controls sugar levels in the blood, which makes one less prone to giving in to their urges. Milk is regarded as the best source of calcium due to the fact that milk contains vitamin D, which is a vital ingredient for the assimilation of calcium into the body. Additionally, it may prevent the body from storing fat in the body.
Worst: Fancy Coffee Drinks
When a big cup of iced coffee is prepared with 2% milk and sugar, it is possible for the beverage to have as much as 800 calories and one-third of the maximum daily intake for saturated fat, which contributes to the clogging of arteries. The following are some of the factors that contribute to its scrumptious flavor: A standard beverage has 170 grams of sugar, which results in a bigger sugar shock than a caffeine high. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. When whipped cream is added, a beverage immediately loses any nutritional value it may have had.
Best: Soy Milk
Both soluble fiber and soy protein have been shown to lower triglyceride levels and LDL cholesterol, which in turn lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. Soy milk is an excellent source of both of these beneficial components. When making the switch from cow’s milk to soy milk, it is important to choose variants of soy milk that have been fortified with additional calcium and vitamins A and D. A small word of caution: there is some speculation that the phytoestrogens that are present in soy may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
If you or a member of your family has a history of the condition, you should discuss the potential health benefits of this nourishing beverage with your primary care provider. (Below you will find a list that contains all of the details you require for soy milk and other items made with soy.)
Worst: Flavored Waters and Sports Drinks
Although infusions and flavored waters may provide some additional vitamin benefits, consumers should be aware that they also contain more carbs. When you buy a new bottle of water, make sure to check the label to see if it is safe to drink. Here are some things to look for on the label: Remove the product from the shelf and dispose of it if any ingredients other than water and natural flavors are found in it.
To put it another way, many of the commercially available sports drinks contain a combination of natural and artificial sweeteners, in addition to a sizable number of ingredients whose names are difficult to pronounce. Consider using a calorie-free alternative in order to attain the desired result of electrolyte replenishment.
Best: Mint Tea
Additionally, it facilitates the transit of food through the digestive tract, thereby aiding in digestion.
Worst: Diet and Regular Soda
It is impossible to pinpoint a single quality of soda that might be considered redeemable. Not only does it include an excessive amount of sugar, but it also provides empty calories that do little to satisfy hunger. In point of fact, only soft drinks have been demonstrated to be directly responsible for the development of obesity. If you don’t want to cut them out of your diet entirely, you might want to think about indulging in one full-sugar can of soda once in a while as a reward for sticking to your schedule. This would be comparable to indulging in a candy bar.
Even though there are no calories in diet cola, it does not contain anything of nutritional value. If you drink Diet Coke throughout the day, there is a good chance that you are denying your body of important fluids like water and tea. If you do this, you should be aware of the potential consequences.
Best: Hot Chocolate
Chocolate is associated with an increase in serotonin production, which is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood regulation. (19) Researchers have found a correlation between low serotonin levels and depressive symptoms. Additionally, cocoa has a high concentration of polyphenols, which are a type of antioxidant that is derived from plants and has the potential to protect cells from oxidative damage. This kind of damage can lower levels of HDL cholesterol, sometimes known as the “good” cholesterol, which can raise the chance of having a heart attack.
Instead, give these uncomplicated and healthful cocktail recipes a try, or have a look at our thorough guide to drinking alcohol while following a ketogenic diet.
Read Also: Healthy Drinks You Should Add to Your Diet