Choosing Healthy Drinks

By Jermaic Honsher

Many people are starting to make healthy meal choices, including healthier drink options. A healthy beverage should revitalize and refresh your body without adding unwanted fat or calories.

Water. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink water. Everyone should drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent headaches, body aches, and fatigue that is associated with dehydration. Drinking water helps keep your body functioning at optimum performance. Water also acts as an appetite suppressant. If you drink a glass of water before a meal, you will find that you will eat less and lose weight.

Cranberry juice. Not only are cranberries packed with vitamin C, studies show that drinking cranberry juice can help prevent bladder and urinary tract infections. Cranberries contain an ingredient that prevents bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder, making this little red berry not only tasty, but pretty useful too. The antioxidant properties in a glass of cranberry juice can help rid your body of harmful free radicals and and help reduce inflammation. Avoid sugary cranberry juice cocktails and choose 100% natural cranberry juice instead.

Green tea. Well known for its wealth of antioxidants, green tea can also block the over-production of harmful enzymes in your body that act as precursors to cancer. Replace your morning cup of coffee with a steaming cup of antioxidant-rich green tea instead. Natural compounds in green tea have been found to help regulate blood sugar levels by increasing insulin activity, promoting glucose metabolism and blocking glucose absorption.

The following sugary, calorie packed drinks are very popular, but. They are also some of the unhealthiest drinks available.

Fancy coffee drinks. Your local coffee shop may try to entice you with a tasty caffeinated treat that features full-fat dairy products, chocolate, sugary syrups, artificial colors and flavors. These drinks often have as many calories and fat as a fast food meal.

Summer cocktails. Don't be tempted by fancy drinks with a little paper umbrella. It's probably the healthiest ingredient in many popular summertime drinks. Sweet summer drinks like margaritas, daiquiris, and pina coladas are packed with calories due to the alcohol and sugar.

Smoothies. Don't be lured by the health claims made by some smoothie makers. Many smoothies claim to be healthy but the added fat and calories tell a very different story. Sugary juices, full-fat dairy products, and other extras make this drink a high calorie mistake. - 30246

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