Water is by far my fave thing to drink. (Other than red wine). Always has been. (The water not the wine). I know so many people though who don’t drink water because they don’t like it or it’s too bland. When this is the case though, the choices often end up being fizzy pop (soda for my American friends) or other types of drinks filled with eye watering amounts of sugar. Although it’s completely normal to get sick of water, and to fancy a change, you should be careful what you choose to use as a substitute.
Make no mistake though, nothing can replace water. It’s without a doubt the healthiest option and is needed by your body in order to function properly. Nevertheless, if you’re looking to add some variety and to spice up your waterlogged palette, you should consider adding some of these alternative healthy drinks to your diet.
Orange Juice
Drinking a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice in the morning is the perfect way to start your day. I have to admit that squeezing a half a dozen oranges to get a glass of juice seems like too much effort for not enough reward in my book. For this reason, I’m happy to buy it from the supermarket or farmers market. Thanks to its quercetin content, this fruit has a number of benefits. A number of research studies indicate that it contains antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy properties. It’s also worth mentioning that because this drink is an excellent source of vitamin C, it can strengthen your immune system and make you less vulnerable to different diseases.
If you’re buying orange juice instead of making it yourself, make sure to buy the ‘pure pressed’ version rather than the ‘from concentrate’ version.
Green Tea
The next time you feel like drinking a cup of coffee, try a cup of green tea instead. Not only will this provide you with the energy boost that you would seek in a cup of coffee, but it will also provide you with some great health benefits.
Green tea represents a great source of polyphenols and flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants that help protect your cells from various harmful substances. Due to its high antioxidant content, green tea can reduce the risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease and cancer.
Due to the fact that green tea contains fluoride, it can have a positive impact on the health of your teeth. Additionally, the flavonoid content of this drink can improve your bone health.
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice has become increasingly popular during the last several years. Not only is this drink very tasty and refreshing, but it also offers a lot of different health benefits. Some of the most notable health benefits of pomegranate juice include improved heart health, a strengthened immune system, and a lower risk of cancer. Drinking this on a regular basis can also help you maintain normal blood sugar levels, as well as normal blood pressure levels. If you’re not making your own pomegranate juice (probably a bigger ball ache to do than freshly squeezed OJ IMO), then you should be careful when buying it. Some manufacturers dilute the drink with other liquids or add excess sugar.
If you do want to have a go yourself, this lady has a handy tutorial: https://toriavey.com/how-to/how-to-seed-a-pomegranate/
Infused water
You can transform a humble glass of water by adding some fruit or vegetables to it. These days you can buy infuser bottles relatively cheaply. You know the kind, they’re a water bottle with a chamber in the middle that has holes in. Basically all you do is chop your preferred fruit/veg and pop it into the chamber. Leave it in the fridge overnight to infuse and, voila, in the morning you have a tastier version of an otherwise plain drink. It’s up to you what you have in it and there’s nothing wrong with experimenting. Some of my favourites are lemon, lime, cucumber and mint and green tea and lime.
Beetroot Juice
Beetroot juice is one of the healthiest drinks you can have. Again, you can make your own, however, it is commonly now available in a number of supermarkets and healthfood shops. Some of the most notable health benefits of beetroot juice include increased stamina, lower blood pressure, and increased blood flow to the brain. Just don’t be alarmed when you go for a wee and it’s red!!
There you have it, some tasty alternatives to plain water. What’s your healthy drink of choice? Comment below, I’m always interested to try new things.
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