Healthy Drinks are an important part of a balanced diet. With the rising popularity of dieting and weight loss, there is more than ever a need to find healthy beverages to drink. Many diet programs have a specific list of beverages that they recommend as a part of your diet. Most are low calorie or low fat beverages, though some drinks have higher calorie counts and higher sugar counts. One thing is common with most of the beverages on this list, however: they all contain calories and fat.
Among the beverages on this diet list is water, which is the clear, healthiest choice on the planet. The benefits of water cannot be overstated. It hydrates the body and reduces dehydration symptoms as quickly as any other beverage. Some fruits have been found to have natural anti-oxidant activity, particularly grape seed extract, and even green tea. Adding a squeeze of lemon or lime to water is a great way to improve hydration.
Most healthy drinks don’t contain sugar, so adding sugar to them is not necessary. Fruit is a good substitute for sugar, because it naturally contains little or no calories. It is easy to read labels to know if a beverage contains artificial colors or flavors, as these are added to sweetened beverages in order to extend their shelf life and make more money. (The majority of artificial flavorings and colors come from the petro-chemicals industry.)
If you’re trying to lose weight, a healthy drink is really a healthy drink! Fruit and vegetable juices can provide a reasonable amount of dietary fiber, which helps reduce weight. Vegetable juices should be used in moderation; too much of anything is never good for you, especially when it comes to hydration. Beet juice is a good substitute for red meat, because it contains a lot of protein and excellent mineral absorption. (Beet juice is high in soluble fiber, which can help relieve constipation.)
Healthy drinks can also be a good thing to include in a meal plan. Anytime you add a high-fiber fruit drink to a dinner, you’ll be keeping your hunger pangs at a minimum. You may want to consider a diet soda, which has no calories but still contains lots of natural flavors and minerals. You can find diet sodas at many convenient stores, and they don’t count as calories, either. These types of healthy drinks can be enjoyed any time, day or night. Adding one of these beverages to your meal plan can keep you from feeling hungry throughout the day.
To sum up, there are many healthy beverages that taste great and offer plenty of benefits, whether you’re looking for a beverage to quench your thirst, aid in weight loss, or provide essential minerals and vitamins. You can get your daily recommended dose of vitamins and minerals by choosing one of these tasty and nutritious drinks. (Don’t forget to replace seltzer water with diet soda, if you can; these two drinks are high in calories and low in nutrients.) You can also find a wealth of other beverages, some of which are low in calories and high in nutrients
