Drink Your Way To Good Health

By Jermaic Honsher

More and more people are making healthier food choices, including healthier drink choices. When you are thirsty, select these smart and refreshing drinks:

Water. Your body needs to stay well-hydrated in order to function normally. Drinking water helps regulate your body temperature, so it is very important to drink water during exercise. Your body loses water through your breathing and by sweating while you exercise. Dehydration slows down your body's metabolism and impedes healing. Water promotes the circulation of blood and vital fluids within our bodies. Water also revitalizes, detoxifies, and oxygenates the skin. There is simply no substitute for water and everyone should drink at least 8 glasses every day.

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.

These drinks may be disguised as healthy and look appetizing, but they are loaded with extra sugar and fat and should be avoided at all costs.

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. Summer parties and picnics are not complete without a festive cocktail or two. But beware: these colorful, cheerful drinks pack quite a few calories. Pina coladas, margaritas, and daiquiris are drowning in calories, and that is even before the liquor is added.

Smoothies. The smoothie is often advertised as a healthy drink, even as a replacement for a meal, but many are anything but healthy. Loaded with fat and calories, unhealthy smoothies get a bad rap from added ice cream, full fat-dairy, sugar, and even crushed candy or cookies. - 30414

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