Quench Your Thirst With a Tasty and Healthy Summer Beverage
In many places, summertime means warm temperatures and sunshine. On a hot day, there’s nothing quite like an ice-cold beverage. The trouble is: the beverage aisle at the store can seem to only have products full of sugar. These types of drinks can get in the way of your health goals.
The truth about sweetened drinks
No matter how healthy your diet is, sugary drinks can make your overall intake of sugar and calories higher than you want it to be. Don’t let sneaky liquid sugar and calories hold you back from being your healthiest. Always check the label for calories and total sugars before you buy.
While a cold glass of pure water is a great way to hydrate, it’s not your only option! It takes some commitment and careful searching at the store, but you can have refreshing and satisfying beverages without setting your health goals aside.
Here are some refreshing drink ideas for when it’s hot:
Sparkling water: Crack open a seltzer for some refreshing fizz! These carbonated beverages often come in tasty flavors. Most sparkling waters and seltzers don’t have added sugars, but always check the label.
Add lemon or lime juice: Drop in a splash of lemon or lime juice to make regular water fun and tangy. You can cut up real lemons or use a bottle of pure lemon or lime juice.
Iced coffee or tea: Drinking unsweetened iced coffee or tea can become a much-loved routine. Coffee or caffeinated tea can give you a boost of energy, too! Just be mindful of how much caffeine you’re consuming and when, and make sure it’s not harming your sleep.
Diet soda: If you love soda or pop, trading full-calorie (regular) soda for diet, zero-sugar options can be a smart choice for avoiding unnecessary sugar and calories. A can of regular soda has about 150 calories and 10 teaspoons of added sugar, compared with zero calories or sugar in diet.
A tall class of ice-cold water is always a good option, especially when you’re thirsty and think you might be dehydrated. You don’t have to make your water fun and fancy, but you can add flavor without hurting your health goal. As summer goes on, make sure you’re staying hydrated in a healthy — and enjoyable — way! [1]
Sip Smarter — AHA