There
are so many ideas out there about what is and isn’t healthy, and what
can help do a little bit of this and little bit of that in your body.
It can get really confusing at times. This information from Fitness
Magazine will help give you 8 healthy drinks to enjoy and sip your way
to a stronger immune system and a better mood, and reduce your cancer
risk! Drink your way to a healthier you! ENJOY!
Green Tea
When you think of good-for-you beverages, water immediately comes to
mind, but there are others worth adding to your diet. “Some drinks have
tremendous health benefits, from relieving minor ailments like
indigestion to protecting against serious ones like osteoporosis,” says
Dan Nadeau, MD, medical director of Exeter Hospital’s HealthReach
Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Nutrition Center in Exeter, New Hampshire.
Here, eight healthy drinks that are packed with disease-fighting
nutrients. Now that’s easy to swallow.
The Benefit: Helps reduce risk of osteoporosis,
cancer, heart disease, and cavities. Green tea contains a rich
concentration of flavonoids and polyphenols, natural antioxidants that
may protect cells from carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) and
inhibit tumor growth by helping to neutralize free radicals in the body.
The tea’s antioxidants may also guard against heart disease by relaxing
blood vessels, inhibiting the formation of blood clots that trigger
heart attacks and strokes. Green tea also contains fluoride, which
strengthens teeth; the flavonoids may build up bones as well, reducing
the risk of osteoporosis and tooth decay.
Calories: 0
Mint Tea
The Benefit: Eases cramps and helps ward off
indigestion. “Mint is an antispasmodic, so it can relax muscles, which
combats stiffness and aches,” says Susan Lark, MD, author of
The Chemistry of Success (Bay Books, 1999). It also aids in digestion by promoting the movement of food through the digestive tract.
Calories: 0
One Percent Reduced-Fat Milk
The Benefit: Curbs cravings and helps protect
against osteoporosis. Because it has the components of a healthy meal —
carbohydrates, protein, and a little fat — you absorb it slowly and stay
full longer, says Molly Pelzer, RD, a nutrition educator in Tipton,
Iowa. It also stabilizes blood sugar, so you’re less susceptible to
cravings. Milk is the ideal source of calcium, because it contains
vitamin D, which is needed for maximum calcium absorption. It may also
help your body stop storing fat. In a recent study, women who consumed
three to four servings of low-fat dairy foods (milk being one) lost
nearly twice as much weight as those who took in lower amounts. “The
calcium causes your body’s cells to burn the fat instead of holding on
to it,” says Pelzer. “This makes it easier to reach and maintain your
goal weight.”
Calories: 120 for 8 ounces
Soy Milk
The Benefit: Lowers risk of heart disease. Soy milk
contains soluble fiber and soy protein, which lowers LDL (bad)
cholesterol levels and triglycerides, reducing the risk of
cardiovascular disease. If you’re drinking it instead of cow’s milk, buy
soy milk fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D. One caveat: Soy
contains phytoestrogens, which may be linked to an increased risk of
breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about drinking soy milk if you have a
family history of the disease or have had it yourself.
Calories: 81 for 8 ounces
Hot Chocolate
The Benefit: Improves mood and may help protect
against heart disease. Chocolate increases the production of the
neurotransmitter serotonin, which is responsible for regulating mood.
(Low levels of serotonin have been associated with depression.) Cocoa is
also rich in polyphenols, plant-derived antioxidants that may protect
cells against oxidative damage that can lower HDL (good) cholesterol
levels, possibly putting you at higher risk for a heart attack.
Calories: 195 for 8 ounces homemade cocoa; 115 for a powdered mix
Low-Sodium Tomato Juice
The Benefit: May protect against numerous cancers.
Processed tomato products are the richest source of the antioxidant
lycopene, which has been associated with a reduced risk of lung and
stomach cancer, as well as pancreatic, colorectal, esophageal, oral,
breast, and cervical cancers. Lycopene also appears to protect the lungs
and heart against oxidative damage, helping to ward off
cardiovascular disease.
Calories: 31 for 6 ounces
Cranberry Juice
The Benefit: Helps prevent gum disease. Research
suggests that the same antibacterial properties present in cranberry
juice that fight off urinary tract infections may also protect against
periodontal disease. Experts theorize that a component of the juice
called nondialysable material (NDM) inhibits bacteria from sticking to
the gums. Many nutritionists are wary of fruit juices because of their
sugar content, so limit your intake to no more than one glass (6 to 8
ounces) daily. “Make sure the label says 100 percent juice, not ‘juice
drink’ or ‘cocktail,’” suggests Heidi Reichenberger, RD, a spokesperson
for the American Dietetic Association. You can find this type of juice
in health-food stores and some supermarkets.
Calories: 140 for 8 ounces
Orange Juice
The Benefit: May ward off cataracts, cancers, and
birth defects and boost immunity. An excellent source of vitamin C,
orange juice is also a potent antioxidant that may protect against a
variety of diseases including cataracts (a clouding of the eye’s lens
that can lead to blindness) and lung cancer. Vitamin C may prevent
oxidative damage that can cause cells to become cancerous, and it
improves immune-cell functioning, enabling your body to fight off
infections more efficiently. And it’s a good source of folate, which
protects against neural-tube defects in fetuses. To get the extra
benefit of bone protection, try some calcium-fortified orange juice.
Calories: 115 for 8 ounces
****Water****
Water is not on this list, but make sure that water is a part of your
daily diet. Water is essential for the human body and is a vital part
of health. There are many benefits to drinking water that include
improving exhaustion, asthma, hypertension, and joint and muscle pain to
name a few. It also gives you younger and healthier looking skin
because your skin is properly hydrated. Drinking water also helps with
fat metabolism and weight loss by flushing out the by-products of fat
breakdown. It is recommended that we drink 1/2 our body weight in
ounces of water. For example, if someone weighs 150 lbs they should try
and drink 75 ounces of water a day. So figure out how much water you
require and start improving your health today!
Calories: 0
