SM 14 Healthy Drinks 2

14 Essential Beverages: Drinking To a Healthier You

By Neil Smith

Published on May 17, 2008

Lately, it seems like just about any store you enter claims to be offering healthy, natural, "green," or organic beverages to the health-conscious consumer. The problem is, a lot of manufacturers simply hide behind those healthy-sounding buzzwords while selling you the same old heart-stopping junk packed with sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. So what's a beleaguered beverage buyer to do? Fear not, for despite all the marketing hype, there aremany beverages that boost your health! Here are 14 of them.

1) Milk

That's right. Even with millions of dollars in marketing money behind new-age drinks with names you can hardly pronounce, there's no denying the health value of good old milk. An all-around good source of energy and protein, milk is also bursting with bone-strengthening calcium that doctors call vital in preventing arthritis and osteoporosis. If your hands, joints, or even your teeth aren't as strong as you or your doctor would like them to be, it's hard to beat the instant calcium injection a daily glass of milk or two can provide!

2) Naked Juice

Naked Juice is a relatively new brand of all-natural fruit drinks that have no added sugar or health-killing preservatives. In recent years this wellness-enhancing drink has seen considerable notoriety, including being acquired by PepsiCo and sold to consumers at Starbucks locations. Many of its drinks are exceptionally high in immune system-aiding antioxidants, and with flavors ranging from berry blast to strawberry banana to pomegranate, virtually everyone is sure to find a Naked Juice they'll enjoy! Of course you could drink fresh fruit juice but that's no substitute for Naked Juice, which offers much more and shouldn't be overlooked.

3) Wine

Everyone knows the occasional glass of wine offers some health benefits, but there may be even more than we previously knew existed. An exciting study conducted by University Hospital of Zurich researchers has uncovered a potentially huge breakthrough in how moderate, mealtime alcohol consumption benefits our bodies. According to the study, wine consumed around mealtime "reduces the proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMC) within the arteries. SMC growth is a key element in the development of atherosclerosis, which commonly leads to heart attacks and strokes." Now, clearly this isn't meant to endorse binge drinking or alcoholism, but it should give you one more reason to enjoy a casual wine with your supper!

SRC: http://www.beekmanwine.com/prevtopab.htm

4) Green Tea

Green tea is such a healthy drink that the Chinese have actually used it for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. And far from being a cultural superstition or affectation, hard evidence is showing why green tea relied on for so long. A 1994 study by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute displayed a clear link between green tea consumption and a lower risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by as much as 60 percent! Other researchers have identified links between green tea consumption and slowed growth of malignant cancer cells. Clearly, this is one beverage you should chug down as often as possible!

SRC:http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa011400a.htm

5) Ginkgo Biloba Tea

Long hailed as a potent health-boosting supplement, Ginkgo can now be consumed in tea form! Health benefits to drinkers include improved memory due to an increase of blood flow to the brain, which has been proven to take place by controlled, double-blind tests. More oxygen to the brain offers many other benefits, including greater ability to focus, a longer attention span, and the overall feeling that you are more awake than normal

6) Pomegranate Juice

For many years, pomegranate juice was the "dirty little secret" of the healthy beverage realm: it has many health benefits to offer, but few people following through and reaping them. Recently, that's all changed with a number of magazine articles and press coverage about just how healthy - and delicious - pomegranate juice is. The primary health benefit is a significant - up to 40 percent - increase in the output of blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Since this is one of the most fundamental bodily functions that takes place, a boost here effectively boosts almost everything else a person could do!

SRC:Men's Health

7) Whey Protein Shakes

A longtime favorite of bodybuilders, whey or soy protein shakes can be tastily enjoyed by anyone! The Internet is literally bursting with recipes, including chocolate peanut butter and strawberry banana, of the different shakes you can make with your favorite powdered protein and common household food items. The best thing about whey protein shakes, though, is that whey penetrates through to your bloodstream faster than any other protein does. So if you're looking for a nice jolt that'll take effect within the hour, a nice, cold whey protein shake could be right up your alley!

8) Orange-Mint Iced Tea

If you already like iced tea, why not rocket its health boosting properties into the stratosphere with this ultra-healthy recipe?

  • 6 tea bags
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 12 sprigs of fresh mint, divided
  • 1 1/4 cups orange juice
  • juice of 1/2 lemon or lime
  • 1/2 lemon, sliced
  • 1/2 orange, seeded and sliced

All the fruit and citrus in this drink will pack a decisive knockout punch to any cold bugs or viruses that dare to challenge your immune system. For more details on preparing it, see the following link.

SRC:http://sneakykitchen.com/Recipes/orange_mint_iced_tea.htm

9) Water

It seems obvious, but the fact is, too many of us drink tragically little water relative to how important it is to our bodily functioning. The health benefits of water are staggering in number, including cleaner screen, improved digestion, better hydration, enhanced alkaline retention, reduction of headaches, and much, much more. Still not convinced that water is absolutely vital to your quest for ideal health? Consider this:

  • Bone is 22 percent water
  • The brain is 74 percent water
  • Muscles are 75 percent water
  • Blood is 83 percent water

SRC:http://www.betterwayhealth.com/drinking-water.asp

10) Cranberry Juice

If tart yet delicious red fruits are a guilty pleasure of yours, cranberry juice is one you can feel a little less guilty about! Among its many immune system fortifying properties are the prevention of urinary tract infections and respiratory infections, the delay of ear infections, and a special strain that stops bacteria from sticking to red blood cells. According to one study, "it seemed that the juice inhibited the bacteria's pili, the hair-like structures that allow them to adhere to surfaces. The juice had no effect on strains of Haemophilus influenzae that lacked pili."

So if you like cranberries, drink up!

SRC:http://www.health-doc.com/healtharticles/cranberry-juice.html

11) Orange Juice

Another time-tested favorite, orange juice is positively packed with citrus and beneficial acids that protect your immune system like an alligator-filled mote around an ancient castle. The health benefits of orange juice are magnified when you drink it while healthy, as the vitamins and minerals can burrow deep into your bloodstream without having a cold or stomach bug to deal with. Not coincidentally, this greatly reduces your chances of getting sick with one of those things!

12) Ginger Ale

We know what you're thinking. "What the heck is a soda doing on this list?!" But believe it or not, ginger ale actually has several important health benefits! For one, there's almost nothing better to drink if your stomach is upset or you're having trouble digesting food. Additionally, the ginger in ginger ale has natural and strong anti-inflammatory properties, a major benefit to anyone with arthritis or chronic muscle pain. If you're looking to drink healthy but would rather ease into the process than drastically change your intake overnight, ginger ale might be worth a shot!

13) Vitamin Water

Offering proof that a mass-market drink available in gas stations can, indeed, be healthy, Vitamin Water is a shining example of a drink that's both tasty and healthy. It's available in about a dozen flavors (from fruit punch to grape to green tea) and each flavor packs a different medley of vitamins and minerals. Prepare for an intense yet delicious surge of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Taurine, Calcium, and Lutein, depending on the flavor you choose!

SRC:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glac%C3%A9au#Flavors

14) True Lemon

Everybody loves lemonade, but not every mouth-watering glass of it was created equally. Most of the store-bought mixes you buy are packed with preservatives and high-fructose corn syrup. Yikes! Fortunately, there is an alternative: True Lemon, a lemonade drink with 0 calories, 0g of carbs, no sugar or artificial sweeteners, and absolutely no preservatives or sodium. If you want to keep the familiar yummy taste of lemonade as you drink healthier, this is definitely the way to go!

SRC:http://www.truelemon.com/free-sample.cfm

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Comments

1

It's true that you need calcium, especially for healthy bones, but milk is a terrible source of it, particularly pasteurized milk. It's so highly acidic that it draws more calcium from your bones to neutralize it than is actually in it.

Just sayin'.

Nathan
about 1 year ago

2

nathan is right milk isn't great for you. much better off getting calcium from green veg.

paddy
about 1 year ago

3

How the hell do you put milk on the list???? This ruins all your credibility. Milk is filled with bovine growth hormones, antibiotics and is acidic. terrible choice to put on esp @ #1

how
about 1 year ago

4

mmmmmm, yes milk, with it's allowable portions of cows blood, pus, and of course cancer-promoting BGH. Milk is good for cows, but of negative value for humans. This might be totally bogus!

Lin Floyd
about 1 year ago

5

As I was reading this I was having a bowl of cereal, feeling really good about Item 1, then It dawn on me that Water should be Number 1, I saw that naked juice and wine were below, Water is Item 9, huh?, Now I'm at the bottom of the list I didn't read the rest. All of The comments are about item 1 - 'Milk' and it's negatives now I'm kinda not feeling so good about having a bowl of cereal in the middle of the day.

I drink fat free milk if that matters. But now I'm a little nauseated.. esp. by comment 4.

I don't know who to trust as the list is not all that reliable with water being item 9 and the comments could all be by one conspiracy driven person.

Hmm, I'm in quite a predicament.

:O

a
about 1 year ago

6

Ginko has no benefit until you're in your 60s.

thetruth
about 1 year ago

7

You guys who are trashing milk, obviously have not heard of organic milk, with NO growth hormones, no antibiotics, etc. etc. The taste is entirely different, similar to raw milk from free range cows. Even the ph balance is different, if I'm not mistaken. At least have the whole picture if you're going to throw stones.

BABYGIRL
about 1 year ago

8

Serious? Vitamin water better than water?Who are you getting paid by?Milk providers and Glaceau? Dumbest advertising I,ve ever seen.

Jeret
about 1 year ago

9

Wow, did you take into account how much sugar is in Vitamin Water and Naked Juice before posting those obvious plugs on the list? Or are you just basing your choices on taste and passing it off as healthy? Water is and always will be #1, Milk (organic and/or 1%-2%) is good for you since it provides you with Calcium and Vitamin D and is naturally good for weight loss, but it still shouldn't be put above water. This list is a joke. Hopefully, consumers are a little more clued in than yourself.

Amit
about 1 year ago

10

I've been drinking milk all my life and I'm almost never sick. I don't know where you guys are getting that bullshit information that it's bad for you..
And I read somewhere that researchers found that you don't have to drink as much water as everyone has been taught growing up (8 ounces or whatever), and that we naturally drink enough water to sustain ourselves every day. Too much water can even be bad for you.

WTf
about 1 year ago

11

# 12: ginger ale. there is a problem with this. common "ginger" ale (canada dry, schwepps's) contain NO GINGER. maine root makes an excellent ginger brew, but make sure you read labels of all other "ginger" drinks. the carbonation in them will help an upset stomach, but none of the health benefits from the ginger will be present.

deirdre
about 1 year ago

12

I don't agree with the MILK HATERS out there...I'm 33 yrs old Have had a steady diet of whole MILK in me every week ( 3 gallons ) and I am just going to say one thing...No broken bones ever!! I ski and I fall often, I played baseball in high school, soccer in college, I mountain Bike ( wipe out occasionally ), recently have been trying rock climbing, and work in Landscaping and construction..Never, have I ever, had a problem with my bones! I will drink MILK and my children will drink MILK forever.

Damon
about 1 year ago

13

To know how much water to drink in one day convert your weight from pounds to ounces, and drink that many ounces of water each day.

Water Lady
about 1 year ago

14

Milk is 'acidic' but vegetables or fruits are not? Milk "draws more calcium from your bones than is actually in it" ? Does ANYbody look into the research behind any of this stuff?
Water is indeed fine for you, but all the studies of the issue find that we get (most of us) a great deal MORE than we think we do. all the liquid in soups, juices, furits and veggies and yes, believe it or not even soft drinks counts.
sure, allowing dehydration to set in is very bad for you, but that is a pretty extreme and uncommon.
the comments here about high fructose corn syrup in some of the 'health drinks' or loaded waters are absolutely fair. read lables, read labels, some of these flavored waters have almost as much sugar as lemonade, and a few fruit juices or 'juice drinks' have as much sugar per serving as does coke or pepsi.
read labels, read research, question everything.

brendan
about 1 year ago

15

I have to agree with the previous comments. Milk should not be on this list. ESPECIALLY at #1. If you have any idea how milk is produced then I highly doubt you would be putting that into your body. There are MUCH better ways of getting calcium. Besides, drinking milk after infancy is unnatural. We are, after all, the only mammals that do it.
For an expert's opinion about milk check out this site: http://www.gotohealth.com/articles/read.cfm?article_id=30

savannah
about 1 year ago

16

Eat right, exercise, die anyway! So enjoy LIVING!

Momzillaonline
about 1 year ago

17

"To know how much water to drink in one day convert your weight from pounds to ounces, and drink that many ounces of water each day." Where in the world did you come up with this?!?!

So by this logic, I should drink 344 cups of water a DAY!
(172lbs = 2752 oz / 8oz)

Really?
about 1 year ago

18

Milk (low-fat or non-fat)in moderation can't be wrong. There are alternatives for getting calcium, including yogurt and veggies. You may not be having problems now, but whole milk products really are not beneficial for anyone over the age of 2.
Orange juice has so much natural sugar in it, even this drink is better diluted or drunk in small quantities.
Water consumption is important, but the formula posted needs to be halved. Use your weight, convert to ounces & divide by two. That's a realistic amount to drink daily.

Stephanie/sensiblewellnesssolutions.com
about 1 year ago

19

These tips could use some help. I won't even address the milk issue, as so many already have.
As for number 12, Ginger Ale, it is important to look at the labels on the products. Getting the more expensive, all natural ginger ale is where you will more likely see some actual ginger.
Number 14, True Lemon... A quick, easy, and cheap way to make your drinking water taste a little more refreshing is to add some lemon juice from concentrate. It is available at most supermarkets. I keep a large bottle in my fridge, and very often add it to my drinking water.

trick d
about 1 year ago

20

comment #15 is false Cats, Dogs, Pigs,primates basically all carnivores and omnivores will drink milk when made available to them. Even predators who kill a pregnant female will lap up the milk if spilled during the kill or eat.
If your referring to the process that humans get the milk then that's just a simple matter of intelligence.
As for milk being acidic and this somehow draws more calcium from you body? Thats absurd check the ph of milk compared to almost all juices- fruits and vegetables. I'll agree that water should be #1(not bottled water-no nutrients or minerals) but milk will always be in the top 10 1% organic is the best.

Will
about 1 year ago

21

If you do some in depth research concerning milk, you will come up with some very disturbing information. The protein in milk raises the acidity in your blood stream leading to bone deterioration, it actually leeches calcium from your bones. Even if it is organic milk or raw milk it is still full of saturated fat and cholesterol which is not good for your body, especially not a childs body.

Got Sick Kids?

Cow's milk is the number one source of allergies in children, and research links consumption of dairy products, including cow's milk, to colic (stomach cramps), autism, chronic ear infections, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1 or "juvenile-onset" diabetes), acne, obesity, constipation, mucus, and a variety of other ailments.

Medical studies indicate that rather than preventing the disease, milk may actually increase women’s risk of getting osteoporosis. A Harvard Nurses’ Study of more than 77,000 women ages 34 to 59 found that those who consumed two or more glasses of milk per day had higher risks of broken hips and arms than those who drank one glass or less per day.(1)Consumption of excessive protein from dairy products, eggs, and meat has been linked to the formation of kidney stones and has been associated with colon cancer and liver cancer.(2,3)Studies have also found that autism and schizophrenia in children may be linked to the body’s inability to digest casein, a milk protein; symptoms of these diseases diminished or disappeared in 80 percent of the children who switched to milk-free diets.(4)

1) D. Feskanich et al., “Milk, Dietary Calcium, and Bone Fractures in Women: A 12-Year Prospective Study,” American Journal of Public Health, 87 (1997) 992-97.
2) Gary C. Curhan et al., “A Prospective Study of Dietary Calcium and Other Nutrients and the Risk of Symptomatic Kidney Stones,” The New England Journal of Medicine 328 (1993): 833-8.
3) Kathleen M. Stadler, “The Diet and Cancer Connection,” Virginia Tech, Nov. 1997.
4)31) “Milk Protein May Play Role in Mental Disorders,” Reuters Health, 1 Apr. 1999.

William G
about 1 year ago

22

Good post, everything is good on the list, and I would argue that they shouldn't be numbered 1-21, but 1a, 1b, 1c etc.

Everything in moderation is the best philosophy to go by and with so many choices there's no reason why #14 should not be included in your diet as much as #4 or whatever.

Michael Behnken, MS, CSCS
about 1 year ago

23

Damon, nice comment. The milk haters on here are just a bunch of hippies looking for something else to complain about.

Steven
about 1 year ago

24

Yeah, the milk... Probably not the best thing - even skim milk... Well you're still drinking milk from a cow. I fail to see how that is any different than drinking milk from a pig or a raccoon or even a rat. Its all kinda gross when you think about it!

As for the vitamin water, water with sugar and man-made vitamins isn't really a great choice either. Eat a piece of fruit, at least the fiber will help offset the spike in your blood sugar and keep your insulin from going crazy.

davesworkout
about 1 year ago

25

What a lot of hosh-posh that milk is bad for you, give me a break! Or should I say not if you drink milk regularly. What amazes me is no one has linked Mcdonalds et al and processed food to baldness yet. Have you checked out the present generation 20-30, exactly the ones that were deprived of free school milk in the UK and fed on processed foods full of E's. It's scary! The aliens have arrived! especially in deprived areas. Get back to basics, nothing wrong with skimmed milk especially if it's organic! Especially when served with unsugared cereal, fresh fruit, downed with a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice. Just what the doctor ordered. Although who could believe half of that fraternity, one minute it's good for you the next it's not.

James
about 1 year ago

26

Ok, so I saw some positive attitudes and some let's say not so positive... ok, as the old adage goes everything in moderation. Take this with a grain of salt please. Listen as far as traditional milk is concerned I've heard it's not so good for us either. So, why not try drinking alternatives to achieve your calcium intake , things like soy milk . It comes in a variety of flavors to get that right for me taste.And than there's a suggestion from another gentleman. Why not anti-up on all the green veggies we can handle. That'll fix the "milk" dilema. In the process it will make a lot of cows happy.

Mary
about 1 year ago

27

Blood and puss are not found in milk we drink, that only comes from cows that suffer from mastitis and those cows are not suitable for dairy or for meat consumption and its prohibited by the FDA; especially with the high risk of staph. aureus being a primary cause of Mastitis in mammals. Milk although it might deplete some calcium from your bones, it also serves with other nutritional qualities, like essential fats and protein (those who have protein shakes and see WHEY or any kind of WHEY protein based... ur getting it from Cow Milk, not soy). all of you IDIOTS complaining.... obviously not everything u find on the internet is true. Humans have GENERAL nutritional needs, but specifically, not everyone can have the same kind of balance. so stop nagging, eat what is most healthy for you and forget others and their ways

~ Food Scientist.

Mirka
about 1 year ago

28

Milk contains the only form of calcium that can be readily absorbed by your body as compared to plant sources and soy/rice milks which have been fortified with Ca Carbonate (unnatural!) It is one of the most complete sources of protein (containing 19 of the 20 amino acids your body needs, only behind eggs). It also is one of the most highly regulated foods in the US. The milk you are getting also is unlikely to contain rBHT as only around 15% of factory farmers use it (it also has not been proven to cause any problems in human health and is DIGESTED by your body just like any other protein, but that's another topic). There are plenty sources of rBHT-free milk if it "scares" you somehow. As for cow health - They HAVE to be milk at least twice a day to stop their udders from exploding (literally!) and enjoy being milked (that is why they come to the barn when they want to). Also the amount of fat in milk is minimal (97% fat free food...think about that!) Processing just ensures that any potentially harmful bacteria is not in your food (think of how many people were sick and died very young 100 years ago, before food laws were in place). Sorry about my rant, but it bugs me when people do not have facts. Please research opinions with reputable sources (ie. not the internet).

Food Scientist

Tori
11 months ago

29

Milk is GOOD FOR YOU; your all nuts i've never heard of anyone dying from drinking too much milk. Most of the foods that are consumed should be with resonable porportion and alot of foods and beverages most people consume every day could be disected and you would find out negitive things about them. Especially when it comes to perservatives or addatives and food !

Erica
10 months ago

30

I'm SORRY, but this list is total crap. Most of the things are easily obtained through food which is healthier.

Milk #1, the writer obviously isn't lactose intolerant. Milk is garbage and IMHO should be linked to cancer in the USA.

Personal Trainer
9 months ago

31

These post are crazy. How can you say that the list is crap. I think the list has many good points, but it is up to the consumer to read labels. It is only natural that fruit juice contains sugar even if it is organic. I think people have taken this too far. Only in America do we argue about whether milk is good for you. In other countries people would be happy to have just one item on the list. Calm down food critics!

Doc
9 months ago

32

Your first comment was the most accurate one... I love to read the posts and hate to read them too. what a goofy group we have become; experts on everything, critics of so much and intolerant of all that does not fit within our opinion range.

everyone is different, what works for one may not be right for someone else. doesn't anyone use common sense any more?

sym
8 months ago

33

I thought I was lactose intolerant until I went back to drinking real milk, raw milk from a local farmer. If the cows are healthy the milk is healthy. I have seen the milking facilities, the cows and spoke with the farmer and his wife many times. It is very clean, even better than the dairy farm I grew up on. This list is really pretty typical of the mainstream medical industry. I challenge you to research Kombacha and Kvass (the non-alcoholic version). And how about Kefir. These are drinks that are only beat out by good clean purified water that has nothing added to it.

ratamills
8 months ago

34

working with clients, lactose intolerance is a common problem, we find soy milk is best

alan
7 months ago

35

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful and beneficial to your readers :)

JOhn
5 months ago

36

Im Only 10 o-o So Don't Blame Me Cause I Sound Dumb

Since Everyone Is Commenting About Milk, Well So Will I.
For Milk, They Should Have Been More Specific, Like Skimmed Milk. As a general rule, products labeled as “skimmed milk” have less than 0.5% fat. Low fat or semi-skimmed milk has a fat percentage ranging between one and two percent. Many dairies label their one and two percent milk separately, giving consumers more options. Whole milk has a fat content of around 3.5%. Creams and butters, made from the fatty part of the milk, have a much higher fat content. A dairy may also choose to supplement its dairy products with useful vitamins and minerals such as calcium and vitamin D.

Grade5
about 1 month ago

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