With this cold weather, there’s nothing like a cup of hot cocoa (with the little marshmallows) to help you defrost your little toes. Or maybe you’re like me and enjoy a nice root beer to wash down your tasty lunch with your friends. However this blog is about being healthy, and I’m here to tell you that all of these tasty traditions aren’t too good for you. But when you are thirsty, what are you going to do? Well, that’s what this blog post is here for: to provide you with healthy alternative beverages.
First, let’s tackle the hot cocoa. Thankfully, dieters have made an alternative solution possible. Sugar free hot chocolate! That means no more marshmallows, but at least you get your tasty drink!!!! I’ve tried the sugar free hot cocoa, and its still yummy. But you still want to drink this sparingly, as it doesn’t hold much nutritional value besides the water.
Up next is soda. I don’t know about you guys, but a nice root beer float (any time of the year!) is a scrumptious treat. However, carbonation is just plain bad for you. It reduces your blood oxygen. That means it can impact your workouts!!! But you’ll be okay if you have it very sparingly, like maybe once a month at most. Just go for diet soda so that you can at least cut the calories.
Sports drinks. These yummy beverages are great for carb replacement during a workout. But if you are just drinking them because they taste good (while living a sedentary lifestyle) then you are in for a world of hurt. Sports drinks are loaded with sugar. That’s okay after you’re doing a marathon or playing a game of football, but if you’ve been playing Call of Duty all day and need something sweet, you should probably go for an apple instead.
So what drinks are safe choices? Well, I’ve found that nothing satisfies me like a tall glass of ice cold filtered water (not tap water, it’s gross!). We all know that we probably aren’t drinking enough water (8 cups a day!) and that it’s the best choice. So let’s get cracking and cut the soda! Let’s drink enough water every day so that we can feel better and be healthier.
However, you may reach a point where water is too bland and you need something else. I like to drink fat free milk! It’s yummy, filling, and it’s full of calcium and other great nutrients. Combine that with a jog outside in the sunshine, and you are on your way to having strong healthy bones.
Another great choice is 100% fruit juices. A lot of juices are actually just “fruit drink”, and don’t really contain any real juice in it. The trick is to double check for the words “100% real fruit juice”. Orange juice, apple juice, grape juice, and even pineapple juice are all great choices. Just make sure that you are getting the real deal!
If you make these small little changes, like getting enough water and not drinking your calories, then you are well on your way to leading a healthier lifestyle filled with great nutrients.