Now more than ever before, we must consider the kinds of food and beverages we intake, and if they are bringing value to our bodies. A healthier body, and thus, a stronger immune system can help you live longer and improve your chances of fighting off diseases. With the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, every American should be reevaluating what they consume and how to improve their overall health. Think of your body as a car. Are you putting good fuel in it? Are you keeping all of the parts in good condition and up to spec?
There are tons of foods and beverages that are delicious, yet not good for you. It is always a challenge to find foods and drinks that are both healthy, and taste good. That is the purpose of this edition of the blog. We are going to take a look at some healthy beverages that not only provide your body with tremendous health benefits, but taste good too! Spoiler alert, some exist in categories you may not have even been aware of.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented tea that has been around for thousands of years. Rich in probiotics and antioxidants, Kombucha can help fight disease and kill harmful bacteria in your body. In addition, it has been proven Kombucha tea has many of the same benefits as green tea. Those include aid in weight loss (boosted metabolism) in addition to lowering the risk of heart disease. If all that wasn’t convincing enough, studies have shown Kombucha can slow the digestion of carbs, which reduces blood sugar levels. This is particularly beneficial for those who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes.
Product Feature – Mother Kombucha
Mother Kombucha features two Kombucha based products — a Kombucha tea and their “Agua Bucha” which is a Kombucha infused sparkling water.
The Kombucha tea comes in a recycle friendly glass bottle and features eight different crisp and refreshing flavors. There are only 35 calories or less per bottle, and it is USDA Organic, Vegan and Kosher Certified. All the benefits of Kombucha combined with great taste is what makes Mother Kombucha so great. Turmeric Ginger Lemonade, Goji Grape, Lavender Mojito and Hopped Passionfruit are just some of the 8 delicious flavors you can choose from. The Agua Bucha is a healthier version of sparkling water — with natural organic acids, B vitamins, 4 calories and 1 gram of sugar. They have three flavors – lemon, key lime and grapefruit.
Alkaline Water
Alkaline refers to the pH level of a substance. It is measured on a scale of 0-14 – 0 being the most acidic, 14 being the most alkaline. Normal tap water is usually around a pH level of 6.5 to 7. The more alkaline the water is, the better it is for you. Water with high alkaline levels have health benefits that include anti-aging properties, colon cleansing properties, higher hydration effectiveness, immune system support, detoxification properties and can even aid in weight loss. It is worth noting that scientific evidence is still developing on many of these proposed benefits, however higher alkaline levels are proven to be better for hydration than acidic products.
Product Feature – AlkaWonder
With a pH level of 9.4, AlkaWonder ranks among the highest levels of alkaline waters on the market. They’ve won the International Taste and Quality Institute’s Superior Taste Award three years in a row (2018-2020) and are the official hydration partner of Zumba. Other known brands such as Fiji Water and Evian feature products that range in the mid to upper 7 levels of pH. The product is naturally high in pH levels which is actually different from other artificial alkaline waters that run through a mechanical intervention process.
Hydrogen Water
Hydrogen Water is true to its name, water, with extra hydrogen molecules added to it. Like alkaline water, hydrogen water due to its molecular compounds can provide additional benefits than just regular water. Some studies suggest that drinking hydrogen water may decrease the effects of oxidative stress, improve metabolic syndrome, and boost athletic performance.
Product Feature – HyVida
HyVida is a canned sparkling water that is both hydrogen and magnesium infused. It comes in three refreshing flavors – organic raspberry, organic lemon-lime, and pure sparkling water. With no calories, sugar, or carbs HyVida is a great healthy alternative to regular water boredom, especially if you’re looking for something bubbly.
Bottled Water
We’ve covered why water is good for you. But what if there was a bottled water product that has all the natural benefits of bottled water, and is good for the environment too?
Product Feature – Simply Rain
Simply Rain bottled water is single sourced from Montana springs, and comes packaged in an aluminum bottle. Why is aluminum packaging more beneficial? It stays way cooler for starters. In fact 1300x times cooler than bottled water. Additionally, plastic water bottles contain water with microparticles that leaked in via the plastic material. Water packaged in aluminum eliminates all potential for microparticles that make drinking water less pure. Finally, aluminum is recycled more effectively and more often than plastic. We’ve already spoken in previous blogs about the global waste problem we have mainly due to plastic. Utilizing reusable aluminum helps lessen the damage one bottle at a time.
Sparkling Water
Sparkling water isn’t necessarily a health boosting product, but it is a healthy alternative to sugary soft drinks. Some studies have shown that sparkling water can play a positive role in digestion as well. It may improve swallowing, increase feelings of fullness, and reduce constipation.
Product Feature – Sovany Sparkling Water
Sovany comes in four crisp and delicious flavors; brilliant orange, ingenious apple, remarkable raspberry, and standard sparkling water flavor. The packaging is recycle friendly, and all of the ingredients are organic Non-GMO. On top of the refreshing taste, there are just 20 calories per can and only about 5 grams of sugar. It’s the perfect drink mixer or soda alternative.
Coconut Water
Coconut water has gotten pretty trendy over the last decade. It is a great source of vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants, and other beneficial nutrients. It has proven to help blood sugar control, and also has been found to be a great recovery drink for dehydration or replenishing electrolytes. It’s one of the many products that should replace Gatorade on the sidelines of sporting events. The fact that it is low in calories and carbs is also a big plus for those watching their intake and trying to maintain or lose weight.
Product Feature – Eliya
Eliya coconut water comes in one organic flavor of natural coconut water. There are no added sugars, it is USDA Organic, Gluten free, vegan friendly, and every batch comes from the King Coconut of Sri Lanka. The product has more potassium than a banana, the same amount of calcium as a half a cup of milk, only 50 calories and just 8g of natural sugar. Another plus about this product is that it comes in a glass bottle, making it easy to recycle and thus helping our environment.
Cactus Water
Here is a very unique and relatively unknown health beverage. Cactus water is loaded with health benefits so long as the product isn’t loaded with added sugars. As cactus is a prickly pear fruit, it is loaded with anti inflammatory antioxidants, and also contains magnesium and potassium. As a result, cactus water has been found to have a positive effect on skin health, reduce the effects of type 2 diabetes, and it has also been called a hangover cure.
Product Feature – Cactus!
Here is a new organic brand that you likely haven’t seen, but will need to try. ‘Cactus!’ comes in three delicious flavors; organic lime, papaya and watermelon. There are only 30 calories per can, and the added sugar is all organic agave (5 grams). Non-GMO, Kosher, Vegan, Gluten Free, Recyclable — this product has everything from great taste to the myriad of health benefits that come from cactus leaf juice. Don’t be late on the trend where cactus water becomes the new coconut water.
CBD Beverages
Becoming more popular by the day are CBD-infused drinks. CBD beverage enhancers are a form of CBD where manufacturers process it into tiny particles that one adds in their drinks. Users prefer CBD beverage enhancers because they release CBD in small doses, thus allowing the body to benefit from its health effects throughout the day. Some of those benefits include pain and inflammation relief, better sleep, stress relief, and energy boosts.
Product Feature – Wowie (By Tranquini)
Wowie is a product from Tranquini. It was designed as a stress relief beverage made with Hemp and Herbal Adaptogens that help to reduce anxiety, aid focus and promote a sense of calm. It comes in mango lime, citrus mix, watermelon mint, and coconut strawberry flavors. There are only 20 calories per can, and 3g of carbs and sugars.
Probiotics
Probiotics are loaded with health benefits, most notably for improving gut health. The importance of gut health is often overlooked. It affects everything in your body. A healthy gut (microbiome) contains healthy bacteria and immune cells that ward off infectious agents like bacteria, viruses and fungi. A healthy gut also communicates with the brain through nerves and hormones, which helps maintain general health and well-being. With that said, your gut health literally can affect your mood, your thought process, and your metabolism. There are numerous strains of probiotics that
Product Feature – GoodBelly
GoodBelly has a plethora of probiotic products in both the food and beverage space. They feature juice drinks, shots, supplements, yogurts and other foods as well. Being that this blog is about beverages, let’s look at the Juice Drink. There are 9 refreshing Juice Drink flavors including; peach mango orange, strawberry banana, and blueberry acai. Each has 20 billion live and active probiotic cultures per serving and is safe and effective for naturally steadying the gut microbiome. There are gluten free options, as well as no sugar added options. All flavors are USDA Organic.
Calamansi Beverages
Here is another unique beverage from an exotic fruit called the calamondin fruit that is mainly found in Asia. It has been shown to help; lower cholesterol, strengthen immune systems and boost energy due to high Vitamin C contents, in addition to being high in antioxidants as most citrus fruits are.
Product Feature – Brooklyn Crafted Calamansi-Ade
The Brooklyn Crafted Calamansi-Ade is a different twist on lemonade with more health benefits, and equal if not better taste! Refreshing, nutritious, and in a recyclable glass bottle, this product is both sour and sweet. It comes in five flavors including a ginger infused flavor that combines the benefits of both calamansi and ginger in one tasty trink.
Cinnamon Beverages
You know the delicious taste of cinnamon, perhaps from a dessert, or in a cappuccino. But did you know the sweet spice actually has significant health benefits as well? In people with type 2 diabetes, 1 gram or about half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood markers. Cinnamon also has anti-inflammatory properties similar to probiotics.
Product Feature – Brooklyn Crafted
In the same glass bottle as their calamansi-ade, Brooklyn Crafted returns with another product feature. These products are more like a light cider that are delicious both hot and cold. All natural cinnamon with all the wellness properties of the spice.