Top 20 Healthiest Drinks
#20: Lemonade
Rather than saying lemonade is healthy, it would probably be more accurate to say that “some” lemonade is healthy. Lemons are a nice source of vitamin C and iron and may also aid in the prevention of kidney stones. But while the lemons in lemonade have some nice health benefits, the added sugar in many commercial versions have the opposite effect. However, if you make it at home, use real lemons and skip the sugar, well then you got something worth sipping on. But don’t sip on it too much. As the American Dental Association has pointed out, too much of the stuff can lead to tooth decay.
#19: Hot Chocolate
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Wait! Before you get too excited and start drinking hot chocolate like it’s water, we should mention a few important things. As with lemonade where the health benefits are in the lemons, the benefits in hot chocolate comes from the cocoa. This beautiful bean has been shown to reduce your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar as well as lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, as with the lemonade, many commercial hot chocolates come with added sugar and are overly processed - thus negating many of the cocoa’s benefits. And again, don’t drink a lot of it. While studies have indicated advantages of cocoa, the positive results weren’t there when too much was consumed.
#18: Hibiscus Tea
The hibiscus can have a positive effect on one’s mood and happiness just by looking at the beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers. But did you know that ingesting them can also have benefits? Now, don’t head out to your garden and start munching on your flowers, but it could be a good idea to add hibiscus tea to your routine. Filled with antioxidants, hibiscus tea also provides nice amounts of vitamins C and K, and the plant’s extract has shown positive effects in studies regarding the lowering of blood sugar levels. It is recommended that you keep your hibiscus tea habits to no more than 2-4 cups a day though, as drinking more than that could cause toxicity.
#17: Turmeric Tea
If you’ve cooked up any Indian dishes and curries at home, you’ve probably broken out the turmeric on plenty of occasions. But in addition to making your dinner tasty, it can also be good for you. There is still more research needed, but so far the science is showing some really great benefits from the turmeric and its components - like curcumin. Arthritis, inflammation, degenerative eye conditions, and kidney health have all seen positive effects from turmeric. You can buy the tea at the store or grate some turmeric root yourself and brew up a delicious cup.
#16: Coffee
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It’s the second most popular beverage on the planet and yet the pros and cons of coffee have been debated for as long as we can remember. The good news - at least for all of us obsessed with our morning cup of joe - is that these days the pros seem to be winning. Some research suggests that one or two cups of coffee a day could lessen the likelihood of heart failure. Coffee can also reduce your odds of getting colon cancer and Alzheimer. Dark roast coffee has also been shown to actually strengthen your DNA strands. Of course adding cream and sugar can diminish your coffee’s healthy-quotient and so can over-consumption. So, keep your total caffeine intake under 400 milligrams per day.
#15: Dark Green Vegetable Drink
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From a young age we’ve been told to eat our vegetables and yet many of us still aren’t ingesting enough of them. Especially when it comes to the dark green variety - of which about 80% of Americans aren’t eating the recommended daily amount. We’re talking kale, spinach, bok choy, broccoli, and swiss chard to name just a few. High in fiber and low in calories, these dark green veggies are rockin’ vitamins C, A and K as well as folate, iron, calcium, and potassium. And a great way to get all of that goodness in one shot is in drink form - assuming they are all-natural and without lots of added sugars and unhealthy extras.
#14: Smoothies
Smoothies are completely reliant on what you put in them, meaning they can be as healthy or as unhealthy as you make them. Throw in dark green veggies, vitamin rich fruit, some healthy extras like chia seeds and tumeric, and you are looking good. But sweeten it with extra sugar (besides what comes naturally from the fruit) or pour in full-fat dairy products and you’re just hurting yourself. As long as you keep that in mind, then go ahead and mix and match to your heart’s content until you find the combos that taste great to you.
#13: Pomegranate Juice
While the Food and Drug Administration took issue with some of the health claims made by POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice, it turns out the stuff is actually pretty wonderful. The Wonderful Company might’ve exaggerated or insinuated some health benefits that aren’t completely scientifically accurate, but there are truly some legit health benefits to the fruit. Pomegranates are full of a strong antioxidant called polyphenol and the National Institutes of Health mentions pomegranates as a possible natural remedy in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. There is also some evidence that may suggest a link between the consumption of pomegranates and lower blood pressure and the fighting of arthritis.
#12: Kombucha
The fermented black tea drink has been around for thousands of years, but much more recently it has become a hip drink among wellness fanatics. You probably have at least one person in your life that’s obsessed with the stuff and can’t stop telling you about how good it is for you. And how it can cure everything from baldness to cancer. But can it really? Well, the truth is there actually isn’t a ton of scientific evidence to back up many of those claims. There is evidence to suggest that the drink, due to the fermentation, does have probiotic benefits for a person’s gut health and microbiome. Although, that same fermentation process means that it can also be harmful if not prepared properly.
#11: Flavored Sparkling Water
So, you’re trying to drink more water, but the stuff that comes out of your tap doesn’t excite you anymore? Just add a little sparkle to it. Sparkling water - aka carbonated water - is a great alternative to the plain stuff, and is just as hydrating. There is also some research to suggest carbonated water can aid with digestion. And while more research is needed, some people have found sparkling water makes them feel more full, thus helping with weight loss goals as well. Now, as for the “flavored” part, this is where we need to be careful and check the ingredients. We want all natural flavors and no sugar. So, look for zero sugar and zero calories and no artificial sweeteners either, like aspartame.
#10: Kefir
In some parts of the world Kefir is pretty common and popular. However, if you’ve never heard of it, then we can understand the idea of a fermented milk drink might not sound super appealing. But just wait until you hear about the health benefits it can provide. In just one cup of Kefir you will get 9 grams of protein as well as about a quarter of the daily recommended value of vitamin B12, riboflavin and calcium - which is good for your bones. Kefir also has antibacterial properties and is a better probiotic than yogurt. These probiotics can help with digestive problems and may be able to help fight cancer (although human studies are needed in this area).
#9: Lemon Water
We’ve already discussed adding some carbonation to your water, and now we’re going to extol the benefits of adding some lemon to it. No, this isn’t lemonade… this is lemon water. With as little as 2 tablespoons of pure lemon juice added to your glass of water you're giving yourself a nice immune booster and a 14 mg dose of vitamin C. Not to mention that it makes for a pleasant change of pace from just plain water, which hopefully translates into drinking more water throughout the day. Sounds like a win-win to us.
#8: Red Wine
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Besides making the people around you seem more interesting and attractive, red wine can actually be good for your overall health in the long term. But before you uncork that bottle of pinot noir or race to pop a spout in that box of cabernet sauvignon, there are a few things you should know. While you might’ve never heard of resveratrol, it seems like it’s the key to many of the potential benefits of red wine. Resveratrol is an antioxidant in the wine, and some studies have found a link between it and a lower risk for heart disease. Some research has also shown possible benefits of red wine in fighting dementia and insulin resistance. But in moderation please! We’re talking 1-2 glasses per day.
#7: Cranberry Juice
When’s the last time you had cranberry juice? If you’re like us, it was probably the last time you had a urinary tract infection. Cranberry juice has become almost synonymous with the treatment of UTIs - but you want to know something? There isn’t actually any proof that the juice can cure them. However, there is evidence to show that pure cranberry juice (not cranberry juice cocktail) can help prevent UTIs, so drinking it more regularly could definitely help on that preventative front. But cranberry juice is also good for much more than just that - including your heart and digestive health. There is also the theory that cranberries can fight some viruses, but more research is needed to know for sure.
#6: Coconut Water
Not to be confused with coconut milk, coconut water is the clear fluid found inside a coconut. And unlike Tom Hanks in “Cast Away,” you don’t have to forge tools out of rocks and break open a coconut to enjoy the water inside. There are plenty of companies bottling and canning the stuff and putting it on store shelves. Although that means you need to look at the labels as some brands add sodium or other things you might not want. However, good ol’ pure coconut water is as hydrating as plain water and is high in potassium which can aid in lowering one’s blood pressure and help prevent kidney stones.
#5: Orange Juice
As the most popular fruit juice in the world, orange juice has been a part of most of our lives since we were kids. As such, you probably know that it’s a very good source of vitamin C. In fact, one cup provides two-times the recommended daily value. This is good for our immune systems and helping to fight off the oh so common, yet frustrating, cold. Take your OJ with pulp and you can also get about 5% of your daily fiber needs - which can help decrease the risks of things like heart disease and diabetes. However, along with the vitamin C and the fiber you’re also getting 21 grams of sugar per cup - which is quite a bit. So, we must encourage moderation.
#4: Fat Free Milk
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It’s true, like the ads used to say: milk - it does do a body good. Assuming of course, that you aren’t lactose intolerant. However, if you can tolerate it, then may we recommend the fat free version? Skim milk is just regular milk with the fat removed. Yes, our understanding of fats have changed over the years, with science now suggesting there are good fats and bad fats. The problem is that the fat in milk is the “bad” kind which can raise your LDL (your bad cholesterol). Whereas skim milk has zero fats and half the calories of whole milk with the same amount of protein and calcium.
#3: Beet Juice
Looking to train harder and improve your stamina? Well, guess what can help with that? Yup… beet juice. Turns out beets have these nitrates which can help with improved blood flow and blood pressure, upping your stamina game and allowing for longer workouts. There was also a study done in 2011 that suggests a diet high in nitrates may have a positive effect on slowing dementia in older people. Beyond the nitrates, beets are also a nice source of vitamin C, iron, folate, fiber, antioxidants and potassium. Oh, and your pee will turn red. Don’t freak out - it’s normal and harmless.
#2: Green Tea
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When it comes to veggies, green is one of the healthiest colors to look for. And it turns out the same can be said for teas. But while there are many claims about how good green tea is for you, not all of said claims are supported by actual scientific research. Two studies that do have some weight behind them took place in Japan and followed tens of thousands of people over many years. What they found was that there does appear to be a connection between green tea consumption and lower risk of stroke and death from cardiovascular diseases. There are also some studies showing that drinking green tea may be good for both your brain and oral health.
#1: Water
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Forget about all the other health benefits of all the other drinks on this list. Because when it comes to health benefits, there is none bigger, or more important than literally keeping you alive! Water helps regulate your body temperature, oxygenate your cells, flush waste from your liver and kidneys, and lubricate your spinal cord among many other things. You might be able to go weeks without food, but humans can literally only survive a few days without water. In a way, the only reason you’re able to watch this video right now is because of water. ‘Nuff said! Which of these healthy drinks are you gonna add to your beverage routine? Let us know in the comments, and check out this other great video!
