Drinks To Avoid And Their Healthy Alternatives
Are you familiar with the effects of sugary, light, gas, energy or industrial juice drinks? There are people who consume them daily, but do not know the damage they cause to health in the long run. These are drinks to be avoided completely.
In this article, we explain the reasons and offer some natural and healthy alternatives to achieve the same results without harming our body.
Sweetened drinks
White sugar does not provide us with any nutrients and many nutritionists nowadays consider it a real poison.It contains the so-called empty calories which, in addition to contributing to being overweight, represent a risk factor in the development of type 2 diabetes and can damage the teeth .
In addition, white sugar acidifies the blood and demineralizes us. In fact it deprives us of minerals such as calcium and leaves our teeth and bones weaker and weaker. Here are some to healthy lternative to white sugar:
- Brown sugar
- Panela
- Bee honey
- Molasses
- Maple syrup
- Agave syrup
- Miso of cereals (rice, barley, etc.)
- Natural fruit syrups (apple, pear, etc.)
Light drinks
Light drinks can be even more harmful than those containing sugar, as they contain sweeteners and, in most cases, are aspartame, which is potentially carcinogenic. Although they are lower in calories, they are not a healthy option: these drinks should be totally avoided.
The best alternative we can find is stevia, a plant with numerous medicinal properties that sweetens much more than sugar and contains no calories. It also has a particular flavor, similar to licorice, which goes very well with herbal infusions.
However, if its flavor seems too strong to use it as a sweetener, you can opt for refined stevia. Although it no longer possesses the original healing properties, it still does not contain components that are harmful to health.
A very simple, light and delicious option is lemonade with stevia. Here’s how to prepare it:
- In a blender, chop a lemon (organic) cut into small pieces with fresh water
- Pass it through a colander
- Finally add stevia to your taste
- If you wish, you can also add a little mint
Drinks with gas
The habitual consumption of carbonated drinks increases the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, people who have heart problems or who have risk factors or family history should especially avoid them .
In the long run, habitual consumption of these drinks can cause chronic kidney, heart or liver disease, as well as the increasingly frequent metabolic syndrome. That is a clinical situation with high cardiovascular risk (cholesterol, hypertension, elevated triglycerides, etc.).
Industrial juices are drinks to avoid
The juices we buy pre-made are not a healthy option, especially if drunk every day. If we consume them every now and then, they are a good alternative to sugary, light or carbonated drinks, but you don’t have to get used to taking them every day.
The fruit used is of low quality, preservatives are added and in many cases even sugar. Just by trying a juice of this type you can see the difference with a natural one, a sign that the elaboration process is very different.
Even when you choose chilled and freshly squeezed juices, not from concentrates, possibly natural and without sugar, the healthiest option is always to prepare them fresh ourselves.
It is the most vitaminic and remineralizing alternative, and can be prepared with a blender, a hand mixer or a juicer. You can add mint, ginger, cinnamon. etc.
Energy drinks to avoid
Drinks based on cola, guarana, etc., contain stimulating substances which, if consumed habitually, can alter our biorhythms and our nervous system.
They are drinks to avoid especially for children, especially if they have a tendency to be hyperactive or if they have attention deficit. People who are nervous or suffering from insomnia should also do without it.
There is a separate discussion regarding coffee and tea. Although they contain theine and caffeine, they have numerous beneficial properties for health. In this case it is advisable not to abuse it, especially if you suffer from insomnia or frequent episodes of nervousness, especially starting at noon.
Although hard to believe, the best energy drinks are natural juices, to which you can add supplements such as:
- Pollen
- Brewer’s yeast
- Wheat germ
- Honey
- Maca
- Spirulina
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
