Healthy Drinks For Being Fit And Losing Weight
The great debate continues on what healthy drinks you should have whether you are trying to lose weight or just be healthy. Huge money is spent on advertising, stop reading for a moment and try to think of the last time you watched a game without a sports drink commercial. If you are trying to lose weight or stay fit then knowing what you are drinking is important. If you’re trying to lose weight, switching to healthy drinks is a good place to start. Not only can you save calories by never drinking sweetened drinks but cutting out the sugar contents will help you keep your insulin levels down and prevent sugars in your body from turning into fat.
Water
Water is obviously the best healthy drink choice. Boring or not, it contains no calories or sugar. It will also help you feel energized and fight the “starvation” mode that leads to binge eating, usually binge eating is something unhealthy. Try drinking at least 8 cups of water a day, preferably 16. Plain water doesn’t work for you put in a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime.
Green Tea
One of my favorite healthy drinks! Hot green tea is simple to make but because green tea is so good for you, I enjoy it cold too. Best way to avoid a lot of additives is to make your own which is really simpler than it sounds. I make my own with the following method – heat 4 cups of filtered water on high for 4 minutes. While the water is heating, grab 7 bags of organic green tea and cut the strings off. After 4 minutes, remove water from heat and drop in the bags. Set time for 4 minutes, stir occasionally. While waiting, fill your sink halfway with cold water. After 4 minutes is up, remove bags from water and place your pot of tea in the cold water. Set the timer for 4 minutes. Get a pitcher and put in one tablespoon of organic honey (you don’t have to use honey, I do because it helps with my sweet tooth) and squeeze in one lemon. When the timer goes off, pour the tea into the pitcher, shake it up to mix everything together then place in the fridge.
Diet Beverages
Water and tea may not work for you when you are first starting out, especially if you are addicted to sugary drinks. If you are going to continue drinking soda, switch to diet. There is a great debate on the healthiness of diet beverages but this is not a longterm strategy, it’s purpose is to help you get off sugary drinks and the horrible calories they add to your diet along with other unhealthy things like artificial flavors, sweeteners, etc.. Try not to drink more than 2 cups of any diet beverage a day. Write down a goal of when you will stop drinking diet beverages all together, which is ideal.
Wine
Wine has a lot of calories and some contain more sugars than others. Plus if you are trying to lose weight, alcohol is not recommended on most weight loss programs however, one life, right? You can’t cut everything out you enjoy or you will not stick with the plan. Having a glass of wine with your dinner not only will help you relax but may help protect against weight gain. Just don’t drink a full bottle! If you prefer to have a cocktail with dinner, mix it with club or diet soda.
What are your favorite healthy drinks? Please comment below!
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