Beverages are essential to nutrition, as they hydrate your body while allowing you to function optimally. Moreover, some options are loaded with protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals, ensuring that you stay on top of your nutrition. While water is the healthiest beverage available, certain drinks can also benefit your well-being. Here are a few worth considering.
- Kombucha
Kombucha is a sweet-and-sour drink comprising black tea, sugar, and yeast and has many health benefits. For starters, it’s a rich source of healthy bacteria that boost digestion, reduce inflammation, and aid weight loss. Likewise, it’s loaded with antioxidants that attack free radicals and reactive molecules that can damage your cells. It can also prevent liver toxicity by destroying toxic chemicals. Kombucha is also known to manage type 2 diabetes and reduce heart disease and cancer risk. Therefore, if you haven’t already, you want to include this beverage in your diet.
Kombucha is surprisingly easy to prepare, and you’ll need the following ingredients; sugar, caffeinated tea, water, and the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). However, you want to avoid using plastic containers, which can house nasty bacteria. Likewise, metal containers can react with acidic kombucha and destroy your SCOBY, so you also want to avoid them. These helpful tips can help you prepare your homemade kombucha.
- Coffee
A PR Newswire research indicates that 66% of Americans consume coffee, making it the most popular beverage. Indeed, coffee contains caffeine which stimulates the central nervous system, increases energy levels, and fights fatigue. Likewise, it contains polyphenols which have anticarcinogenic properties and can reduce cancer risks. Various surveys also link coffee to reduced liver scarring, cancer, and other liver diseases. It can also boost athletic performance and heart health while prolonging your life. However, how you drink your coffee will determine if you’ll enjoy these benefits. Therefore, you’ll find it helpful to avoid loading your coffee with sugar; you can consider stevia if you like your coffee sweet.
Adding cinnamon to your coffee can also enhance its taste while lowering cholesterol and glucose levels, so keep this in mind. Since coffee beans’ quality greatly depends on the cultivation and processing method, investing in organic options is advisable to avoid consuming toxins from pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Also, experts advise drinking coffee moderately, as too much can have adverse effects. You can learn more here to help you take coffee the right way.
- Hibiscus tea
Hibiscus tea is made by infusing parts of the hibiscus plant in boiling water and tastes and looks similar to cranberry juice. Not only is it abundant in antioxidants, but it can also reduce blood fat levels. Moreover, it boosts weight loss, promotes liver health, and prevents cancers. Additionally, it can kill bacteria that cause UTIs, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other infections. Fortunately, hibiscus tea is easy to make, and you can begin by obtaining dried hibiscus flowers, water, and sugar. Online resources also have various recipes you can enjoy, so you can leverage them for the best results.