You’re probably well versed in the fact that drinking enough water is essential for your health. Staying hydrated has many benefits, from transporting nutrients to getting rid of waste and toxins. But what if you’re not a fan of plan ‘ol water? No problem! Try these 9 healthy drinks besides water to help keep you hydrated and healthy.
9 Healthy Drinks Besides Water
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1. Seltzer Water
Seltzer water is typically just plain water, natural flavorings (like lemon or lime), and carbonation. If you buy brands that fit that criteria, it should have no calories and no sweeteners (added or artificial). This makes it an excellent choice to use for daily hydration.
The only caveat is that the carbonation may cause some burping and/or bloating for some people. If that’s you, try switching back to plain water and seeing if it helps! But for most people, carbonated water is tolerated just fine.
2. Unsweetened Tea
Whether it’s black, green, or herbal, unsweetened teas are a great way to mix different flavors into your routine. You can brew them hot or cold, and since they’re unsweetened, you’re looking at another no-calorie beverage.
Here are a few personal favorites:
- Tazo Passion Tea (amazing hot or cold!)
- Bigelow Lemon Lift Tea
- NOW Foods Righteous Raspberry Tea
Keep in mind that certain teas (like black and green) do typically contain caffeine, so just be cautious about the amounts your family is drinking if you have young kids. It’s wise to limit caffeine intake for the little ones.
Fun fact: Most adults have a misconception though that the caffeine in coffee and tea is dehydrating. In reality, as long as you’re not going crazy overboard with it (more than a few cups a day), research shows that caffeinated tea and coffee are not dehydrating.
3. Coconut Water
Coconut water is a naturally hydrating drink, aptly named as it’s sourced from the center of coconuts. It has a sweet flavor and is a good source of potassium, an electrolyte that’s been shown to help regulate blood pressure. For these reasons, it can be a healthy drink besides water to incorporate in your day sometimes.
The key word is sometimes, though. An 8 ounce cup of coconut water still has around 45 calories and 10 grams of sugar, so it’s not something you want to drink for all your daily beverages. However, a cup a day can certainly fit into a healthy diet and add some nice variety to your routine!
4. Unsweetened Almond Milk
Unsweetened almond milk is another healthy drink other than water. It’s naturally low in calories, clocking in around 30 per cup. Most commercial varieties are also fortified with Calcium and Vitamin D, both of which are important for bone health. You can try drinking the almond milk as is, or blending it into a smoothie for a hydrating snack.
You can also try making your own homemade almond milk! Simply soak a cup of almonds in water overnight. Then next day, drain the almonds and place them in a blender with 3-4 cups of fresh water. Blend everything up, then run it through a fine sieve. Boom – homemade almond milk.
5. Infused Water
Infused waters are simply flavored waters – but not the sugary or artificially sweetened ones you might find at the store. Instead, add your own fruit, herbs, or vegetables to your water to create delicious and nutritious flavors.
Here are a few unique combinations to try:
- Lemon, cucumber, and mint
- Strawberry and kiwi
- Blackberry and mint
- Watermelon and basil
- Raspberry, blueberry, and lemon
You can just toss the fruits, vegetables, and herbs right in the water to infuse it. Or, if you’d prefer, you can try an infuser bottle to help contain those items but still let their flavors soak into the water. Try checking out this 32 ounce infuser bottle for when you’re on the go, or this larger infuser pitcher for at home.
6. Healthy hot chocolate
What – hot chocolate as a healthy drink?! Yes, it’s true! You can make a nutritious hot chocolate by warming up milk or almond milk along with cocoa powder and either honey or maple syrup. This is definitely more of a treat than a regular drink, but it’s certainly a sweet treat you can include regularly.
7. Green juices
While most juices are primarily fruit-based – and thus are somewhat high in calories and sugar – green juices tend to be more veggie-centric. They can also contribute extra vitamins and minerals towards your daily needs.
You can make homemade green juices by running veggies like cucumbers, kale, celery, and other greens through your juicer. I recommend adding a little fruit, like apple and lemon, to balance out the taste.
You can also grab store-bought versions for a more convenient option! One that I love is Suja Uber Greens, with just 50 calories per bottle and a great fresh taste.
8. Beetroot juice
Beet juice has been trending in the fitness world for a while now, and for good reason. Beets contain dietary nitrates, which act as a vasodilator – in other words, they help to open up blood vessels. This can help lower blood pressure. And for any of your runners, it might help improve performance too!
It can be a bit hard to locate at the grocery store, but you may be able to spot it in the natural foods section. Of course, you can also juice it yourself at home.
9. Ginger Root Tea
While not technically a tea like we think of it (aka from leaves), this definitely faux tea deserves a spot on this list. Ginger is thought to be an anti-inflammatory food, so this is a great option to mix in regularly.
You can make it by peeling and boiling fresh ginger root for 10-20 minutes. Then add in lemon juice and honey to taste.
I hope you enjoyed all these healthy drink ideas – don’t forget to pin this post so you can refer to it again later!
Drinks are the best way to be healthy because it is the tastiest and cheapest way to hydrated and healthy.