Week #12 is a fun challenge….. Drinks to Improve Your Health! I find this one of easier challenges so far. I hope that you will enjoy it with me.
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6 Common Drinks that you can consume that will Improve Your Health!
Drinking is essential is our well being. We can chose drinks that are heal, give us energy and assist our body in thriving. Keep in mind that our goal is to have a healthy body so that we can live life with less inflammation, ailments and disease.
Let’s be careful in what we chose to drink; some drinks cause the opposite affect of life giving. Drinks that contain alcohol, high quantities of caffeine and sugar will not be on the list. I’ll address briefly the negative affects they can have on our body.
Drinks to Improve Your Health Challenge.
- Briefly address 3 common drinks that damage our body.
- Benefits and cautions with 6 drinks that Improve our Health
- Challenge: incorporate these drinks into your daily life.
Three common drinks that damage our body.
None of them will come as a huge surprise to you. The rule “everything in moderation” does not apply to these particular drink-types. Every single one does damage.
Drinks that contain alcohol. “Just one drink” contributes to inflammation in our body, which is the source of all disease. Our stomach, heart, colon, pancreas, and liver are negatively effected. However, the organ that takes the biggest hit from alcohol is the liver. Alcohol causing liver disease and cirrhosis. Our brains do not like any alcohol, as it impairs our central nervous system and does irreparable damage to our brain cells. Alcohol is addicting and linked to higher incidents of depression, injury and domestic violence. Check out The Truth About What Alcohol Does to Your Body.
Highly caffeinated drinks. More than just 2 cups of coffee and one 8 oz. energy drink does more damage to your body. Caffeine increases your alertness which leads to anxiety. It’s hard on our digestive system and muscle fibers. Caffeine is also an addictive drink that is linked to increased depression, anxiety, dehydration, and overall fatigue. Growing Concerns of Energy Drinks in children, teen and adults, Behind the Boost.
Sugary drinks. When we drink our sugar, it leads to serious health problems. In this context think of juice and soda. Drinking our sugars leads to weight gain and obesity. Children double their risk of dental cavities and issues. Our body does not “use sugar” in fact it’s a source of fat on our liver and stomach. Lastly, sugar is addicting.
Drinks That Improve Your Health
The six drinks featured below are just a few of the most common ways to drink to better your health.
Water.
- hydrates body
- detoxes our organs
- boosts immunity
- prevents injuries
- increases energy
- stimulates brain
- decrease cravings
Key: Drink: 8 – 8oz. water, on average. How Much Water Should I Drink by MayoClinic.
Caution: Do not over hydrate as you can deplete electrolyte levels.
Coffee.
- boosts immunity
- contains vitamins & minerals
- better absorption
- benefits heart
- high in antioxidants
- improved concentration
Key: Drink one cup of organic coffee, (no artificial sweeteners or pasteurized creamer. Organic Fair Trade Breakfast Blend Coffee.
Caution: One cup of coffee could give you the jitters, so drink with caution. Due to coffee containing caffeine, it can become quickly addicting. The Health Benefits and Drawback of Drinking Coffee.
Tea.
- high antioxidant
- good for heart health
- decrease risk of disease
- boosts immune system
- soothes gastric health
- improve brain functions (specific green tea)
- boosts metabolic rate (specific to green tea)
- relaxes due to amino acids (specific to green tea)
Key: Drink 1-2 cups of organic tea. (No artificial sweeteners or pasteurized creamers) My favorite Green Tea by Yogi Tea. Benefits of Drinking Green Tea or Matcha Green Tea.
Caution: Black and Green tea both contain caffeine, approximately a 1/3 less than coffee.
Coconut Water.
- contains potassium, magnesium, calcium
- antioxidants
- replenishes electrolytes
- hydrates
- aids in digestion
- low calories
- prevents kidney stones
Key: Drink 8oz. after physical activity, spending time in hot or cold weather. Zico Coconut Water.
Caution: Look for brands that contain raw, unpasteurized coconuts, no added sugars, and additives.
Kombucha.
- probiotic benefits.
- lowers body pH.
- reduces inflammation.
- lowers triglyceride levels, making it heart healthy.
- detoxes your liver.
- restores balance in your gut.
Key: Start by drinking 4 oz. a day and slowly work up to 8 oz. a day. Benefits of Drinking Kombucha Tea.
Caution: Look for brands that contain less sugar. Your gut will need time to adjust to it’s strong probiotic nature.
Homemade Electrolytes.
- lower in sugar (compared to commercial brands)
- provides essential minerals for your body
- stimulate our muscles and nerves
- replenishes electrolytes lost during exercise or weather-related issues
- hydrates
- No artificial colors and flavors (compared to commercial brands)
Key: Drink 4 oz. every hour for 4 hours; after exercising for more than 1 hour, you’ve been exposed to cold temperatures or extremely hot temperatures.
Caution: Always drink with purified water as well so as not to exceed the sodium levels in our body.
Drinks to Improve Your Health Challenge
You have 6 healthy choices to chose from: water, coffee, tea, kombucha, coconut water, and homemade electrolytes.
Challenge: Try to incorporate these into your daily routine. Now, I don’t care for coffee, so that would not be one I chose to make part of my routine. I do love green tea and enjoy a cup every morning.
Replace one of the healthier options for an unhealthy one.
Share your challenge one of 4 ways; by commenting below, commenting on my Facebook page, Instagram page or email me your acceptance. Use #accept21weekhealthchallenge on your social media comments.
Pursing Better Health Together,
[…] Buy yourself a reusable water bottle and fill it up at the start of the day. Be cautious of how many times you refill it. Drinks to Your Improve Your Health. […]