Do you struggle to drink enough plain water on a regular basis? Many people find themselves reaching for sodas, juice, milk and other beverages throughout the day. But most of those drinks come with high sugar content, high fat content or loads of caffeine. If you're looking to boost your well-being, consider drinking healthy alternatives instead.
Choosing the right drinks when you're thirsty can make a huge difference for your overall health. Certain drinks can do more than keep you hydrated — they might help you sleep better, relieve pain, improve your digestion and promote weight loss. If you have trouble drinking plain water, opt for flavorful, fun, healthy drinks.
Healthy and Tasty Alternatives to Water
The drinks you choose have as much impact on your daily nutrition as the food you eat. With that said, you don't need to sacrifice flavor — you can find plenty of healthy drinks besides plain water. Here are some of the healthiest, tastiest water alternatives you might consider drinking.
Coconut Water
An ideal beverage choice is coconut water. Found at the center of young coconuts, it's full of nutrients, helping nourish the young fruit as it grows. A cup of coconut water offers about 45 to 60 calories. Its content is water-based, with tons of vitamins and minerals, including:
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Sodium
- Calcium
It's also a good source of fiber, protein and healthy carbohydrates. Because it contains electrolytes, coconut water helps rehydrate you after exercise-induced sweating. If you've yet to try coconut water and are wondering about the taste, you can expect a sweet flavor with subtle hints of nuttiness. You can buy bottled coconut water, but some feel the taste is fresher straight from the fruit itself.
Keep in mind, coconut water is not the same as coconut milk. While coconut water is the liquid mixture found in the young fruit, coconut milk is water mixed with grated coconut meat. Coconut milk has a higher calorie and fat content than regular coconut water, though it still offers health benefits. If you're looking for an option comparable to water, be sure to choose coconut water.
Turmeric Drinks
CURCUMIN, the active compound in Turmeric, offers lots of potential health benefits. In Pakistan, a common natural remedy for inflammation and pain is a paste made from turmeric powder. Drinks containing CURCUMIN and other beneficial compounds deliver refreshment with benefits, making Turmeric drinks a healthy water alternative.
If you're looking for a CURCUMIN-infused beverage, ZYN is an excellent choice. ZYN offers drinks containing CURCUMIN mixed with piperine to promote absorption, and these natural ingredients have demonstrated healing properties for hundreds of years.
Each bottle contains only 25 calories, so it's perfect for a low-calorie diet. It's also low in carbohydrates, with only 4 grams of added sugar and no high-fructose corn syrup. These drinks also contain vitamins C and D, which contribute to overall health. You can find ZYN Immunity & Recovery Drinks in four different flavors, including:
- Mixed Berry
- Mango Lychee
- Pomegranate Cranberry
- Lemon Ginger
You can also stock up on ZYN with Daily Wellness Drink Mixes. All you have to do is stir in the dry mix packet with water for a tasty, healthy drink on the go. These packs are perfect for slipping in your pocket or lunch box for later. You can keep it interesting with flavor options including Blackberry Dragon Fruit, Mango Pomegranate, Passion Fruit Lemonade and Strawberry Yuzu.
Hot or Iced Tea
Tea is another healthy alternative beverage, which is just as delicious hot or chilled. Most teas are rich in nutrients and antioxidants yet have zero calories. Be careful when sweetening your tea, as too much added sugar could undermine the drink's health benefits. You might opt for a drop of natural honey rather than several spoonfuls of sugar. Some tea options include:
1. Green Tea
Green tea contains high levels of polyphenols, a type of plant compound offering many health benefits. Polyphenols seem to guard against health conditions and reduce inflammation. Green tea contains caffeine, but in much smaller amounts than you'd find in black coffee, soda or energy drinks. It can help you stay focused and alert without making you feel jittery and uncomfortable.
2. Black Tea
If you're relying on an unhealthy source of caffeine every day, consider switching to black tea. It has more caffeine than green tea while still containing helpful polyphenols. Drinking black tea has a direct link to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, with no evidence of causing damaging side effects.
3. Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is an excellent caffeine-free beverage for before bed or for those who are sensitive to caffeine. You can find herbal teas in a wide range of flavors, such as:
- Chamomile
- Ginger
- Eucalyptus
- Raspberry
- Citrus
Kombucha
Another healthy drink choice is kombucha, which is fermented tea. It has all the same health benefits as regular tea — and the fermentation process results in lactic-acid bacteria that may offer probiotic function. Probiotics are thought to aid digestion, reduce inflammation and contribute to weight loss.
Kombucha is low in calories, fat, sodium and carbohydrates. It contains some B vitamins and might contain caffeine. If you're looking to shed a few pounds, reaching for kombucha instead of other caffeinated drinks could help.
Water With Fruit
For those who need to stay hydrated but hate the taste of plain water, adding natural fruit flavors could make it more palatable. You could add lemon, lime or orange for a slight citrus twist. Or you could add cucumber and mint to mix it up. Everyone needs to drink water throughout the day, so why not make it a little less boring? You might find yourself drawn to the natural flavors.
Seltzers
If you'll miss the carbonation found in soft drinks, try seltzer water! Seltzer water is a perfect alternative to soda. It provides the carbonation you prefer without the unhealthy sugars and artificial flavorings, and it will actually hydrate you, unlike soda. Most seltzers contain natural fruit flavors, but you should always check the label for artificial sweeteners. Note, seltzer, club soda and tonic water are all different, and seltzer water is usually the healthiest of the three.
Seltzer is simply flat water with fruit flavor and carbon dioxide to add carbonation. That's it. Club soda, on the other hand, contains chemical compounds such as sodium bicarbonate and potassium sulfate. Tonic water often includes high-fructose corn syrup and quinine. So make sure you opt for seltzer, not club soda or tonic water.
Try ZYN for Delicious Water Alternatives
With so many tasty drinks on the shelf of every grocery store and gas station, it can be challenging to choose water. Thankfully, you can find plenty of fun, delicious and healthy alternatives to water — drinks that will hydrate you and provide other health benefits along the way. If you're on the hunt for healthy water alternatives, give ZYN a try.
ZYN is an ideal alternative to water. It'll keep you hydrated while offering CURCUMIN's potential health benefits. Research shows the ingredients in ZYN can boost your immune system, reduce inflammation and help you stay strong. Not to mention, it's delicious, with several tasty flavor options, so stock your fridge with ready-to-go bottles or stock your pantry with portable mix packets. Browse ZYN flavor options and buy online today.