Staying Hydrated: Healthy Alternatives to Soda
With temperatures soaring to record-level highs, we are all looking for ways to cool off and stay hydrated. It's easy to reach for sugary (or even diet) sodas as a way to quench our thirst but these types of drinks do not satisfy our need for hydration. They actually do the opposite and make us crave more of the drink, all while not fully hydrating our bodies.
So, if you generally don't find yourself reaching for a glass or bottle of water to hydrate and instead pop open a can of soda when you're thirsty, here are a few alternatives you can try to optimize your hydration, avoid ingesting additional sugars and improve your overall health.
- Infused Water: Add your favorite fruit and/or vegetables to your water for a burst of flavor and nutrition. Try cucumber slices in ice water for a crisp, refreshing drink, or lemon slices with fresh mint leaves. Add raspberries, orange peel, thyme and pomegranate to your water for an explosion of flavor. Just add the fruit or vegetables straight to your water in a bottle or glass, or use an infuser that keeps the solids away from the liquids while still allowing the solids to put out their flavor.
- Sparkling Water: Whether plain or flavored, sparkling water such as La Croix, Bubly, Topo Chico or Perrier is an excellent alternative to soda since it offers carbonation without any sugar, sodium or harmful chemicals. Pour sparkling water over ice for a delightfully fizzy beverage that will quench your thirst and satisfy your craving for carbonation. Add your favorite fruit and herbs to bring your sparkling water up a notch!
- Home-Brewed Iced Tea: Black tea, green tea, jasmine tea, oolong tea, lavender tea... the possibilities are endless! Flavorful teas aren't just meant to be consumed as a hot beverage. Brew lavender tea and add a sprig of fresh rosemary over ice for a floral burst of flavor, or green tea with fresh mint on ice for a cool drink that will make you forget all about soda. Skip the sugar and give unsweetened tea a try - you might be surprised how much more enjoyable you find the unaltered taste of the tea without the overpowering influence of sugar.
- Fresh Juice: Blend fresh seedless watermelon with red grapes and fresh mint for a surprising treat that's also a great dessert alternative. Squeeze fresh oranges and enjoy a burst of citrus flavor anytime of day. Using a juicing machine, make a green juice with apples, celery, parsley, spinach and whatever green herbs you like such as cilantro. If you don't like the pulp, just strain it out. A nutrient-packed, freshly made juice is also a fantastic alternative that's fun to make and palatable for the kiddos.
When you shop at the grocery store, be sure to pick up your favorite herbs for cooking and beverage infusion, or even plan to grow your own herb garden so you always have easy access to your favorite herbs. An herb garden can be as simple or as complex as you'd like. Pot seeds or established plants (check your produce department or the entrance to your grocery store - they're almost always there!) and be sure to place the pots in sunlight exposure that is appropriate for those herbs. Create an above-ground garden box with nutrient-rich soil and add pick lines that tie into your irrigation system to keep them watered (but a watering can will work just as well).
However you hydrate, make it fun, fresh and let your imagination be your guide!
