When we think of the best healthy drinks, there are numerous options that pop into our mind. Isn’t it? Among all the beverages, it is safe to say that water is undoubtedly the best choice, and there’s no denying it. It significantly impacts our health due to the endless advantages it offers to our overall well-being.

Besides water, there are other drinks that taste better and provide equal nutritional benefits. On the other hand, some drinks may claim to be safe to consume but, in reality, are harmful and contribute to various health problems.  Therefore, it is imperative to understand the best and unhealthy drinks for health to make the right choices and maintain a healthy lifestyle in the long run.

For this reason, this guide will help you decide the best and worst drinks for your health, considering all the essential factors like sugar content, calorie count, nutrient density, and potential health risks. Let’s dive into the blog straight away!

1. Good Choice: Natural & Fresh Juices

Fresh, healthy, chemical and sugar-free juices prepared with seasonal, high-quality fruits and vegetables are one of the healthiest drinks to get all the unique nutritional benefits while maintaining electrolyte balance to get our bodies to function at their best. They offer many health advantages, including:

• Drinking super hydrating juices like Watermelon, Cucumber, Lemon water, or Aloe Vera juice boost hydration
• Immunity boosting juices enriched with Vitamin C naturally improve gut health and reduce the risk of illness or virus
• Increase the intake of vegetables or fruits in your diet that you miss otherwise
• A glass of Beetroot, Mandarin, Pomegranate, Apple, Aloe Vera, Ginger, and Lemon juice is all you need for soft and blemish-free skin
• Fill up the stomach for a longer period due to the presence of fibre, meaning you can avoid overeating and manage weight easily
• Naturally sweet juices are great to satisfy sweet cravings without spiking blood sugar level

2. Good Choice: Green Tea

Green tea has been a hit among fitness enthusiasts for years, and for good reason. For those who don’t know, green tea is rich in antioxidants and has been shown to help reduce the risk of various diseases, including cancer and heart disease, according to Medical News Today.

It also positively affects weight loss, preventing type-2 diabetes, and avoiding bad breath. No wonder it is the second most consumed beverage in the world, as per a report from the International Institute of Sustainable development. There are many amazing reasons to feel better thanks to the range of positive health benefits from green tea. So make it a part of your diet if you haven’t already!

3. Good Choice: Low-fat Milk

Milk is one of the healthiest drinks because it contains essential nutrients such as calcium, protein, vitamin D, and potassium, which are incredibly important for strong teeth and bones. However, whole milk can increase cholesterol levels due to the presence of a high amount of saturated fats, as per Healthline. Therefore, low-fat milk is a great drink because it is lower in saturated fat and calories.

Choosing low-fat milk instead of whole milk can be a nutritious and healthy choice. You can intake essential nutrients without the potential risks associated with the saturated fats and calories found in whole milk. Soy milk and almond milk are also great choices.

4. Good Choice: Butter Milk

The OG summer drink – Buttermilk, aka Chaas, is a traditional summer drink that is oh-so refreshing and energizing. It will keep you cool and sane, especially during the hot days of the year. If you want to manage weight in the long run, drink Chaas because it has fewer calories, as the butter is separated from the milk, and it also makes you feel full, reducing the unnecessary consumption of processed food.

Being a good source of protein, calcium, and other vital vitamins, this natural coolant is excellent for the digestive system, bones, teeth, immune system, and skin health.

If you are not making buttermilk at home, try traditionally made OMDAIRY A2 Gir Cow Buttermilk. It is fresh, natural, and full of nutrients upto the brim. Call at 8882210294 for more details.

5. Good Choice: Soup

There’s nothing better than a bowl of soup to maintain a healthy weight and attain other nutritional benefits. When made from vegetables or broth-based, soups are rich in nutrition and low in calories. This helps to maintain hydration and reduce the risk of several diseases.

A lot of soups are rich in fibre, making them a perfect way to curb sudden hunger. Having a comforting and soothing bowl of seasonal vegetable soup is a great idea to increase the vegetables in your diet that you otherwise miss.

6. Good Choice: Infused Water

Water is perfect, but it’s challenging to drink 3-4 litres of the plain taste of water. That’s where infused water comes into the picture. You can infuse water with different seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs, using the best combination to stay hydrated, get essential nutrients, and enhance overall wellness. Enjoy an extra punch of flavour without additional calories, sugar, or artificial extras – this is why this naturally flavoured water made it to our list of best drinks for health.

7. Bad Choice: Sugary Drinks

Sugary drinks like carbonated sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks, sweetened tea/coffee, and canned juices, are high in sugar, caffeine, and other preservatives to enhance their taste and colour. This makes them unsafe to consume, as they can increase the risk of type-2 diabetes and rapid weight gain, along with other potential health risks like sleeping problems, dehydration, stress, depression, and anxiety.

They might give you an instant boost of energy, but after some time, you will feel more exhausted and sleepy, which is called a sugar crash. Learn to control the urge to drink sodas or coffee to prevent the negative effects of these unhealthy drinks.

8. Bad Choice: Carbonated Water

We agree that the plain taste of water can be bland sometimes and it really gets difficult when you have to consume 3-4 liters every day. However, turning to carbonated waters and seltzers, aka sparkling mineral water, club soda or flavoured water, is a big NO!

Why? Many of them are packed with hidden artificial sweeteners to enhance taste that, on the other hand, lower the nutritional value. The healthiest types of carbonated waters and seltzers are naturally sweetened and unflavoured. Carefully check the nutrition label and analyse the brand before purchasing.

9. Bad Choice: Alcohol

Alcohol has always been among the unhealthiest drinks. It is linked with a range of health problems. Some of the common chronic diseases linked with excessive consumption include liver damage, high blood pressure, weight gain, and increased risk of cancer. Don’t just limit consumption but cut back on it altogether.

10. Bad Choice: Ice cream Milkshakes

Milkshakes are high in calories due to the combination of ice cream, whole milk, and artificial sweeteners. The calorie content increases when you include other elements like chocolates or biscuits. You’re consuming calories without any nutritional benefits, which can increase your weight and the risk of tooth decay. If consumed in excess, the risk of type 2 diabetes also rises. Enough reasons to cut back on this unhealthy drink!

Final Thoughts

Sure, water is the best drink out there to optimise our overall well-being, but the best healthy drinks we have outlined above also make good choices to consume without compromising health.

We need to be mindful and informed to step toward better health and wellness. So, focus on drinking plenty of water along with the healthiest drinks, which are low in sugar and caffeine and brimming with health benefits, like the ones we shared above!

Combine this with regular workouts, and you’re good to go to live a disease-free life!