What Should I Drink?

For many people, the aluminum can or plastic bottle of carbonated sodas are the equivalent of a baby bottle. You always see them being carried and guzzled down like a sweet sense of security is being released upon ingestion. The easiest way to start down the path to healthy living is changing what you feed your body. I'll start with some common beverages you should avoid and follow with healthy alternatives. I've included links to support my claims. I also urge you to search the web yourself to identify the negative and positive effects of these items on your health.

1. Sodas (or 'dopes' as I call them) are stocked full of sugar and caffeine. 'Diet' soda is much worse, having artificial sweeteners that have been classified as neurotoxins. The effects of these chemicals on the body are slowly coming to light and the results are scary. They are revealed as carcinogens and contributing factors to heart disease. These drinks also increase the acidity of your body making you less healthy overall. 8 Dangers of Diet Soda

2. Cow's milk is a staple in many Americans' diets. The milk of our generation is highly likely to contain growth hormones and antibiotics. These additives increase the risk of cancer and decrease the ability of your body to use antibiotics when you actually need them to fight illness. A large portion of the nation is also found to have difficulty digesting cow's milk. Cow's milk can be affecting your body without you even realizing it. Milk: America's Health Problem

3. Sweet tea is among the ranks with dopes. As a Southern woman who was raised on the goodness that is sweet tea, this was the most difficult drink for me to give the boot. It is full of caffeine and sugar. The diuretic effect causes you to become dehydrated and use the good nutrients in your diet less efficiently. The Effect of Caffeine on Vitamin Absorption

4. Alcohol use is something many people cringe to think of as unhealthy. There has been debate this way and that about the positive and negative effects of alcohol on the body. Alcohol is empty calories with low nutritional value. Many young adults often skip meals, purposefully or not, to increase the effects of alcohol. Ditching food is not cool! You need to keep yourself full of healthy calories or you run the risk of throwing your metabolic balance out of whack. When you decrease caloric intake on a regular basis, your body slows the rate of metabolism to conserve energy. CDC Alcohol Fact Sheet

5. Electrolyte supplements have been advertised as a healthy drink for athletes, however, most are sugar and sodium. The negative effects are weight GAIN, high blood pressure and tooth decay. Gatorade Health Risks Gatorade Not Fit for Gators or Kids

6. Energy drinks are mostly full of caffeine and additives. Same ole story on caffeine. A quick list of side effects include but are not limited to insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, heart disease, muscle tremors, headaches and anxiety. The effects of supplements that are being added are widely unknown. Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?

Health Risks Tied to Energy and Sports Drinks

7. Fruit punch and other children's drinks often contain excess amounts of sugar. The additives and coloring may help your child drink more, but they are not necessarily drinking something good for them. With hyperactivity and mental disorders consuming our young generations, it is high time we pay attention to the ingredients in food and beverages that are being marketed to our babies. A Closer Look at Popular Beverages

Stop putting these toxic beverages in your body and feel better today! I suggest consulting a doctor before completely discontinuing use of these drinks. Because caffeine and sugar are essentially drugs, your body is likely to have withdrawal symptoms. This fact alone should be a wake up call. Suddenly stopping intake of caffeine can cause severe headaches and fatigue. From experience, I can say that you will get through this, and it will be more than worth it! Some professionals suggest a gradual decrease of intake over the course of weeks to lessen the effects of withdrawal. How to Minimize Caffeine Withdrawal

Now for the good part! Here is a list of things that will make you feel fabulous and boost your health.

1. WATER..water and more water!!! Many people hate the taste of water. To this I reply, get over your palate! Your body is made of water and needs constant replenishment. The positive effects are plentiful. Water aids in the digestion and absorption of food, regulates body temperature and circulation and help eliminate toxins from the body. Although water intake is important, it is also important to listen to your body and not force more water than your body can handle. Something important to consider with water intake is the source. I choose to use a personal filtered water bottle to decrease my impact on the environment while getting healthy. There are many options to choose from besides bottled water. Water Health Benefits Green Alternatives to Water Bottles

2. Vegetable and fruit juices are a great source of essential vitamins, nutrients and water. It is what we like to call nutrient dense so the calories you are drinking are full of the things your body really needs. Juice boosts the immune system and provides a healthy source of energy to replace all that caffeine and sugar. Juice is a great source of antioxidants which decrease your chance of cancer. *Beware* Many juices available on the grocery shelf contain additives, preservatives, artificial flavor and dyes. Take the extra time to search labels and find juices that are 100% juice so that you will get the full benefit of your beverage. Vegetable Juice Benefits

Fruit Juice Health Benefits

3. Herbal Tea is healthy beverage that has been used for centuries to remedy illness. There is a wide variety of flavors from which you can choose. Each ingredient has different health benefits on the body. Allergic reactions may occur with the use of green tea so it is important to do your own research and consult a physician before diet change or after an adverse reaction. Herbal Tea Benefits

4. Milk alternatives provide the nutrients associated with dairy milk without the risks. Raw almond milk is a tasty alternative full of protein and nutrients essential to health. Almond milk is comparatively lower in calories and does not contain cholesterol. Almond Milk: 3 Health Benefits

Natural Calcium Sources

I know what you're thinking, 'Just 4 healthy drink alternatives?' Vegetable and fruit juices spread over a wide area though. There are so many choices and different combinations that it is difficult to get bored with the possibilities.

*Coffee is a beverage that I have left out of these lists. Personally, I cut all caffeine sources from my diet and feel like a brand new woman. I will not be adding them back to my diet any time in the foreseeable future. Just like many foods, coffee is a popular 'frienemy' that goes back and forth in the scientific community as healthy then not healthy. 11 Health Risks of Coffee Coffee and Your Health

With the recent rapid evolution of our diet, Americans are feeling the negative effects of consuming products of which we do not know the full effects, positive and negative. As a nation our health is declining. I hope these lists provide you with information that you will use while researching ways to create a healthy diet and lifestyle. I urge you to consider the sources of information, the possible sponsors that may have influenced the content of material you will read and any ulterior motives they might have. As always, consult a physician before making changes in your diet to make your transition into healthy living as safe as possible.