There’s a head-spinning number of “hydrating” beverages on the market now, so how do we pick out the most effective drinks to quench our thirst and hydrate our bodies? Many of them are just marketing hype, while others are downright bad for us. If you want to save money, you might want to extremely judicious about what you shell you hard-earned dollars out for. Here’s my take:
Coconut Water
Coconut water has become crazily popular over the last few years in the US. It’s marketed with a vengeance to be the best sports drink on the market, but this isn’t necessarily so. It does contain a good amount of electrolytes, especially potassium. However, according to sport and fitness experts, it’s not an ideal drink for hardcore sportsman/athletes because it doesn’t contain the carbohydrate and sodium profile needed for proper recovery. It’s also not a diet drink because it contains 11 or 12 grams of sugar and 50 – 60 calories per serving (flavored coconut water contains more.) I happen to love the taste, so I occasionally buy a carton and drink it chilled, however, it’s in no way a replacement for water. When I’m working out hard, a better choice to replenish my minerals and re-hydrate, would be a large bottle of water and a banana. At two bucks for a small carton, this tropical water can get expensive too.
Kombucha (Com-bu-cha).
When my friends visit from the UK, they are always dazzled by the “novel” foods that line the shelves of Wholefoods. One relatively novel drink is Kombucha, which I happen to love. The main reason I love it it the tangy, cider-like taste. It’s very dry, effervescent and not at all sweet, which is totally my think. A cold glass of Kombucha is a great alternative to a chilled glass of wine. So why the hype? Kombucha is a fermented drink that is made from fermented green or black tea, sugar and a mushroom culture. Fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut, contain natural pro-biotics, which are good for your intestinal health. Kombucha also contains antioxidants and naturally occurring vitamins. It’s very low in calories too. There have been issues with this “health” drink, however, problems tend to arise with the homemade fermentation process, which some people love to do. I wouldn’t personally take the risk because I’m not confident fiddling around with bacteria cultures in my own backyard! The other issue has been that some brands of Kombucha have been found to have more than 0.5 alcohol content. A couple of years ago, Wholefoods took all their Kombucha off their shelves because of this. I think that most of the main Kombucha companies are very strictly regulated now, so the alcohol issue, for the most part, ceases to exist. There is no reliable research to suggest that Kombucha has any health benefits other than the ones I’ve already mentioned – so don’t believe all the “cancer-cure” quackery. I also wouldn’t drink it as an alternative to water.
Vitamin Waters:
I think vitamin waters are very misleading because in order to get your RDA of most of the vitamins they tout, you’d have to drink gallons of the dye-filled liquid. Most of these waters also contain a bunch of sugar, so all-in-all you’re better off with a water and your regular vitamins.
Enhanced Waters: Waters that are enhanced with electrolytes are in my opinion a total waste of money. I noticed absolutely no difference whatsoever after drinking any of the brands, especially those with smart marketing names, such as “Smart Water”.
Bottled Tea
I like some of the bottled teas out there and really don’t like others. The big thing to look at is how much sugar is in the brand you like. Some bottled teas contain almost as much sugar as soda, and in some cases, even more. I love the unsweetened Tea’s tea.
Remember that with most of the drinks above, you will be purchasing them in a single-use plastic bottle, which is really not a good idea. Obviously if you’re caught short, or forget your reusable water bottle, you shouldn’t feel guilty – but please don’t make a habit of buying single one-use plastic anything as it’s so bad for the planet.
Ultimately, if you want to save money and stay healthy, you’re better off foregoing all of the above drinks and making sure that you get well-hydrated throughout the day with simple filtered water. If you are trying to maintain a healthy weight, you should really count the sugars in every beverage you buy – for many who are struggling on diets, their beverage choices, especially diet soda’s, are their downfall. Follow
Check out my tips on how to stay hydrated and healthy throughout the day:
1. Buy a stack of reusable water bottles for everyone in your home. I love both Kor bottles, and the brilliant, fold-able Vapur bottles. Fill up before you leave home and along route, you’ll always find somewhere where you can re-fill.
2. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to your water.
3. If you sit in an office or you’re at home all day. Keep a full glass of water with a slice of lemon in it all day. There’s something about the lemon that makes you want to drink it.
4. If you crave soda or are trying to wean yourself off them, drink sparkling water with a little organic fruit juice. I love my Soda Stream because I make my own sparkling water at home.
5. If you prefer to drink your vitamins, rather than eat them, you are better off buying the little Emergen-C sachets and adding to your water. I love the MSM Lite because it contains MSM, vitamin C and is only 5 calories per sachet.
6. If you’re like Iced Tea, make a huge pitcher at home and sweeten with either raw agave nectar or stevia. You can take it with you in your reusable water bottle. I love the Republic of Tea’s Hibiscus tea bags – they make the most delicious bright red iced tea, which I sweeten with a little agave – kids love it too!
