When the sun is in the sky and the pool is open, it’s clear that the summer months are officially in full swing. During this season, lots of people love to enjoy refreshing drinks and fun with friends. However, when those refreshing drinks are filled with 27 grams of sugar per cup, and you’ve consumed three of them within an hour, you’re headed toward diabetes and other health issues. Sugar is such a nasty culprit, so you have to get it in check. One of the best ways to enjoy refreshing drinks is to plan ahead for sugar-free options. Consider the following alternatives that can keep you cool this summer.
Sparkling Water
For many people, sparkling water can seem like an acquired taste. The taste might seem bland at first. However, sparkling water doesn’t contain any sugar. If you purchase ripe, organic berries, they’ll provide their own natural sweetness. Pour the sparkling water, ripe fruit and ice in a blender. You’ll have a cold and refreshing beverage to quench the thirst and satisfy a soda craving.
Smoothies
Try a smoothie as a meal replacement option each day. Load up the smoothie with greens like kale or spinach. Add a banana or a mango for sweetness. Throw in some coconut water as your liquid base. Blend the mix together for a sweet treat without added sugar. When you make a visit to the local dental clinic for a cleaning session, they won’t be upset about your consumption of fruit smoothies over soda.
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Cold-brewed Tea
Tea is always a great idea. It’s an easy way to consume herbs and medicinal plants that are healthy for you. You can create interesting tea blends with loose-leaf tea bags and herbs. You can also opt for the easy route by picking up tea at the local grocery store. Choose options like mint, hibiscus, and green tea. You can even opt to mix different tea bags together. Once you’ve collected the different options you want, you can prepare the tea in two ways. You can boil the tea, add ice and let it cool down in the refrigerator. You can also opt of the cold-brewed option. Before you go to bed, add a few tea bags to a large pitcher of water. By the morning, you’ll have cold-brewed tea. For added brightness and flavor, add lemons, tangerines and other citrus fruits.
Truthfully, this will be a transition for your taste buds. Though it might seem tough at first, you’ll get used to it. Be consistent in your efforts, and you’ll see the difference in your overall health. Before long, you’ll realize how sweet those sodas really were and how much you don’t need them.
