Healthy Drinks

Some other suggestions for healthy drinks include the following:

Herbal infusions

Herbal infusions are a great healthy drink option because they are so high in minerals. They can be served warm or cold and can take the place of some of the water you drink during the day.

Raw milk from grass-fed cows

Raw milk is a good source of protein, calcium, enzymes and natural healthy fats. If raw milk is unavailable or you choose to avoid it, the next best type of milk is pasteurized, unhomogenized whole milk. Why whole milk? Whole milk is best because the fat is necessary for the assimilation of the fat-soluble nutrients it contains). In my area, raw milk can be purchased at the Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent, NY and unhomogenized milk is available from Evan's Farmhouse Creamery. Two national companies, Natural by Nature and Strauss Family Creamery, offer organic grass-fed milk (both homogenized and unhomogenized, I believe). Try A Campaign for Real Milk for more resources and know that Organic Pastures in California ships fresh raw and cultured dairy products nationwide.

Non-dairy milks

Many of these are currently available, from soy milk to rice milk to almond milk to hemp milk. I advise staying away from soy milk because it is very processed and not really a natural food. Rice milk and the others are ok- some are very sweet and high in carbs and again, they are pretty processed, but they are fine in small amounts. I personally like Living Harvest vanilla hemp milk- it is creamy and sweet- good for beverages that you might want to sweeten, like tea. I don't think packaged almond milk tastes that good- I far prefer homemade nut milks, and these are easy to make.

Kombucha

Kombucha- the fizzy drink high in probiotics and B-vitamins. Make your own or buy it- it's widely available at natural food stores, but pretty expensive. It's wonderful for enhancing digestion and immunity, and it may be the best energy drink I know. Another similar option is to make your own homemade fermented soft drinks (recipes for these coming soon). These are much better for you than high fructose corn syrup and chemical-filled sodas.

Natural sodas

If you want healthy drinks that resemble actual soda occasionally, look for the naturally sweetened brands that contain absolutely no high fructose corn syrup (ex. Reed's Ginger Brew is deliciously spicy and it has some actual health benefits; naturally sweetened root beers made from herbal ingredients are also available). Fruit-flavored "sodas" made by companies like Izze are very tasty, and children usually love them.

Organic bottled juices

Organic juices that are diluted with pure filtered water, sparkling mineral water or seltzer (Lakewood and Biotta are two of my favorite juice brands) are delicious. Look for juices made from fruits that are exceptionally nutritious, such as pomegranate and acai, and try to use mostly water and just a little juice for flavor, as juice is high in sugar. Coconut water is also very good- the brand O.N.E makes a lovely coconut water in aseptic packaging; they make some other very interesting juice-like drinks, as well, with flavors such as amazon acai berry, cashew, and coffee berry. Vita Coco and Zico make similar high quality products.

Homemade juices and smoothies

Vegetable or fruit juices made fresh in a juicer are wonderful healthy drinks. The only downside is the cleaning of the juicer, but the Breville Juice Fountain gets high marks for being easy to use and clean. Smoothies can be purchased, but they are much healthier and less expensive if you make them at home. They are easy to make, especially if you use a high speed blender such as a Blendtec or a Vita-mix. You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to what you can put in a smoothie- see healthy smoothies for more information and recipes.

Organic coffee and organic black tea

Organic coffee and black tea are not at the top of the list of healthy drinks, but they are o.k. provided you drink them in moderation (no more than 1-2 cups/daily. It is important to drink organic coffee and tea so that you do not ingest unwanted chemicals. It is also important to look for fair-trade, shade-grown coffee because in this way you are supporting organic and sustainable farming practices that benefit the environment, as well as ensuring workers are paid a paid a fair wage for their product. I do not suggest drinking too much coffee or tea because you will be adversely affected by the caffeine (and if you are not in good health or if you don't even enjoy your coffee or tea but drink it solely to give you energy, I suggest you give it up altogether). Definitely avoid coffee if you are trying to get pregnant of if you are already pregnant.

Green tea and yerba mate

Green tea is one of the best healthy drinks- it does have some caffeine but it is a great source of antioxidants and may help with weight loss and weight maintenance. I enjoy green tea frequently, either plain or in the form of a Green Tea Latte. Yerba mate is a healthy herbal drink made from the leaves of a tree that grows in the South American rainforest. It has a little caffeine but is high in nutrients, as well. My favorite brand is Guayaki: they make loose-leaf mate, mate tea bags, and bottled yerba mate ice tea.

All-natural coffee substitutes

Coffee subsitutes may be grain or herbal-based. Cafix and Pero are made from roasted barley and chicory and they make a dark and rich coffee-like healthy drink especially when made with raw cream and a little raw honey. Raja's Cup and Teecino make herbal coffee substitutes that are high in antioxidants. Teecino can be brewed just like coffee- I enjoy it when made in a french press with some vanilla hemp milk.

Herbal teas

Organic herbal teas that do not contain caffeine can be warming and comforting healthy drinks. Mint and chamomile are both good choices after a meal, as they promote good digestion, but there are numerous types of herbal teas available almost everywhere- Republic of Tea and Numi are two brands I like a lot. A little stevia or raw honey may be added to sweeten your tea, if desired. Another one of my personal favorite herbal teas is Good Earth Organic ("original flavor"). It has a nice spicy taste but is very sweet on its own, and does not require any added sweetener.

Organic beer and wine

If you are going to indulge in beer and wine occasionally, why not switch to organic? These are cultured/fermented beverages, after all, and they can only be better for you when made with grapes and other ingredients that have not been sprayed with pesticides. More and more companies are offering organic varieties- these companies should be supported for their commitment to organic and biodynamic farming practices that are so much better for the environment. The more demand increases, the more we will see new healthier products in the marketplace. Check out the The Organic Wine Company for more information. Coop America has a great article on organic beer and wine with a list of great resources at the end.

If you are the type who likes to undertake an adventure in the kitchen every so often, you could also try to make your own wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverage. I personally have had mixed results in this department. I once made dandelion wine and found it pretty unpalatable, but I also made a delicious mead (fermented honey wine) for my mom's wedding... (Definitely avoid all alcohol, though, if you have a personal or family history of alcoholism, you are pregnant, or if you are trying to conceive).

Other healthy drinks

Two more healthy drinks to consider are:

Warm chicken stock. This can be enjoyed anytime of the day. You can add a little miso or coconut milk (or both) to it, as well. I always drink this when I am not feeling well- it's a natural immune booster.

Apple cider vinegar or herbal vinegar or lemon juice mixed with warm water and a bit of maple syrup or raw honey- very cleansing and one of my drinks of choice when I am trying to avoid all caffeine, do a detox, etc.