Beyond the sugary sodas and processed juices lining the shelves, lies a world of beverages claiming to be health heroes: health drinks. The term “health drink” has become increasingly popular, often used as a marketing strategy to attract consumers seeking nutritious beverage options.
Similar to the concept of sports drinks, which have been known to promote themselves as healthy, the term health drink can be misleading, leaving consumers uncertain about the true nutritional value of these products.Â
In essence, a health drink is a beverage that claims to offer various health benefits beyond basic hydration. These claims may include boosting energy, improving digestion, supporting immune function, aiding weight loss, or promoting overall well-being.Â
Here are a few articles that can help you make healthier choices when it comes to drinks.
Yep, it’s time to ditch unhealthy fizzy drinks
Carbonated drinks are beverages that have water infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. This produces sparkling water, club soda, soda water, seltzer water, and fizzy drinks. It has salt and other minerals added to it to improve the taste, however, it has no nutritional value; it only adds excess sugar and calories to your diet.Â
Cutting back on caffeine can benefit your health
Many rely on caffeine to kickstart their day, but exploring life with less caffeine can yield surprising health benefits.
After experiencing heart palpitations due to caffeine, Nathan Mash from Pretoria consulted with his doctor and was told to reduce his caffeine intake. However, he decided to quit caffeine completely for his benefit.Â
Furthermore, dietitian Unarine Sengani explains that as much as caffeine may enhance alertness and reduce the perception of fatigue, it has adverse effects that include stomach upset, nervousness, irritability, headaches, diarrhoea, and physical dependence. By reducing and essentially quitting the intake of caffeine, the aforementioned symptoms start to disappear.Â
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The health benefits of fermented foods and drinks
Fermented foods and drinks are alive! They are rich in bacteria that perform essential functions in our bodies and improve our digestion, immune systems and even our psychological state. It’s all thanks to the live probiotic cultures that live inside these foods – if they’re not heated or cooked after fermentation.
But first, a fun fact. Did you know that in our bodies, bacteria outnumber our own cells by more than 10 to one? While they live in/on all parts of our bodies, most of these 100 trillion bacteria live in our gastrointestinal tract. And consuming fermented foods will only help them.
Unveiling the sweet truth: Is 100% juice the real deal?
Despite its association with fruits, 100% juice may not always be the healthy choice it seems, as there are some factors to consider that may challenge the perception that it is always a healthy choice.Â
Although 100% fruit juice can provide essential vitamins and minerals, dietitian Xoli Dube from Johannesburg explains that fruit juice is high in natural sugars, the absence of fibre, and it may not be as filling as eating whole fruits, potentially leading to overconsumption, as some reasons why fruit juice can be considered bad for health if consumed in excess.Â
Dube further highlights that it is important to note that these concerns are related to excessive consumption of 100% fruit juice. Excessive consumption is indicated by drinking more than one glass of juice daily.
Energy drinks: Mzansi, listen to your heart…
There’s nothing like an energy drink when you’re feeling tired or need an energy boost. But too much can be dangerous since these drinks aren’t only loaded with sugar but also have high levels of caffeine, which can cause damage to young bodies.Â
Caffeine is described as a drug that is naturally found in the seeds or leaves of various plants. It aims to make people feel more alert by giving off a temporary energy boost while improving their mood. The temporary feeling it provides makes it easy to overlook the side effects of consuming energy drinks regularly.
Learners and students are not fully informed on the pros and cons of consuming energy drinks, thus believing that it will make them alert and have longer concentration periods.
READ MORE HERE.
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