The Truth About 6 Common Health Drinks
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Health Drinks 101
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Coconut Water
Bottom Line: Think of it as trendy. Maybe grab one instead of a sugary sports drink.
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Kombucha
Bottom Line: At nearly $4 a bottle, it’s a splurge rather than a necessity. Caution: experts say don’t drink this acidic tea if you have weakened immune function or are taking drugs that need normal pH levels in the stomach to be absorbed.
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Hemp Milk
Bottom line: It’s a good-tasting alternative to cow’s milk if you opt for unsweetened or plain versions. Sweetened chocolate and vanilla varieties typically pack 20 to 70 extra calories per cup, mostly in the form of added sugars. Oh, and no worries about getting “high;” hemp seeds contain none of the THC found in marijuana plants.
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Grain Drinks
Bottom Line: Averaging one to three grams of protein per cup and 25 to 28 grams of sugars, they are definitely not an even swap nutritionally for cow’s milk with its 8 grams of protein and 12 grams of sugars. Still, these drinks are versatile for anyone avoiding dairy.
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Probiotic Drinks
Bottom Line: Probiotics do help to regulate your digestive system and restore imbalance. Not convinced you need probiotics? You could be right. Most of us already have a lot of “good” bacteria in the gut—an estimated 100 trillion of them.
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Green Tea with Extras
The Bottom Line: The best option: Brew it yourself; allow tea to steep for three to five minutes to get the highest concentration of antioxidants. Second best: Honest Tea Classic Green Tea, 30 calories per 8 ounces or unsweetened, sugar-free canned varieties like Xing Tea Unsweetened.
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Read the Label