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5 Drinks to Supplement Your Coffee Habit
27
Apr
Apr
For many of us, coffee is king. Numero uno. The first thing we reach for when we want a beverage. Some of us couldn’t even go a day or two without our favorite brew. If coffee is king, then tea must be queen, consumed by 2 billion people every day. Tea drinkers in the U.S. alone consume 1.42 million pounds of per day, and the ratio of tea to coffee drinkers is reversed as we look throughout the rest of the world.
I know a lot of you would say, “ What else is there?”. We’re so cemented into our habits. Studies and statistics give us plenty of justification for our coffee and tea drinking. Medical research is always finding reasons for us to drink more. If we get a study that says coffee is bad for us, all we have to do is wait a month or two and there will be a new study published that says the opposite. History will bear out that drinking coffee and tea are mostly good for us. Not everyone likes coffee or tea however (GASP!), so there are some other healthy beverages out there that people are drinking. We’re going to talk about 5 of them.
Kombucha: Kombucha is being widely sold and brewed in America for its health benefits. Kombucha is a beverage made from fermented black tea and naturally-occurring sugars such as from honey or fruit. The fermentation process introduces environmental bacterias and yeast that create a probiotic which is known for its effect on digestion. This beverage assists with mental clarity, improves mood, fights yeast overgrowth (Candida), and has been considered helpful to people with compromised immune systems and conditions such as RA and Fibromyalgia because it strengthens the immune system in the gut (digestive enzymes and intestinal flora).
Matcha: Matcha tea has been used for thousands of years in Asia, and has recently become popular in the states. Matcha is green tea finely ground into a powder and brewed. The benefits of green tea are quite well known. Many people use green and matcha tea as a detox, for the antioxidant properties and to boost metabolism to aid in weight loss. Matcha is also said to contribute to elevated mood and improved memory as well as boosting immunities.
Coconut water: Coconut water, not to be confused with coconut milk, is found in green coconuts. This beverage, while kind of an acquired taste, is considered to be the very best hydration after a workout or on hot days. Coconut water is chock full of nutrients and electrolytes, quickly re-hydrating and replacing those lost through exercise and sweat. Other health benefits include improved digestion and great skin, through improved hydration. Coconut water is also said to help regulate blood pressure through balancing the body’s electrolyte levels.
Kefir: Kefir is a lot like drinkable yogurt. Somewhere in between the consistency of yogurt and milk. Kefir has the same benefits to the body as yogurt with active cultures. Kefir is consumed regularly by people who have stomach or digestive issues. Kefir is packed with protein and probiotic cultures. This beverage is gaining in popularity for people with compromised immune systems and those who have autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and lupus.
Aloe Vera Juice: Aloe has long been known for medicinal uses. Records of its use go back about 5000 years. The gel inside of the aloe plant has been used to treat everything from burns to rashes, and to speed healing of wounds. Use of aloe gel will also reduce scarring. More is being learned about taking aloe internally to gain even more benefits from this wonderful plant. Beverages made from the Aloe Vera plant can include smoothies (where gel from the plant is added in the mix) to blended juice drinks to drinking pure aloe gel. The use of this plant internally is recommended for short periods of time, and not on a daily basis. Some of the health benefits of aloe vera juice are relief of constipation and digestive issues, allergies, high blood sugar, and increased metabolism for weight loss. Aloe vera is full of vitamins as well as amino and fatty acids. Use of aloe vera boosts immunities and is great for the skin. This one plant has a wide variety of uses both externally and internally.
So if you’ve decided to give up your coffee or go on a temporary detoxifying diet, one of these beverages is sure to be a great replacement. Please don’t take our word for it. PBFY is not recommending any one of these over another. Remember to check with your doctor before trying any kind of diet or detoxifying cleanse.