What to drink if you don’t like the taste of water?
Hydration is key to our health.
It assists with most of our bodily functions including regulating temperature, assisting our immune system, and keeping our organs, muscles and joints functioning properly. Proper hydration also improves sleep, mental health, and mood.
The UK NHS recommends we take on 6-8 cups of fluid a day. However, not everyone enjoys taking on just water, so here are our:
Five recommendations for plain water alternatives
Home-made, fruit-infused water
Cucumber, lemon, lime, strawberries, the list is endless. Simply choose your favourite fruit, slice it up and add it to your chilled water. This is a wonderful way to enhance the flavour without any added sugars or preservatives found in many shop-bought fruit-flavoured waters.
Green tea
Some studies show that green tea has been linked with reducing blood pressure and cholesterol and improving blood flow. Along with its health benefits, it can be brewed hot or cold, even with ice on those particularly hot days. For those with a sweet tooth add in some 100% fruit juice, lemon drops or honey for a low sugar sweetness hit.
Milk
Calcium, Vitamin D, and protein are all found in milk acting as a terrific way to take in these essential nutrients as well as improving our hydration levels. Opt for low-fat options such as semi-skimmed or 1% fat. Avoid processed milk drinks such as milk-based energy drinks or condensed milk to steer clear of a high fat and calorie intake.
Vegetable juice
Home-made vegetable juice not only is a great source of hydration but can also count towards one of our five a day. Canned juices can be high in sodium, so homemade alternatives are preferable. Blend your favoured vegetables and add in some fresh fruit for sweetness. Why not try baby spinach, broccoli, celery, apple, and grapefruit as a sweet and tasty but healthy starting point?
Isotonic sports drinks
Designed for people partaking in sports, isotonic drinks are a fantastic way to replace the fluids and nutrients lost through sweating when we are active. They help replace electrolytes which regulate the acid balance in your body’s cells. Another benefit is the replacement of glycogen in the liver and muscles which is a fast-acting energy source. As with any high energy, high sugar intake, this should be taken in moderation and not used as a water substitute full-time.
