3 Sweet Drinks To Kick Your Sugar Habit
Many of you are already aware that sugary drinks like soda (even diet soda!), mojitos, and peppermint white chocolate mocha Frappucinos can contribute to unwanted weight gain. Now, studies show that these saccharine beverages may also contribute to heart disease and stroke — even if the number on the scale remains unchanged.
In fact, women who drank more than two sugar-laden drinks daily were more susceptible to the development of high triglycerides. Even women who demonstrated normal blood glucose levels put themselves at a higher risk of diabetes.
Now may be the perfect time to trade in those cloying drinks once and for all. These three thirst-quenching concoctions are a delicious way to start.
Water, but Way Better: Substitute sugary store-bought flavored water with your own fruit-infused blend. Toss a few slices of your favorite fruits and veggies into an ice-cold glass of H20. Or carbonate the water first with a Sodastream, a nifty and penny-saving device for making your own bubbly. Have fun with your experiments and try different combos of strawberries, cucumbers, watermelon slices, oranges, lime, lemon, and crushed raspberries.
Twice Mint Tea: Sure, peppermint tea is delicious. But did you know it can also soothe an upset stomach, aid digestion, treat headaches, and relieve nausea? Steep a peppermint tea bag (or try using loose leaves to achieve a more robust flavor) into a steamy mug of water. Then, stir in a sprig of fresh mint leaves. Using a wooden spoon, crush the leaves to release the flavors even more.
Really Light Skim Latte: When I first started to drink coffee, I'd dump spoonfuls of sugar into the murky depths of my Styrofoam cup. Now, you'd be hard-pressed to find a single granule in my morning (and afternoon and post-dinner) drink of choice. How'd I make the switch? Skim milk — and lots of it. While low- and non-fat milk offer a wholesome and natural way to sweeten coffee, they're also fantastic for your bones and body. No skimping here!